New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-06-14
SPEECH OF RICHARD II. DANA, JR., ESQ.
From The Boston dfLos


saw to night of my native town. shall hardly atemp;
at this late hour hslfpas 10 o'clock ~ g over again
the general topics that have been ably presented By
those who have spoken before. Let us address our
selves TO the question-What is to be done What ID
Massachusetts, what are we, going to do about it
But cannot if would, altogether withdraw my
thoughts from this personal outrage upon MT sumner:
TO me-" l cannot allow myself to call up that scene
in the Senate House, LETT l should feel more than
shall b. able to express or be willing to betrdy Bos-
ton, iie native town, has spoken Next TO Boston,
there is no place SO dear to him as Cambridge. lie Is
a true con Of Harvard. The beet years of his early
life, from fifteen 10 twentythree, he spent here-the
four years of College, nth year winch ne wisely
though unusually added 10 his course, for the per
fecting of his classical and general studies and the
three years of his studies in the Law School At the
Law School, his attainmens were not only great, but
wondeIfu and for purity Of character, kindnes. and
frankness he was respected and beloved by all. He
was the friend young he was, the beloved friend,
the frequent and honored guest of Story of Charming,
and of AllstOn He was the companion of your Long
honored by Mr.. Webster inf had almost sad-his
better days. He was the friend of every and of
every cause that deserved to have friend. At the
literature. He was the reporter OF Judge Storys de-
csoDs and the editor Of the Jurist, where the young
student will find the copious results of his enthusiastic
labors in his then beloved profession. When he
went abroad, he took nothing in hIs hand that his
own merits had not given him. He had not
clam that did not rest on character, learning and
talents Still under the age of thirty, he became in
Europe the bOnored friend of men whose names
have horored the world. Turning his back upon the
attractions of dissipation and fashion, he devoted him.
self the society OF the learned, the wle the phian
thropc, and TO all great and good objects. Thomas
Carlyle, in a letter TO America, says, I'VE have had
pOpulQr Sumner here, universally was he liked.
In Paris, while the Northeastern boundary question
was agitating England and America, and attracting
much If the attention of England, Sumner shut him
self into the libraries and public archives and produc
al he fhOuOhf n ~
almost exhausted, which, published in the great jour
nails of Europe and brought before Parliamen1 and
Councils, changed the aspect of the question in Eu
rope, and redounded to his great honor at home.
After bis return under the influence of DIR. Claiming
and in sympathy with Dr. Howe and Others he devoted
much of hi; time to the great PsanthrOpe and social
Prison Discipline; and gradually the overshadowing
social political aud national importance of the slave
question drew him first before the people and into pub
lie life. When his sentiments the slave question
we've to be sustained at the risk of his ease his inter-
ests, his friendships and his popularity he put them
all to the hazard. When proposed as candidate for
the Senatethe highest office Massachusetts can give
while bis election hung trembling in the balance,
week after week. when or two votes would secure
it, and this that thing said done, it thought
would gain them nothng would eon Induce Charles
his house to his Office, to speak to any man. he would
not make bow the more, nor put his hand to a
line however simple unobjectionabe, to secure the
result know have right to say this-lk know that
il this course he resisted temptations and advice and
persuasons which few men would not have yielded TO-
| lie was elected 1t was tribute to character and
| talent.
When be went to Washington, to fight almost alone,
with only two or three allies discOuntehanced by COL
leagues and cried down by the great majority, TO fight
the fight for Freedom he determined not 70 speak ON
the subject of Slavery until he had done all IN his
power 10 the confidence and goodwill OF his OPP
pont Dts. So far did he carry this that his friends here
feared that he was bending before the IDOL as Others
had bent He secured his footing as well as it could
be secured. AL but fanatics for Slavery admitted his
claims to personal affection and public respect On
this basis he took his stand for Freedom. You have
see the result. Few men in America have ever had,
perhaps no one man now has, so many readers as he
His opponents say that be barns the midnight lamp.
He does. And
How far that little candle throws It's beam"
His opponents, too, burn the midnight lamp, out as
YOU remember Sir the great Atheniau said. there s
difference between the objects on which their lamp
throws its glare and his.
He has been struck down in manner which his col
league has forever branded, and we declare II to-
night, as brutal, murderous and cowardly" Ihs is
bad but il is not that which stlrs the people OF the
FIee-States man. He asstruck down ior words
spoken in debate, and in the sanctuary OF his ONCE.
But this is not ALL 1t was done by Member OF Con-
gress and expressly for words spoken 10 debate But
this is not half. Ii will not be punished The man
who did the deed will not be expelled, nor VIII he be
punished, adequately, II at all by the Jaws OF the Us
tct of Columbiaa domain coded to Congress tor the
very purpose of enabling il to freedom OF debate
ano action by laws of its own All this may seem bad,
wrong grievOus, intoerabe. But have not oeguRto
name the great evil yet There are ninety representatives
from the Slave States Every present at the vote,
voted against inquiry There were several Senators
from the Slave States present at the assault BLOW
after blow fell on his defenseless head NO one knew
that the next blow might not be the fatal blow yet
not one interered; word, no cry, no motion les
Mr. Crittenden did Perhaps he did, at the close,
little but for that little he was threatened with chastse-
ment the spot. Not press south of the Potomac
has condemned the act. Not one public man, or pub
lie body has condemned il. On the contrary, all have
adopted and defendedt 1t is recognized policy
as a system, and commendaton and honor are
stimulated TO do the ike Already the leading South
| ern journals are pointing out the next victim kind
of Lynch law TO be instituted wherever the subject
| Of Slavery is involved.
Now, fenow.citizens, I beg you to ask yourselves
what all this indicates Let not be children, gazing
at the painful scene let us lift the curtain and look al
| the movers and actors behind.
Freedom of speech is at stake in Congress Free
dem in the choice OF institutions Is at stake IN Kansas,
Seven in every eight of the inhabitants OF Kansas de-
sire free nst,utions yet Slavery forced upon them
The people cannot select their institutions, nor can
| Congress prescribe Them Force governs-iregular,
unlawful, brute force governs and governs by aid
| and countenance of the National authorities
Mr. President the last census has demonstrate ed what
many have declared but few have believed, that un-
der the form of republic this country is now and has
long been governed by olgarchy. In the tree
Slater there are about seventeen millions OF free
inhabitants and no slaves. In the Slave states there
are four millions Of slaves owned by three hundred ana
ffy thousand owners These $50 900 owners of slaves
own the valuable land and the laborers, AND monopo-
lie the government Of the Slave States. \ ne nom
slaveholding free population is of little account. lhs
forms the pfyeged class the ogarchy. IL Is not Tor
tbe purpose of making them odious that use ms
name. II is the only proper designation Incladiug
the families of the owners there may De Two imiohs
of penons in the dominant class or order.
| This oligarchr has governed the whole country ana