The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-08-22
NILSCGLSIANA. y.
Speech of Hon. James 7. Or,

Speech of Hon. James 7. Orr.
IN the House Of Representatives,, JUiy o,
1856. The House hcring undcr cc"sHi-
Grafton tie report Of Tire committee on
tic alleged assault Of I{oa. Preston s..
Brooks o@ Hon. Uayles ,S"na,scr, OF
the Senate.
Mr.. SPEAKER: l will not enter into M
elaborate reply to the spcccl, which i,,s lccn
delivered by the gentleman from Ohio, lMr.
Bingham. One or two assertions made by
that gentleman must notice, however, and
notice them very distinctly. After in,lu!-
glng in an intensely exquisite paroxysm of
transcendcntal cloquence about the wrongs
of Kansas, lie says that Senator Sumner was
stricken down in consequence of his plead
ing in behalf of the people Of that Terri
tory. ! know that sncll IN impression has
been already attempted 10 be produced on
the public mind. The statcirent is not
warranted 10y the facts: it is untruc.s The
facts arc these: My colleague Mr.. Brooks !
approached Mr.. Sumner and said:
II have read your speech carefully, and
with rs much calmness as could be expect.
cd to read such speech. Iou have liJcir.l
my State, and s!andcrcd my relation, who i>
aged and absent, and feel it to he INV ,l,,
tyto punish you for it, ;'-
There is the cause Of the assa,lIt-not
That the Senator from massachusetts made
speech against the repeal Of the Missouri
compromise, and in favor of the admission
of Kansas into the Union as n State under
the Topeka constitution-not in rrotcsta.
tion against what l,c calls the wrongs Of
Kansas-no, sir, my colleague was actuatc.l
by noLler impulses. lie had heard of the
Senator's speech; but when he saw in print
the language inlulgel in agai,s. his native
State and near and aged linsnan, then
absent, he felt that there was high and
holy obligation resting on him to step for
ward and repel thc insult made on the
character of his State and his relative.
Mr.. Speaker, with reference to personalities
in debate, have to say this have been
n Representative on this floor for seven
years, and during that time have not
had personal controversy with any mem
Der. never hal occasion to Indulge in
invectivc against States or individuals. But,
sir, whenever feel called on to inveich
against any State or individual hold my.
sell responsible for what 7 ut!er out Of the
House as well as in it. There is no other
rule to DO observed whicl, can give mon
security against the libcls Of the fou-moutl
cd slandcrcr who chooses to indulge iahcm
under the privilege which he enjoys as
lponber OF this or the other House of Con
gress. DR.. Franklin was right when he
tered the sentiment, "My proposal, then, is
ITO leave the liberty of the press untouched.
to be exercised in its fhll extent, force and
vigor, but To permit the liberty Of tie cua-
gel to 60 with it 3'uri passu" lie might
base said the same thing of freedom of
speech: 1t is no more violation of the
freedom Of speech to hold man to person
{: ai'responsibility when he ,transcends what
'legitimately belongs to the argument
ttoseMl n member. to account outside ot
the Hall for what lie speaks or. publishes
l.ninstIy inyeiyhing against another, than
It is a violation of the freedom of tue press
to hold to personal responsibility an editor
who prostitutes his columns with ISLANDERS
against individuals for which they have nc
adequate efcnelys Is it, not an everyday
occurrence that editors slanderipg people
meet with their justreward--a broken head
That IS as great IL violation of the Gonsti
tutioi;, = securing freedom of, the press, ri
gentlemen pretend has been. committed by
my colleague, on the Senator from Massa
cGusetts; and yet would this House take
cognizapce Of the. affair, Or would they lei
ihe courts, the proper judicial tribunal5f 5fol
judging of offences, administer justice be
tween the parties 1921 q. -ra y .F'.e .
There was another thing said by tho gen