The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-12

been circulated against him in the North and if few
years hence he should go into that section how would ne
stand and what would be thought OF hmf But the CIR
cuaon of such speech this that section an IN
jury only TO him. but TO the community there sup
pose that few years hence felon from the penlenar
should be candidate for the Senate for some other OIL
flee and his bad character should be charge
against him. He might say 1T Is true that am rather
bad man. but look at Senator BUTLER am not quite
bad as he is tell the truth sometimes but he IS
covered with all sorts OF nfamy ana YET ne mas peeh
senator for many years In other words the crSuia
ton OF such bss tendency lower the tone OF the
public mind vitiate It's TASTE and destroy its morals and
regard that greater evil than occasional assauS anu
| batteries. ....@.. a.....
AS long as there are men in the world who value char
acter more than life efforts will be made to resentby yio
lence il on it. Because Is in free
country surrounded by perls is not the less priced In
deed like all else that is valuable must at times cost e
fort protect it. "Tke rose is guarded by It's thorn the
/ honey Is defended by the bee" ......
Mr. Speaker maintain, then in the hrst place that the
gentleman from South Carolina has committed breach Of
the privileges of the Senate the Senate not being In session
the time Of the assault maintain in the second place
that he did nothing wrong in going into the SENATE cham
ber 30 far the place ia concerned maintain in the
third place. that senator has no such privilege as puts
him better footing than any other citizen as far as
protection his person concerned from assaults and
batteries II he is beaten his assailant like the assaan
OF any other man. ndctable he has also the remedy OF
civil action for damages and be has those other RENE
dies to which have alluded. AS to expellng member
for dsordery conduct that of means such conduct
as when in session, interrupts business But be-
fore take my seat want to say one word ON another
|
which the resolutions OF one OF the northern
ordered to be printed, demanding believe that we
should expel the gentleman from South Carolina recoi-
lec also that resolutions came in here nom the state
of Massachusetts, very denuncatory in their character and
| instructng us to expel him forthwith.
Now, DO not mean to say anything against Massac h
must say that the majority of that legislature do not
assume that they represent the State uy-have placed
themselves in extraordinary position. Why do not
you and know, sir that man cannot be juror In
criminal anywhere where the common law prevails
who has expressed opinion as to the guilt OF the ac-
cused
Was it ever heard that any body of men, jurors or
Judges could with proprety be allowed to pass upon any
which they had preudged before hearing the evil
dence Every member of that Massachusetts, legislature
who voted for the resolutions would be disqualified from
sitting in this juror and yet they assume to
instruct US forthwith to expel the gentleman from South
Carolina Has the constitution given them any such au-
thorty? 1t is not pretended that it has The constitution
Of the United States says shall be the judges OF these
matters and may punish members for disorderly con-
duct Have they any right to instruct us? Suppose we
had passed resolution years ago. and instructed the
Massachusetts, legislature to expe certain notorious men,
Der who gave the name OF Hiss to that legislature Tor MS
misconduct: how would they have received that2 And
yet might have said that the constitution OF the
United States and the laws made under it, to over
ride the constitutions and laws of the States where they
come in conflict therefore the will of Congress should be
superior that of the Massachusetts legislature But on
what principle is it, ask that they assume TO instruct
us We sitting here jurors or judges and they have
the modest send here their orders to direct us
The remarkable thing of all that in passing this
resolution they do not TO have said word about
the greatest offence in the ransactionthe offence OF their
against decency and the propriees
of the Senate chamber and of all that is commendable in
genemany bearing and of the direct attempt to degrade
the Senate itself the level Of the lowest haunts of black
guards There portions Of that speech, Mr. Speaker
which gentleman here would like to read
aloud to his family But have already briefly character
lied some of its features, and now forbear.
Is not singular that this Massachusetts, legislature and
the other legislatures that have alluded to this matter have
met f h TSss at a iPs
at gna because they have already sgdllowed camel.
They have already been able to swallow this gross offence
and being gorged now, cannot take In little Then
look all these meetings that took place in the North
Not word said about that speech. Does this not
show extremely vtiated taste in the geersup Of these
meeings2 Who is there that would not regard it
greater evil to be wanony and grossly aspersed and have
his character TO suffer- than to be stricken unusy
Will not every at least agree that he who wantony
vifes another is criminal than the who,
sailed, chastses the wrong-doer2
hold then that there is nothing in the that dis
tngushes from the many similar occurrences to which
have alluded and which the House passed by without
even a censure
As breach of the law Of the District II Ia less Of
fence considering the great provocaon given than many
which have been very lightly punished by the courts
Nor does it afford ground for excitement in the country
Look back to already referred to. senator from
Pennsylvania was in the midst Of bis speech for words
then being uttered violently assaulted by another senator
and yet neither the Legislature Of his own State that
Of any other thought 1t worth while to say word
about the matter there any meetings held TO de-
nounce or complain of the act
As to the allegation that the freedom Of speech is in
danger the idea is too preposerous to merit refuation
Is there single member this floor that Of the Sen.
who pretends that he has been restrained by personal
fear at any time from saying whatever he desired to
Is Il not on the contrary true that we ALL at times
liable to say too much under the impulse of feelings
and that often desire to take back what have
ready said And does any suppose that either Of Mr.
SUMMERS predecessors in the Senate In the slight
danger of violence for words spoken there Who ever
thought of assaultng Webster John Davis Everett
or Choate Bates Winthrop or In short any Of the
ustrous with which, In former times Massachusetts,
honored the public councis2
i did intend Mr. Speaker to have said something about
the efforts that being made in various quarters
ate political capital out Of this affair But II do
so would have to refer to matters which
sarly connected with this case-to Kansas the slave
power the slave ogarchy and various other things of
which gentlemen the opposite side speak In connection
with this action II to refer to these things should
be led astray from tie path Of duty The gentleman from
South Carolina ought TO be preudced by such refer
He entitled to trial the merits Of his own
acts and should not be sufferer because others may
4 been wrong.
These very attempts of the prosecutors to bring to their
aid all these extraneous circumstances and preudioes
show that they themselves conscious of the weakness
of their cause and seeking therefore, to get such help
| as they are not entitled 10 use.
and those who with me- do not justify assaults
and batteries in the eye Of the law but we say they
be excused and extennaed by gross outrags commit
ted against character and that this Of kind
II should be left entirely, therefore, the action Of the
courts to be punished properly according Its merits or
dement's, by the judicial tribunals Of the country.
SHocnsG MURDER YOUNG LADY.-A letter in the
New York Tribune dated Erie county, Pennsylvania July
8, relates the following tragedy growing out Of love