The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-30
Assault on Senator Sumner.


scholar or better orator and Statesman, or
more truthful man, has held the position
of U. s. Senator from Mass, now over FIVE
yeap.
Cultivated in manners and conversation,
gentlemanly in department, studious of the
rights Of others, and obscryant Of all the
properties Of Senatorial conduct and life,
during the whole time he has occupied a
seat at the Senatorial board, he has been
Professionally treated with contumely and
disrcspect, and not unfrcqsently subjected
to personal insult, by persons occupying
seats at the Senate board, from some Of the
slavholding States, or by Senators in the
pay of Slavery His crime is that he does
not believe in slavery; and represents a
State that, from the days Of the revolution
down to the present has manifested no SYM
pathy in its whips and fctters. True to the
convictions Of his own nature, and faithful
to the sentiments OF the State, for which he
speaks, he has, on all proper occasions, ably
and cloquently resisted the Entertainments
of slavery, and opposed measures which
have for their object its extension.
Last week in speech ofgreat power and
eloqucncc, a speech replete with historical
truth, and clear and convincing in argu-
ment, he exposed with mastery force the
giant iniquity now being practiced by the
government toward the free people of Kan
sas, and tore asunder the miserable subter-
fuges and sophistical devices by which it is
defended. He also took the occasion to re-
ply with scorching severity to those who
had assliled the principles he advocated, and
to eacoriate, rs they deserved, the men who
were laboring to push slavery into FREQ ter
ritory, and slandering and abusing with
disgraceful epithets those who do not believe
that the government was established to pro-
mote and extend human slavery.
The forcibls manner in which he denounc-
ed the scheme to rob the people of Kansas
Of their rights, and portrayed the indign:-
ties to which they have been subjected,
aroused the anger and malice of Southern
chivalry and Northern doughfaceism.-
When his speech was finished, the black
guard who disgraces Illinois IN the Senate,
Douglass rose, and in strain of vulgar
abuse and billings-gate attacked the speak
cr declaring, among other things that I" the
speech was rehearsed before glass with a
negro to hold candle"-and he was followed
by Mason Of Virginia, in remarks ofoilensiye
and indecorous personality. The "heathcn
ragged" terribly for while. Mr.. Sumner
replied to them with spirit and effect, and
in such manner Us TO show them that
neither the State which no represented, OF
he himself wcrs to be insulted longer, by
the braggart bullyism of the dough6ceism
Of the north, or the contemptuous insolence
Of the South
Mr.. Sumner finished his speech on We'd
nesday. Thursday morning, after the ad'
journment Of the Senate, as he was sitting
in his seat in the Senate chamber, he was
brutally assaulted, knocked down with a
heavy cane or bludgcon and beat until he
was rendered insensible. His cowardly as
sailant was member of the House from
South Carolina, by the name Of Brooks
We give the particulars of this act of chival'
~ in another place. IL is a bold, bad out
rage, such as never before occurred in this
country. There have been ARRAYS before in
the House but never until now has the sane
tity Of the Senate chamber been invaded by
cowardly bullies, and a Senator struck
down, without warning, in his seat for words
spoken in debate.
The spirit Of slavery is the piopelling
power which has caused this outrage
None but barbarian reared under the lar
baric influences of a civilization which has
its apt insignia in whips and chains. would
have dared to have committed such an out
rage, and had not the poisonous miasma OF
slavery sentiment infused itself into tho net
work Of society at Washington, and corroded
and corrupted the governmental channels
themselves, the bully himself would have
sought his revenge, not in the glarv of noon
day, and within the walls of the Senate
chamber, but would have stolen to the side
Of his victim in the cover of darkness, and
planted his dagger in his back by blow
dealt from behind. Tho outrage shows but
too clearly the nature Of slavery. Talk rs
people may about il being the simple act of
q lawles bully, the circumstances which
surrounded 1t, take from it the character Of
individual violence. There Is nothing in
the speech Of Mr.. s., which exceeds the lin
its Of proper invective in debate, nothing to
justify or palliate the Outrage. Hes spoke Sc
yrely but truthiully, the time and occasion
demanded plain, unmistakeable language.
IL was his privilege to characterize public
men and measures as in his judgdemcnt they
deserved, and the words Of the law, If not
their spirit, throws its shield around him.
The country viii see by the future action OF
both branches how much Of protection there
Is in that shield, for the representative who
dares 10 speak Of freedom with the voice Of
IA FREEMAN.
The attack upon Mr.. s. is not simply an
outrage upon him, buta wrong Of public