The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-05-10
personal to himself. he rnodestly refrain


Nrst-Other Senator'S used language
equally Objectionable.
| .Second-The Senate rejected the me-
mortal by large majority.
! Tird-Gen. Cass would not youch
| for its genuineness.
| Fourth-Rumors of the purpose of a
hostile meeting promulged through the
press, of which my request for an ex-
planation was the forerunner.
4 Fifth--As Chairman of the Commit
tee on Territories, it was his duty to
compare the memorials and for what
/ he has said, stands behind his privilege
4 and constitutional protection.
i After having done an injury, it is a
second offence, IN an honorable man, to
feel no penitenee and deny reparation.
| shall not dwell upon this transparent in
yention to hide his cowardice, to avoid
facing responsibility. His first statement
is untrue. After my frank explanation,
it was not possible for any other Senator
to have used such language. 1t is the
plea of every ragged offender at the bar
OF the Police Court" how full the world
is of crime; how many more there are
like him. but the Judges have always
oVerruled the plea. In the next place
!; Senator DOUGLAS parades against me
the very injury he caused me By his per-
sonal influence aud energy, and the force
of party discipline. The other objections
are unworthy of his Judgment. His
heart, constitutionally5 adapted to it,
: pleads privilege It's said of a dis
| tinguished senator, that after his head
was blossoming for the grave, he gave Of
fence to one much his junior. The young
man complained of his inability to resent
The insult on account of the disparity in
years and position. The venerable Sen
ator exclaimed, :" | ask no exemption on
account of my age: no privilege from my
position; no, Sir, none! If Il have insult
ed you, you are entitled to reparation,
and you shall have its But the Senator
| from Illinois yields to no such vulgar
weakness, and follows no such vain ex-
amples. Like a heroic dog, grown inso-
lent upon fat diet, with his head out Of
the kennel, he growls with swollen cour-
age, with constitutional privilege at his
back, behind which to retreat. Honored
with trust similar to his, from the brave
and loyal people of Kansas, l yield to the
Senator's Constitutional exemption from
accountability for language used in de,
bate, If he sees fit to avail himself of it
but yield it in the letter only, not in its
spirit; for, by the spirit, while aiming tc
5 surround with safeguards the utmost free
dom Of opinion and debate in the Senate
Chamber, and so preclude all accounta
bility for it, it implies and comprehend
that high notion of Senatorial decorum
candor and truth, which excludes the
idea of wanton and malignant wrong. 1
t was given to protect the Senator. in the
expectation that his duty and justice
+ would protect all others. But it is with
in the Senator's discretion-( not only
: that " discretion" which "is the better
E part of valor" to assert his legal exemp
ton, as he might also plead the Statute
of Limitations against confding credit
or and an honest debt. He has done so
claiming Shylock's S virtue, that it is the
law" Safely sheltered and hidden be-
hind this constitutional privilege, which
exists legally in all cases, but.moIally il
none, Senator DOUGLAS now compel:
me to the unpleasant alternative of pro
testing, before the public, against this
personal outrage, perpetrated where my
e voice was then silent, and which he tech
l nically declines to repair under every OBJ
legation of honor. At law he knows
S can face my accuser and confront the wit
!, nesses with either cowardice or privilege
n between me and my adversary, l am com
e PEELED to suffer without hearing, at tn,
Il hands of a constitutional assassin.
i, Senator DoUeLAs ea;oled re into a
undeseryed trust Of his sincerity. H
: made me the guest Of his hospitality t
deceive ald circumvent me. He ha
broken tne seals of friendly confidence
}. ara published it with criminal effrontery
To make the personal indignity th
It greater, he has impeached me, his frien
:, and witness; and he has SO distorted wha
d | did say that am unable to call it m
o own. He has inveighed, with gros
$ criminal imputations, against me, unsus
Il tanned by single fact in my own history
/ and all denied by the public aud familia
} history of Kansas. l SO stigmatise tn
n imputations and charges; and whe
; smarting under it, and presuming o
IS some sincerity in our past relations,
9 ask for justice or for explanation tina
e shall lead to justice, he hunts out fror
S the Constitution that magical word 70
II week-kneed spirits-"Privileger' pan
9 flies to his cover. The public shall
: our judges. To this completion has
come! Is the ferocious braggart heroisr
: of the Senate Chamber-which boasts i
a its place of having gazed down piste
n barrels-only that quality which t'ooze
: out at the finger ends and expires out
side of the portals of the Chamber? Ar
!, treaehery, falsehood. cowardice any bet
ter because they are privileged? ]
privilege to have another meaning
: Will the Senator from Illinois abuse il
Z and make want of courage and "privi
u lege" convertible and equivalent terms
| appeal from the attrocious conduct G
4 the Senator from Illinois, and submit t
5 the honest public, and its just sense an
: conviction, that in morals no elevation Q
place can dignity and protect injustice
= that honauSo q maroon IL humhlo his on