Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-12-20

IN iiVuse Oi representatives, Ocl. SSih,
lsse.
Read and adopted
NoRMiS WILLIAMS, JR., Asst Clsrk
10 Senate, Nov 9Th, 1856.
Read aud adopted in concurrence.
G. II. CHAPMlS, !Sec0ary.
No. 63.-Rcsoluiions touching the outrage up
on the person Of the Hon. Charles Sumner,
WnrRras, On the twcniy.sccond day Of
M,y last, the Hon. Charles Sumner, Senator
from Massachusetts, while in his seat in the
Senate Chamber. WAS violenily assaulted With
weapon Of attack, by Preston 5. Brooks, a
member Of the House Of Representatives, from
South Carolina and beaten 10 insensibility up.
on The floor " the Senate. which vas stained
wnh his blood that the assailant sought the
Senate Chamber 10 perpelraie the outrage,
provided with his weapon and attended by
follower in its aid, and taking his unarmcd vic
tim unawares, and in posture which rendered
defense impossible, by a heavy blow utterly
disabled him, and with cruel repetition inflicted
frequent aud bloody wounds upon his PROSTATE
helpless form, from which injury, now, after
the lapse Of five months. the honorable Senator
has not fully recovered, but still llngnishes
under il that the snle reason alleged for this
widen, outrage, was speech made by Soma.
tor Sumner in debate upon public question
then pending 10 the Senate, not 4 word Of
which. during its delivery. was made the sub
jec, of objection By The President Of the Sea
ate or any Senator, and which was concluded
on the twentieth day vi May last therefore
Rcsoircd, That we sincerely and respectful
~ tender our Sympathy To senator Sumner ia
The personal outrage indiclcd upon him, aud
the anguish and peril which he has suffered aud
still suffers from that outrage, and that we feel
and proclaim that his grievance and his wounds
are not Of private concern. bu, were received
willie in the public service. and every blow
which fell upon his head should be recognized
and resented as al insult and an Injury 10 the
honor and dignity, not only of Massachusetts,
but Of Vermont, anj vital attack upon the CON
stiiuiion of The Union.
Resolreri, That the right Of the citizen to Ut
ter his opniuus on all subjects affecting the
public veal, is one of The essential distinctions
between free and despotic government, and
that without it republic cannot exist; that
the free and full enjoyment Of This right was
not denied to the American people even when
colonies; that 1t was established before the cIn-
sti,u,ion, and lis security guaranteed by pruyis-
ions Incorporated in that instrument and that
it is right which the people Of this country
cannot surrender, without an abandonment Of
al their privileges as freemen. and the over.
throw Of those institutions and liberties which
they inherit as The price Of many patriotic
struggles and sacrifices.
Rssolced, That in this ferocious, brutal and
cowardly outrage on the unarmed person Of
distinguished senator, whose generous and rare
qualities as nan, whose purity, eaihu.;.a assn
aud fidelity as a philau,hropisi, whose accom-.
rlishmenls as a scholar, Whose abilities. earn
estness and eloquence .: statesman, have en-
deared him TO the hearts Of so many Of his
couniTymen who love freedom and hate oppres-
Sion We recognize, without expressing approx.
al or dlsapproyal Of the sentiments enumerated
in the speech which preceded and furnished &C.
caslun fur this shameful occurrence. not only a
malignant blow at the right Of free speech,
which is the necessary condition Of our contin-
ued existence as free, united and enlightened
people, but a direct. oainaJle and aaor,n, vic.
laiion Of the express terms of the constitution
securing to members of congless freedom in de-
bate, and of those safeguards which. in every
Country not absolutely despo,ic. invest with a.
cred inviolabilny the office of leeislaiinn.
Resolped, That in The approbaiion EXPRESSED
BY leading journals as well as individual ci;i-
zens and popular assemblies, in certain quar-.
tiers, toward the prominent actor in this unpre.
cedenled and detesiabIc crime, and in the dis
,inci and uneqLivocal approval Of i, which has
heen publicly EXPRESSED by REPRESENTATIVES, and
senators in congress; and above all. in the wish
which has been publicly expressed that SINH.
men holding similar opinions with senator Sum
ner, is plain to be recognized spirit if pos,i.
BILE more deliberately maliguan, than that which
inspired The first assault, and more threatening
10 the perpeluiiy Of The Union than ANYTHING
which southern arrogance has before eIhiSi,-
ed.
Eei0!red, That in this .,r,nee and nn,-rec