Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-06-06
~ 't' W '"'a'if fNt""iN journal
LawIeSSness ia nigh Places.
TIE LATE BRUTAL ASSAULT UP
ON SENATOR SUMNER.

ON SENATOR SUMNER.
We have no disposition to multiply words
upon this painful, and every way, disgrace
iul outrage and abuse. II is scarcely nos
slole 10 say much about such transaction.
and maintain good temper, without bridhnu
ones rage and Just indignation TO the point
OF absolute apathy. The thing Is so much
out OF the ordinary course OF manly and
honorable conduct, To say nothing Of gentle
manly and Christian courtesy, that one might
almost as well argue against the introduce
ton OF buH-hghts, gladlutoral sports, or even
the auto da les OF the Roman lnqus,tion, as
to SIT down grayely 10 canvass the bearing
OF such occurrences upon the national char.
acter And 1t the thing could be, IN any
sense regarded, as merely accidental. or oc.
caslonal, 10 It's occurrence, and one which IS
not likely soon to recur, It would no doubt
be unwlse TO dwell much upon It. Murders
and assassnauons will always occur, mor,,
or less frequently, IN all times, and under all
governments. But when before has It ever
been known IN a civilized and Christian Re.
public, that these brawls and butcheries and
assassnau0us, were Of almost daily occur
renee, within The very walls Of It's Capitol 2
1t would seem that II was time for US to look
ABOUT ana begin sobery TO estimate the value
OF such government Yes we must say.
that such things cannot fail to drive the more
siaid and consldeule into the serious cacul-
auon OF the value Of the government.
The occasion Of the assault upon MrSum-
ner was contessedly a retaliation for words
spoken IN debate, matter of pure privilege.
IN all free governments. II Is a thing Tor
which no man can be called TO account. how
much soever II may be abused, IN any civil
tribunal. The assembly where the debate
Is held, IS the only and final tribunal for the
determination of all questions Of abuse Of
this privilege. Even the bloody code of
honor has never deemed Il consistent with lis
own barO0rous aud sangunary dogmas. 10
attempt to regulate and prescribe the limits
OF this most indispensable privilege of u
Tree government But the lawlessness of
the Capitol Is bringing the liberty Of speech.
IN debate, and Of the press too, 10 the tyran-
meal and barbarous rule Of mere brute force
Twice IN the last few months, has this been
openly and unblushlngly attempted by mem.
bers OF the Congress of the United States
either absolutely within the walls. or IN tho
very purlleus VI the national Capitol. When
dad the like or any thing similar, ever occur
before, 10 any iree country When did II
ever occur IN any Christian or civilized
county? Nay when did It ever occur mn
any country under any government, bar
barous or civilized? And Is IL not time
high time, for sober men to begin to colcul.
ate the value OF such government?
The truth Is we have no government -
There Is no protection, no sure protection
Tor LIE, liberty properly aud happiness m
such a brutal, bar0arous, bloody, uncviIzsd
aud unchrlstan mode Of administering the
forms of government which Ia fact. has
oecoms literally, what the king Of LYDIA
said TO Sol0n, OF his famous Athenian c1,ie
a spiders web, to catch feeble hies, and 10 b,,
broken through, and trampIed under foot by
the stronger
Now It Is probably not true, that Mr.. Sum
nef even abused his privilege OF debate
for u so, tue persons malgned would b We
Oeen content 10 trust the matter with pubhe
opinion, winch ls sure to afford a speedy
correction OF mere abuse, aud disastrous
recoll Is sure TO follow; Tins Senator But.
Ter aud ms redoubtlble nephew, the Hon.
MI brooke, know, as well as any body else.
Ihey are not simple men, whatever else we
may think ui them, They understand Der.
iecily well, that ialsahooI aud Islander are
shor1-lVed every where. Ave, but truib.
aud such truth, as Senator Sumner heap.J
upon the devoted head OF Senator Bn. Ter
such truth cannot be answered or nut down
One may assault aud brulse ana bear. evan,
TO DEATH the uterer OF such truth. Ram
VIII rise again, and these men feel thai nnJ
1t 70 feeling OF such awful distress mi
agony, that they can find NO relief but IN
murder and assassination!
These men have been SO long accus,omsI