Washington sentinel., 1856-05-27
MIR. BROOKs,s CHAsTIsEmENT OF
MR. SUMMER

BhOOhS'S OF
MIR. SUMNER.
We have omitted any alusion to this occur
renee further than to copy into our columns the
account of it given in another journal
This delay has not been occasioned by the
least difficulty in making up our minds upon
the subject. On the contrary, We were at once
equally clear as 10 the necessity of the proceed
/ ing and the manner in which it was discharged.
but rather strengthened, by the low ribaldry
and abuse with which the columns of the Abo-
lition sheets TEEN against a spirited and hon
orable gentleman.
Charles Sumner, Senator from Massachu-
setts to the United States Senate, has been for
years riotng not only in the most reasonable
and damnable heresies that ever issued from
the lips of one, calling himself an American,
but skulking behind the chivalrous code of
non-combatancy, which he and his foul-mouthed
fraternity have established for their insolent
fcentiousness, he has thought proper latterly
to commence a system of assaults upon hon
orable Senators from other States, in which the
rules, courtesy and decorum of the Senate have
been hagranty violated. Not only, however,
has he forgotten in this, the dignity that should
attach to United States Senator, but he has,
in his late speech, violently outraged even the
ordinary decencies of common life, by the en-
ployment of language which would have been
offensive to the lowest society of either man or
womanl
With the United States Senate gallery filled
with American ladies, this senatorial proAigate
stands forth, and audaciously utters language
calculated to bring the blush to the cheek of
every honest woman within his hearing He
seems to parade with infinite gusto his familiar
| acquaintance with style of life, which he so
graphically depicts, and disregarding the pre-
sence he is in, becomes the public insulter of
female dehcacy, sensiblity, and refinement
What lady can feel herself secure in visiting the
Senate chamber in future, while such votary
OF vulgarity is allowed to hold place on that
| floor?
| But the insult of Charles Sumner to the
courteous and manly Senator from South Caro-
| lima was most gratuitous and uncalled for
Nor did the absence of this Senator, not only
from his seat, but in distant State, soften the
malevolence of his TRADE.
What, then, under this state of things, was
to be done Is there young man in whose
| bosom there beats manly throb, who does
not justify the relative of Judge Butler in re-
sentipg this gross assault in his absence, upon
his integrity, intelligence, and virtue? 1t seems
there no rules Of the Senate which are
operative to arrest such a proceeding and to
punish the offender. If the Senate has not
the power, or having it, does not choose
to exercise IT, impeach or expel one of its
own body for such disreputable conduct,
where does the redress reside? If Massachu.
setts will not recall such man-if the Senate
will not eject him or control him-if the man
senator will not hold himself responsible for
such insults to his fellow. senator's ,chat is to be
doneP nothing in this wide world but to cow
hide bad manners ont Of him, or good manners
into him. The institutions Of God-the insti-
tutions of man-the common laac Of society
point TO no other mode of redress for the
grievance. In our judgment, if the system
had been commenced long, long ago. it would
have been better for all parties. We do not
speak Of the right of those who differ with us
upon the slavery question, or their right to ex-
press that diference-by no means They
have that right; but hurtful as the expression
Of it may be to our feelings, we would not have
it impaired, but on the other hand, we will not
allow it to be aggravated by personal insults
and obloquy upon us.
But objection is made to the place where the
chastisement was bestowed, and great capital
IS sought to be made out of it by a hue and
cry of desecration of The Senate chamber
Well, this comes with charming grace from
the friends Of a senator who has chosen this
same consecrated spot for a vocabulary which
we blush to give place in our columns. The
Senate was not in session, and after a vain
search for c. Sumner elsewhere, Mr.. Brooks
was constrained TO give him his deserts upon
the very spot from whence he issued his vulgar
libels upon bis distinguished relative.
Much as the necessity for such an extreme
course may be regretted, we are happy to be.
lieve that this occurrence will do much to put
a stop to the too common and unsenatorial
mode Of warfare in that body. We trust that
il may be so, and that the most august legisla-
tive body in the world may return, in its pro.
ceedings and bearing, to the days when its
dignity and tone commanded the admiration OF
our own and the other countries OF the world.
MIR. sEDDoN,s SPEECH.