The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-09-26
From the New York Evening Post.
A PRECEDENT FOR THE SUMNER OUTRAGE

d.
In looking over the History of North Amer
lea, find, on pages 4l0 and All, record of
an act by the minions of power, very similar
to that perpetrated on Senator Sumner, re-
Gently, in the United States Senate. This
took place in 1863 or 20 the time is not Civ
en- exactly. James Otis, of Boston, was the
man
"He had been afronted by the partizans OF
the crown, vilifed in the public papers, and
treated (after his resignation of the Office of
Judge Advocate, in Gov. Bernard's admins
tration) in manner too gross for man of his
spirit to pass over with impunity. Fearless
of consequences, he had always given the
world his opinions, both in his writings and
his conversation, and had recently published
some severe structures ON the conduct of the
Commissioners of the Customs; and others of
the ministerial party and bidding defiance
to resentment, he supported his allegations by
the signature of his name.
few days after this publication appeared
Mr.. Otis, with only one gentleman in compa-
ny, was suddenly assaulted in public room,
by band of rufians, armed with swords and
bludgeons. They were headed by one of the
Commissioners of Customs. The lights were
Immediately extinguished, and Mr.. Otis, cov-
cred with wounds, was left for dead, while
the assassins made their way through the
crowd which began to assemble /; and before
their crime was discovered, fortunately for
themselves, they escaped soon enough to take
refuge on board one OF the Kings ships, which
lay in the harbor.
Though the wounds did not prove mortal
the consequences were tenfold worse than
death. The future usefulness of this distin-
guished friend of his country was destroyed, ,
reason was shaken from its throne, genius OBJ
scured, and the great man in ruins lived seve-
raj years for his friends to weep over, and his
country to lament the deprivation of talents
admirably adapted to promote the highest in
terests of society.
"This catastrophe shocked the feelings of the
virtuous not less than it raised the Indignation
of the brave, yet remarkable spirit of forbear-
ance continued for time, owing to the respect
still paid to the opinions of this gentleman,
whose voice, though always opposed to the
strides of despotism, was ever loud against all
tumultuous and illegal proceedings. He was,
after partial recovery, sensible himself of his
incapacity for the exercise of talents that had
shone with peculiar lustre, and often invoked
the messenger of death to give him sudden
release from life become burdensome in every
view but the calm interval of a momentl
permitted him the recollectlon OF MS own IN
tegrty. In one of these intervals of beclouded
reason, he forgave the murderous band, after
the principal ruffian had asked pardon in a
court of justice. On civil process commenced
against him, he was adjudged to pay f5,OO0I
sterling damages, but Mr.. Otis, despising all
pecuniary compensation, relinquished it on the
culprit's asked pardon, and setting his sigma
ture to very humble acknowledgements; and
at the intercession of the gentleman whom he
had so grossly abused, the people forbore in
ficting that summary vengeance which was
generally thought due to so black a crime.
"Mr. Otis lived to see the independence ofI
America though in a state of mind incapable of
enjoying the great event which his own exer-
ton had hastened. After several years ofI
mental arrangement, as if in consequence of
his own prayers, his great soul was instantly
set tree, by a flash Of lightning, from the evils
ofwhich the love of his country had involved
him.
"His death took place in May, 1883, the
same year that peace was concluded between
America and Great Britain"
Such was the spirit of oppression at that
day. Has it changed for the better at this
time? l think not-no nor never will.