Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-10-30
Col. De witt and his Apology.

We quote the following from the transcripts
report of Col DeWitt's speech at Horticultural
Hall, so that the public may have the benefit of
the most friendly Interpretation of it,
"The Worcester Spy. he said, had attacked
him for some time past with much bitterness,
he would not say calumny or abuse, though
perhaps it desery ed the name, but he used
no harsh words of any man. He had been ac-
cused, he said, of being untrue to his constit-
uency in the matter of the Sumner assault
Now, what are the facts =; Col. Dewitt said
that he was, as all present knew, prevented
by severe illness from being at Washington
wheu that most dastardly and wicked outrage
upon Senator Sumner was committed, but he
thanked God that He gave him health suffi
Gent TO return to his post of duty, and that
he had the privilege Of vottng on every ques-
ton OF Importance, and of making an inefface.
able record that his friends might read. When
the question was taken on the expulsion of
Preston S. Brooks, the cote of Col. De Watt aoas
cast for his expulsion, which Brooks richly de-
served ; on every question relating to the dis.
posal of Brookss case, his voice and his vote
were always found with the whole band of
the friends of freedom on the same side, and
where Massachusetts would desire them to be
found.
When it came 10 the question of expeling
keitt and Edmundson, the chairman of that
committee, Mr.. Campbell OF Ohio, ask ed for
more time it was refused then Col. De.
Witt voted Nth a large majority of the Amer
leans and Republicans to divide the report of
the committee, and have each man stand on
his oson merits or dement's in this vote nearly
| all the Republicans voted with COL Dewitt.
For the censure OF Keitt he voted as did the
rest and upon the question of censuring Ed
mundson, he voted with 1876 against to 60 for
| censuring Edmundson, because he believed
| honestly that injustice was done to that mem
Der by the report in that vote he agreed with
such men as Sabin Of Vermont, Woodruff Of
Connecticut, Campbell. Nichols, Gallo way,
and others of Ohio, Milward, knight, and
Puryianee Of Pennsylvania, and long list Of
more than forty others, all of whom have
been the truest friends of freedom. =
Have these men been untrue to freedom
Then, said the speaker, have 1 been un-
tue Have these men "lost their back
bone y Have'they done an act OF which an
honest man or true friend Of freedom ought
to be ashamed; then has Col. Dewitt so act.
ed and not oterwise.-By this act he was
ready TO stand, and was satisfied that oil hon.
est men would approve this act. 1t required
as much or more courage and backbone tc
take and maintain this position in Edmund.
sons case, than il did to expel Brooks. IL,
| (Col. DEWITT had in all his votes in thi
matter, done what he believed TO be his dutl
to his constituents and to his-country. Col
Dewitt showed most conclusively that hi
course in all this matter is not only free from
reproach, but was just what Massachusetts
man should have BEEN"
Why this pitiful cry from Col. Dewitt, Of ca
lumny and abuse from the SpyS Is there sin
gle fact which the Spy has stated either on on
side or tho other Of his case which the Col. ha