The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-19

pursued by Mr.. Sumner and the gross person.
ahties with which his speech was interlarded,
gave Just cause of offence, the assault upon him
by Mr.. Brooks, a member of the lower House.
IS still more deserving of the severest animad
version. When Mr.. Sumner so far forget his
character as a gentleman, and his position as a
Senator, as to exchange invective for argu-
ment, it was obligatory on the presiding
officer to compel him to conine his remarks
strictly within the line of legitimate discussion:
and the wide range which the debate was suffer
ed 10 take must be admitted to have been part
ly owing TO this dereliction. The conduct of
Mr.. Brooks cannot be justified. By inficting
chast sement upon a Senator, for words spoken in
debate, he has exaggerated the evil be voluntar
ily undertook TO correct, and has raised himself
to the bad emlnence of being the first man who
has proceeded TO the extreme of actual blows
within Hall which has hitherto been sacred ;f
not from demonstrations of violence, vet from
positive collisions. An ARRAY so disgraceful and
disreputable TO the parties concerned. both in
his exciting cause and in the result which has
grown out OF 1T. demands that it should be taken
up and dealt with in such a manner as will vim
dictate the outraged dignity of the Senate, and
preclude the repetition of a similar offence
From the Baltimore American
The assault committed upon Mr. Sumner in
the Senate on Thursday is an act that should
be vigorously condemned by men of all parties
and of every section of the country. 1t should
neither be extenuated on the ground of the
provocation given, gross as that undoubtedly
was, nor be defended by those who, feeling the
wrongs inflicted upon their rights by Mr.. Sum-
nsr and his colleagues, can nationally have but
little sympathy for the in ured man. 1t was
gross and unmanly assault committed upon
an unarmed and unprepared man, under cir.
cumstances OF peculiar outrage, and as such
should everywhere be characterized and con-
demned. The proceedings in Congress on the
subject, yesterday, indicate that it was not sim
ly the result of impetuous passion upon the part
of one individual who felt himself personally
called upon TO revenge the obloquy thrown upon
relative, but that il premeditated af-
fair, TO which other Representatives of South
Carolina gave their countenance. This fact If
proved, will give additional seriousness to the
outrage, and impose still more imperatively upop
Congress the duty Of indicating its dignity and
Furnishing the offenders. Ii should also impress
upon the presiding officers Of both Houses the
obligation of preventing the irritating person
alities which have become characteristic of one.
half of the speeches delivered in the Halls.
When members cease to reason, and fly 10 de-
nunciation and billingsgate as a compensation
Tor the absence OF facts and feebleness of argu-
ment, the restraining power lodged in the Chair
should be determinedly exercised, backed, if
need be, by the presence of the Sergeant-at-
arms. Neither House would refuse To sup1.
such digniiied course of condqSs es->port
whole country would applapd. and ar, and the
From the clars s sx4sd shreAss.- Il.
The-a& 1pon "n.e trenn,) Jefirrsonisn, tDemJ
>" Thasault upon Mr.. Sumner in the Senate
seems 10 re pretty generally condemned. No
one denies that the abusive language in which
ne had INDUCED richly entitled him to person
al chastisement, but the American people do
not like TO see the Senate Chamber converted
into a slaughter pen TO kill Abolitionists in, and
they look upon an attack upon man in that
place as the people of ancient times would have
regarded the violation of the rights of sanctu-
airy, or an assault upon one chnging to the horns
of the altar.
From the Memphis Bulletin. tOld Line WhieJ
For twenty years, the sectional fanatics of
the North have derived undue importance, and
have been given increased popular strength and
influence, by the rash imprudence of hot. headed
Southern men. The attack on Sumner in the !
Senate Chamber, recently, is but another of
those acts, by which, through the folly of one
individual, n whole people may be compromised,
and grave interests Of national Government be
put in jeopardy. The meeting at Boston, Of
men OF all parties but too clearly shows the
evil effect of such mad imprudence. Sumner
although low, grovelling, wicked demagogue,
whose character stinks in the nostrils Of all ma
tional men, prth well as South, il, by this
outrageous ID indecent indulgence of passion
by Southern Representative, lifted up into the
responsibility of general sympathy. He has
been made, not by his own acts, but by the
foolish rage of a Southern man, a martyr in the
popular mind to freedom of speech in the Sen
His oooailupf hu THE h. CT L |
deepened and strengthened the belief created
by demagogues in the Northern mind, that the
South relies upon BLACKBOARD bullyism more
than upon reason and argument; and has
thereby swelled the ranks of the Black Republi-
can party thousands upon thousands 1t was
an outrage apon the dignity and decorum of
the Senate Chamber, for which there can be no .
excuse or justification. If was departure from |
the Just selfrespect which Southern gentlemen
are IN the habit OF maintaining, that general
good conduct can atone for. AS a Southern
man. speaking, as we believe, the sentisnent
OF Southern men, we repudste and condemn
this assault as wholly inexcusable upon any
grounds whatever, and as an offence against |
our system of Government which would not |
be too severely punished by the expulsion of
Its perpetrator.
That the wretched, wicked demagogue Sum-
ner deserves no sympathy, and no respect, is
piAln III is evident he has been counting lust
such means OF raising himself in the regard of
the fanatical crew to whose low preiudices and
passions he panders, and upon which alone he
lives and enjoys political consideration. 1t is
most shameful that any portion of the Ameri-
can people should send such a creature to the
National Legislature, to insult and goad pa
triotic aud gray haired men in the way he has
done; but it is to be regretted that any one en-
Toying the character of gentleman should have
allowed himself to descend to such level.
From the Mobile Advertiser, tAmerl
OF course, it would not be just to Judge of
the affair by the imperfect account received
but If the telegraph speaks correctly, it will be
very difficult indeed TO find any apology much
less any justification, for the deed. It is n
shock TO every mans sense of right and pro
priety, to think of the Senate Chamber being
deliberately invaded for such a purpose. and n
Senator in his seat subjected to such ignomini
Gus and hostile treatment, and we sincerely
hope the reports may prove to have been much
exaggerated, if not wholly unfounded.
For the National Era
BUCHANAN READS PAINTINGS