The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-17
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON, D. C, JULY IT. 1856

Senate Chamber, selected in humble imitation
of that audacity which induced Verres to Sc
lect the forum of the people for his wanton
and cruel assault upon q Roman citizen
In this transaction, sir, what is wanting to
make this atrocity the parallel in all respects OF
that atrocity of Verres, which subjected him to
the burning invective of the great Roman ora
tor? What is the offence of the Massachusetts
Senator, that he, though an American citizen,
whose person, by the Constitution Is sacred, Is
subjected to this outrage and indignityT 1t Is
said of him, as was said by Verres, of the
scourged Roman citizen, "He is sent htther
spy by the leaders of runaway slaves. That
Senator, sir, comes from Massachusetts, where
are Lexington, and Concord, and Bunker Hill,
and the Rock of the Pilgrims" where every
sod's soldiers sepulchre where are the
footprints of the apostles and martyrs of Free
dom-that State which allowed trembling
fugitive, fleeing only for his LIBERTY, to lay his
weary limbs to rest upon Warren's grave-that
State whose mighty heart throbbed with human
sympathy for the flying bondman, who, guilty
of no crime under the forms of law, but In vio-
lation of its free spirit, walked in chains be-
meath the shadow of Faneuil Hall, where linger
the sacred memories of the past and the echoes
of those burning words, DEATH OR DELIVER
ANCE. For this, that he represents this senti-
ment of Massachusetts-say the endorsers and
approvers of this assaulted the Senator,
though an American citizen, be scourged; for
this, like Verres, they cry, Let him be beaten
with rods in the forum of the people-let him
suffer not only in sight, but in the very pres
ence of his country, of liberty, and the laws,
and let America see her son die by the misera-
BILE and painful punishment commonly inflicted
on slaves.
While the Representative from South Caro-
lima inAicts this punishment upon the Senator
from Massachusetts, in the temple of the Repub-
lie, an orator Of South Carolina, in the Capitol
of that State, is reported to have said, that
he considered the castigation applied at the
right time, in the right place, on the right in
dividual, by the right man, and NTH the right
instrument-that instrument by which we chas-
tise the objects of Senator Summers false
hearted benevolence and hypocritical humanity
when they become iusolent."-( South Carolina
Tmes.) All parties in South Carolina, it ap-
pears, are ready to approve this act-even the
slaves come with their tribute of admiration.
Speaking of this, the South Carolinian, pub
lished in Columbia, South Carolina, says:
ITO add the browning glory to the good work, the
ton and will present appropriate their regard
him Mr. BRooKsl who has made the first practical
globe"
Commenting upon this, the Charleston Mer-
curry South Carolina) says:
"was the like of this ever before published in news
paper South Carolina The negroes Columbia have
and the south Carolnian lauds the crownng glory
to the good work. Now, meetings in South Caro-
North, proper enough. But when in the capital of
the State are permitted appauded and urged
is spectacle DISCUS ing il is novel We blush for
the State where such things permitted If slaves
can publicly congratulate, may they not publicly
demn!2
Well considered; these slaves are the victims
of oppression; the iron has entered their souls;
and, If PERMITTED TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS.
THEY MIGHT CONDEMN
But, cir, South Carolina is not alone in
this approval: Georgia, by her Senator, Mr..
ToOMBs, approves Illinois, by her Senator,
Mr.. DOUGLAS, approves; this city, by a part
OF her press, approves; and Virginia, by her
press, approves. quote from the Washington
Sentinel, published here, of date 9th May last,
the following:
"If Massachusetts will recall such man; if the
dtor tSUMNER will not hold himself for such
insults TO has fellow Senators what is TO he done Moth
ing this world but covhide bad manners our of him
or good manners into lin"
And from the Richmond (Va.) ENQUIRER. of
I'd June, quote the following:
In the MAN, the press the South applauded the con-
duct of Mr.. BROOKS without condition or Limitation (ur
APPRECIATION a; least is entire aud preserved We ,n
slider the good in conception. better execution and
best OF ali IN consequences. These vulgar Aboons,s
in the Senate are getting above Themselves IT,, h
been HUNDRED until they forget their position They have
saucy. aud dare to be impudent gentlemen!
1They mu I be last ed INTO subms sion SIr,xvv -
particular, ought TO have -thriy early every
morning"
There, SIT, is the avowed purpose of this as
sault. Before the fact, the boast was awe
will subiue you" after the fact, the arrogant
avowal is, I'VE will lash you into submission
There are men who are not yet dashed into sub
mission. l have no further word of comment.
leave this offensive avowal to that swift and
overwhelming rebuke which it will receive at
the hands of insulted freemen
L have spoken, sir, strongly-but not more
strongly than feel-of this offence. While |
disclaim any personal luminosity or i'll will to-
wards the member from South Carolina Mr..
Books j while l scout with scorn that grim
Pagan honor of the olden time, which "deem-
Ell vengeance duty, and forgiveness crime"
cannot evade the conclusion, if would, that
stern, irrevocable justice demands at our hands
that the offender shall suffer the penalty which
the Constitution afixes to his lawless act-ex
pulsion from this House. whose privileges he
has forfeited. That, sir, is my Judgment; it
could be no otherwise if the member from South
Carolina were my brother. 1t is the first time.
sir, in the history of our Government, that a
member of this House has dared, in violation
OF his oath and of the Constitution to insult the
majesty of the people in the Senate Chamber.
by there deliberately assauting and beating a
Senator for words spoken in debate. Let this
offence be punished to the fullest extent of our
power; and let such an enactment be passed
wit oil will
ddctous crime such penalty as will deter a
repetition of the offence by any man for all
time to come. Let it be provided, si-. by law.
that whoever, at any time or place within the
jurisdiction of the United States, shall assault.
or aid or procure another to assault. any Sena.
tor or Representative of the United States for
words spoken In debate in either House. such
person shall, upon conviction thereof. be i'm.
prisoned as a telon in the penitentiary. Let
him be cut off, like other criminals. from the
fellowship of freemenI let the anathema of an
offended and outraged people fall upon him
let him be shut out from the comforts of home.
from the sweet protection of the laws, and from
that light in which we live.
Sir, desire not SO much that the member
from South Carolina should suffer, as that others
may learn obedience to the laws by his exam.
pie. Let us in this emergency lift ourselves
"u0'e ." ioeai Preluuice, or mere personal con-
siderations, and embrace within our vision our
whole country. That country, sir, is something
more than the narrow spot which Immediately
surrounds us; it is something more than that
noble Commonwealth in which it pleased God
to poar the first beam of light upon my under
standing-where are the graves of my kindred
and the home of my childhood. Our country
embraces these, and more; it includes the
East and the West, the North and the South,
of this great Republic-this entire sisterhood
of States-with the homes of all their living
and the graves, the sacred homes, of all their
dead These these naka nm - aa.-.