Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-16
LATEST NEWS.
Reply Of Senator Butler of S. c.. TO Senate
Sumner!

oepIy OF Ssnator Butler OF s. c., TO Senator
Sumner
Senator Batler in the Senate Chamber Thurs
day. commenced bis repl' 10 Senator sumner
Mr. Butler said that the necessity for his adj
dressing the Senate ON This occasion was brought
about by events which he had no control
events which have grown out of II controversy.
from the commencement nf which the Senator
from Massachusetts, not NOW in his seat lMr.
Sumner) would be held exclusively responsible by
his country and his God. He had delivered a
speech, the mos, extraordinary that ever had ut
terauoe in any Legislative body recognizing tho
the sanctions If law aud Of the Constitution. All
that time Mr.. Batter was ut here, and wha; he
would have done if be had heen here, i, would now
be perfectly idle 10 say, because no one can sub
sttu!e the deliberations cf subsequent period
for what might have taken place on tho impulse
of the moment.
His impression was. if lie had been here he
would have asked that senator before he had fin
shcd some of, the paragraphs personally applica
BILE to him. 10 pause; and il Mr.. Sumner had gone
on, he would have demanded thut he should re.
tract or modify the offensive remarks, So as to
bring them within the sphere of parliamentary
propriety. If Mr.. 5. had refused to do this,what
hc would have done he could not exactly say. but
ono thing he knew, and that he would not
have submitted TO it. To what manner of redress
he would have resorted he could not tell he would
at least have assumed, upon all the responsible
ties of Senator from South Carolina, the CON
sequences. let them fall where they might But
instead of .hat.that speech had involved friend
and kinsman TO the extent that he had been obi.
ged TO put his fortune aud life at stake.
lustead of making his own speeches here nu
der the obligation of the Constitution, and IN
dignitied manner the Senator from Massaehu
sets had acted as the conduit-the fang through
which to pour mahgnity and injustice. To
cliate Theodore Parker the senator must make
an li,,io md olf Mr.
lcr) 1t was the purpose of that Senator to pan
der to the prejudices of "A portion of Massaehu-
sets. If the Senator were now here he would
make him hang his head in shame and prove him
a calumnator.
He accused Sumner Of having pretended TO
quote from the constitution of South Carolina
that which Is not found in it. One thing Is GER
tain-ether the Senator did not read the Com
sti,uon. or if he did he could not understand ii
Laughter.
Mr. Butler expressed the opinion that this
speech of Mr.. Summers would be condemned by
the public mind of the country, and would be
consigned to infamy by posterty far the mis-.
chievous consequences which have flowed from
it already, and which were likely in the future
to disturb the pence and repose If the country
Mr.. Butler had said nothing Ia Justify the gross
personal abuse and calumny with which he had
been assailed; he had been very guarded in his
remarks during the whole Of this exciting debate
Independent of the personalities which has eA.
torted and disgiaced MIR. summers speech, there
nothing in it TO distinguish it from all his
other abolition speeches.
H. noticed Mr. Summers charge of the shame
full inlbecitY of South Carolina during the revo-
lutionary war. in consequence ct slavery, and re-
puted the allegation that but for Northern aid
the South could not have sustained itself in that
struggle. South Carolina sent Massachusetts,
bread and seventy barrels of wine. The Maine
law not then in operation. Laughter The
very powder used by massachusetts, after the bat
lie of Bunker Hill, was furnished by South Caro-
lima. which. in the revolution poured out hogs
head of blood, where Massachusetts, poured out
but gallons. He characterized the remarks
of Sumner applied to him as indecent and utter
ly unit to be as they were, uttered in the pr es-
ence CT gallery of ladies'.
Mr. Butler strongly condemned the resolutions
of the Massachusetts Legislature relative TO the
assault on Mr.. Sumner. saying that Mr.. brooks
had been indicted on mere newspaper rumnrs'ann
with precptancv of Judgment incompatible
with Legislative dignity and justice. Mr.. Brooks
could not 90 into drawing room TO public
place, after Mr.. summers speech was delivered
without the question being asked-"llas South
Carolina chiva!ry escaped. and Is there to be tame
submission to such insults!" He felt as if he
could not look his constituents in the face with
out being tainted with dshonor. The Senate
had before been profaned by the Senator from
Massachusetts. lie (Mr. Butler) would rather
take ten blows than to endure the gas ofthe rhet-
orcian. pouring out calunnes upon his State
Something must therefore, be pardOned to the
sensibilites of man acting under the dictates
of manhood and honor. Without concluding, Mr..
Butler gave way for motion to adjourn, which
prevailed.