The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-03
the QUESTION OF THE DAY.
>a>~N->s(e~>oSN>S~S>~>e>.-.>
Kansas Affairs in Washington and
Elsewhere,
The Cause Of the Gre at Excitement
Throughout the Country.
THE SPEECH OF SENATOR BUTLER,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
REPLY OF SENATOR SUMNER,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
80, &o., 10.
THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.

OF MASSACHUSETTS,
SOUTH CAROLINA Oh KANSAS.
sPssoA s1 Hen. A. r: Butler. Of ss.tA Caxp !,
linz, Dolly yssc sra In tho U"issd States Senate,
The Senate resumed the consideration of Mr..
Wellers motion to print ten thousand extra copies
accompanying documents, relative to affairs in the
Territory OF Kansas.
Mr.. HUNrxR-My friend from South Carolina,
who has the floor on this question, is not very well
postponed until tomorrow.
Several SENAroRs-Say Monday. There is spe-
cial order for tomorrow.
Mr.. BUTLER said:-Mr. President / prefer to
go on now. When obtained the floor the other
day upon this question, it was with vie " to make
q ve-y few remarks, in order to relieve the Senate
from any impression which might be made on it
by the statements made here on the responsibility
Of Senators or by newspaper communications,
in relation to the part which my friend, General
Atchison, has acted in Kansas affairs l intended
no more; and | shall endeavor to discharge that
duty before conclude the remarks which propose
now to submit
The debate on this subject Mr.. President, has
brought many things within its scope and has, in
my opinion, been made the occasion OF fearful indi
cations for the future. What the developements of
the future may disclose know not; but this much
will say before approach the main subject on which
intend to deliver my views, that we are reduced,
by the issue which has been made in Kansas to the
alternative either OF suffering the President, under
the message which he has sent to Us and the proca-
nation which he has issued, to exercise his high
Office to preserve the peace which is threatened to
be disturbed in Kansas, or subject ourselves to the
usurpahOn OF squatter sovereignty and the dscre-
ton of an uncalcuating fanaticism raising
whirlwind on which it may not be able to ride.
This is the issue which Is presented to us. For
if the President does not nerpose his authority to
preserve peace, l have no reason to conclude but
that the conflict between the two parties in Kansas
may result in the shedding of blood; and, sir, my
word for it, one drop Of blood shed in civil strife n
this country, in which parties have been distinctly
arayed 30 far as they be arrayed by their adv0
Gates, will have more effect on civilization and on
society than all the blood shed in all the battles Of
antiquity, or in the struggle at Borodino and the
battles which followed it. Sir, am entirely per-
suaded that it we are to approach what has been
threatened-a rupture OF this union--or If we are
to preserve the Union it is the duty of every man.
far as he can to throw his influence into the pub
lie opinion which will Justify the course of the Pre-
siden 80 as to be Tree from the consequences which
nay otherwise grow out Of this fearful issue, Yes,
sir il the South is forced to take her destiny in her
separate keeping let us do all we can to justify our
conduct before the tribunal of history; let do all
we can in the way Of explanation to dispel deuson
and rebuke the mad spirit which has infused itself
into the public mind in portion of this confede-
| racy. Danger may speak with loud trumpet to
| the ear of Reason and Justice.
1t may be said that / have passed through the
ordeal OF experience and perhaps of time and that
they have had their influence on my temper; but,
sir, look on anything like rupture in civil 60.
vernment, and especially such one as would
throw us Into the horrors OF anarchy with not the
same view as others who NAV be more intrepd
and who may think they can come out Of it with
out hazard to themselves. There Is nothing so mis-
chievous to society as any movement affecting its
stability, uncontrolled by responsibility and unregu-
lated by intelligence. Bgotry, fanaticsm and pre-
In-
fuence they have exercised their influence on the
issues OF the day.
Now, before approach the main point must
dispose Of some Of the remarks made by the
Senator from New Hampshire, (Mr. Hale.)
reply to his remarks because he has been in this
Chamber for longer period than the Senator from
Massachusetts (Mr. Wilson), and has had associa-
tions here which think ought at least to have tenn
pered some of his expressions. | do not intend to
use the language Of asperty in this debate if / can
avoid it, but allow me to say to the Senator from
New Hampshire that think, when he used some
not only in relation to the President Of
the United States, the chief magistrate of this
federacy, but in relation to the Supreme Court and
other departments of this government; and when he
allowed himself to read from newspaper, under the
signature of an anonymous writer statements in re-
ference to distinguished gentleman with whom he
had been associated here-I viii do him the justice
to say that hardly think he consulted the dictates
of his own nature; for / believe that generally he
has rather shown temper that would lift him
above such things, except when he acts as the COM
mitted archer pulling the arrow under the behests
Of his urging huntsmen. The Senator from
sectional, fanatical organization and, perhaps;
! he is not at liberty to deny the authority under
| which he has entered the Senate.
Sir, what did hear him say That the Supreme
Court of the United States the citadel Of slave
| ry. He did not know when he made that remark
how far it extended and what 1t might not embrace
Is he not associated with class Of politicians in this
country who have said that the constitution Of the
Tpik fVplo fol Of hair
| try-was the citadel OF slavery2 Yes, sir. | have
| had pamphlets within the last week laid on my
| desk, maintaining that the constitution of the
United States itself is the citadel of slavery; and
that, unless it is en down, and the institution Of
slavery thereby reSshed in all the States it is q
constitution which oushe 10 have validity and oh
| in paper called the Radical dboiiti0nist. When
the Senator speaks of the Supreme Court as the
citadel of the institution of slavery, he might
better have designated them as opposed to those
who have called the constitution OF their country
the citadel of slavery. Sir would prefer regardn ng
the Judges Of the Supreme Court, as far us know
anything of their decisions as the sentines and de-
tenders the constitutions constitution recognizing
the equality of the States, ana at least imposing on
them such obligations as that they are not permitted
to transfer their judgments into another jurisdiction
prescribed, suppose, by what is technically called
the higher lava jurisdiction Of discretion and pre-
jrdice.
They have not gone down or up-as gentlemen
may choose to consider ito the higher law. As
far as know the court-and have had intercourse
with Its venerated and venerable Chief Justice from
my official position as Chairman of the Committee
on the Judiciary do not believe have ever known
a body of men more honestly disposed to do their
duty under the obligations Of the power which gave
them the right to discharge judicial functions. be
eve when our first parents were driven out of Para
disc was under the suggestions Of the higher law.
The devil went in and suggested to Eve that there was
higher law; and, disregarding the law under
which she was placed in Paradise, she and her pos.
teriy have suffered the penalties Of disobedience
transgression is sin. wish to recognize no tribunal
and no set of opinions which will attempt to rule the
country except by some prescribed law and con-
stitstion laid down for them by those who give them
their official existence. believe that the Supreme
ally. Ibelieve their decision in the case of Prigg
and Pennsylvania has led to mischevous conse-
nnoncaa not intended hu the Court When the Court