Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-05-31
WHOLE NO. 487.
From the Savannah Republican.
The Array In the senate Chsmbe,


we apprehend there il no right shrinking American
VINO does NOT consider the affair in the Senate on the
Saa lns. a. least most nfortunsss occurrence and
our sense OF duty and regard for public proprietv and
the character OF the nation do Otherwise thsn record
our unqualified condemnation Of both the principal
parties parties 70 the transaction-of Mr. Sumner for bis
stors and outrage upon the decorum Of that august
assemblage, and Of Mr.. Brooks that he shoud Rave
been induced by any sort Of provocation, to enter
within the walls OF chamber hitherto regarded az
sacred and mpenetrable TO violsnce and there strike
70 the foor with cane or budgeon an unarmed Sci
ator who was quietly seated at his desk.
The question 10 not whether Mr.. Sumner As an IN
dividua deserved the iltreatment which he receiy-
ed, or whether the public would have overlooked
such an assault if committed In the avenues of fWsst.
ington, or at public hotel The latter contingency
might DC held as afordng SINE mitigation Of the act
OF violence Mr.. Summer, however, is invested with
dignity IN his person and character not derived
from any individual merit of his own, or dependent
LOT It's existence upon proper and becoming dis
charge 81 bis personal obhsations, He is Senator
OF the United States the Representative of one of tie
sovereign States Of the great American Union and
such II but due to that State and TO the Union that
his person should be held sacred. This is neither N
arstocratic exemption, nor sublmated refinement Of
our own but IT Is based on great principle upon
which ID built up those invaluable features Of our RI
publican government freedom Of speech and perfect
Independence IN the representative Of the people.
Our fathers recognised and impressed it an a legs-
cy TO their children in the constitution which they
gave US. They not only decreed that the person Of
Representative should be sacred and privileged
from arrest but also that he should not be 30 much
as questioned for any speech or debate in either
house, there or !" IN any place" Let such be the ur.
derstandng Of the country, and let violence and fe
rocty be abolished from the councils Of the natiop
Should a Representative turn blackguard prove re-
creant to the courtesies of gentleman and abusive
OF the privileges Of his station let him be banshed
from the society Of bis fellows, and punished with
their scorn and contempt. Adopt this rule, and we
shall have speedy end to personal detracton fst-
cuffs, and rufianism in the halls of Congress- The
code of the pugilist, instead Of remedying abuses
will continue TO infame and nggravate Them
AS bearing upon the reputation of our country
abroad, tn affair is equally To be depored 1t is the
hrst instance of the kind in our history fact which
adds no little to the responsibility Of those who set
the example, and we feel well assured that had SEN
ator Butler, the real party aggrieved been in WASH
lngton, the country would have been spared the NOR
thcation it now feels We fully agree with Mr. Ben
ton that In its most serious aspects ait 10 not ques
tion relating to Mr.. Sumner, nor to Mr. Brooks Il
Is higher question:. II affects the name Of Repub-
licanisln. The names of those gentlemen may not be
remembered after being once repeated, throughout
Europe; but this will. The memory of 1t
will live as reproach to our form of government
until something even more disreputable shall eface
it."
Again this affair is unfortunate az regards its pro-
babe effect upon our domestic relations, already
ashed into fury by the exciting questions Of thd day.
There is much that 10 gloomy and fearful before us
and every good patriot should feel it to be bis high
est duty, to the full extent Of his powers to pour oil
on the waters and calm the political sea-