New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-31
OLD CONNECTICUT ON FREE SPEECH
RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE LEGISLA-
TURE.
NEw.HAyEy Thurrdav NAV % 1886


TURE.
From Our Own Correspondent
NEw.HAvEs, Thursday May -, 1885.
The people OF Connecticut love free speech, free
so, free labor arr free mcn and have elected TO the
Legislature now m session who are ready and
able TO expound these nciples The intelligent yco-
mahTy OF Connecticut expressed their opinons a. the
polls recently, ard the cause OF freedom TiumpheI
III" members of the Legislature now in session, IN
Obedience 10 the dcrires OF their constituents have
proclaimed tier sentiments that subject, and have
honoed Themselves to-day by passing resolutions that
will forever r.douLd 10 their honor and credit. The
people of Connecticut heard the sad intelligence that
the noble SCsNTR was assaulted in the Senate Cham
Der of the United States and great wa the indis
nation that ihty demanded some action to be taken
by our Legislature. In accordance with this desire
the Legislature took up the matter and the joint
Standing Committee on Federal Relations IN Ide the
following report:
GtsLKAL Assembly, MAY SESSION, 1856.
Tie Joint Select Committee on Federal Relations
respectfully submit Ia the two Houses Of the General
Assembly the following statement, based upon the I'M
con,raocted reports of the public press.
On Tburtday, the 22d inst, Charles Sumner, Sen
aor Of the United States fom the State of Nassachu
sets, was asssiled with cowardly and brutal VIC
ence while occupying his seat in the Senate Chamber
at Washington. In the presence Of portion of his
fellow Sc ators with hand, and scarcely voice,
raised in bis aid with opp rtunty for seIf.deense
be was stricken down, bleeding and sense ess on the
floor of that Chamber, and lies sick and PROSTATE
Fl ION the injuries then received.
The avOw.d object of the outrage wa to 'infct
punishment for words spoken in debate III the course
Of the ordinary sesson of the Senate. Its effect has
been TO deprive a neghbOnng State of one half its
representation in that body since the day VI rs occur
renee.
IL the grave considerations which are Suggested by
this event, have not thought il requisi to notice
the person by whom the deed perpetrsted further
than TO demand his expulsion from the Legislative
body which be disgTacos. Any rufian may WELD
budgeOD; it is Constitution violated, a national
honor tamsbcd, which sartle and shock society
We respectfully recommend the passage of the
By trafr ous order Of the Committee
o : FERRY. Chairman.
Uhereas, A Senator Of the United States has been
assacd with brutal and cowardly violence on The floor
of the Senate Chamber in the NatioLal Capitol and
gross uries inflicted upon bis person, avowedy rs
punishment for words spoken in the ordinary couse of
debate; therefore
Resoired By his Asse,nbly, That the outrage thus
committed is at once a crime az 4iDst law, tsgrant
violation OF the Constitution, breach Of the privi-
leges Congress and disgrace to the national repu'
tatiOn
Resolced, That the perpetrator thereof should imme.
diatey be expelled from his seat IN the House OF
Representatives in the present Congress, ana the
Members thereof from this State requested TO use
their most earnest efforts Ia accomplish that result
Resolred, That this occasion Connecticut sends TO
Massachusetts, raerna greeting A. our fathers stood
side by side at Bunkers Hill, when the great conflict
for civil and political liberty began will their
stand in the assertion and defense OF freedom tor
thought and speech
Resolred That his Excerency the Governor be re-
quested to transmit Immediately copy of the fore.
going preamble aid revolutions to the Governor OF
Massachusetts, to be laid before the Legislature of
that State, now in session. and like copy to each of
our Senators and Representatives in Congress.
The report first came before the Senate and was
there accepted, and the resolutions passed after
being advocated by several Senators. Only one Dem-
ocrat voted against them. 1t was confidently
pected tina, they would pass the House of Representa-
tives almost unanimously. But the Democratic party
held caucus last evening" and ii that they there
resolved to oppose them as a party measured These
revolutions came fore the House and were postponed
until this morning, when they came up in regular
der. A. room they were before the House, {. X.
Chapman of Hartford moved several amendments,
which would entirely alter the sense Of the resolutions
and they would pass for Doughface- Democratic
lutons. 1t was quite evident that every Democrat
would approve of the amendments as offered by Chap
man Which would destroy the resolutions to all intents
and purpOses.
A debate ensued Oh the motion TO adopt the amend
mfnts which has seldom been equaled in the Legis-
iature of Connecticut The Democrats invariably
favored the amendne nts, while the Americans and
Republicans opposed the within all the arguments and
eloquence they could command. After Mr. Chapman
of Hartford had concluded his speech in favor of his
amt ndmeIts Judge Kellogg OF Waterbury (Ameri-
cam rose and made a spirited speech against the
amepdmt n,s and 10 favor Of the resolutions orig
inauy reported. He reviewed at some length the his
tory of the transaction, and characterized IL a. an
outrsee which the Legislature OF Connecticut ought
10 notice and i'll common with other States demand
the expulsion of b. oOks from the House OF Repesen
tatv,s. He said that the only argument
which the mover OF the amendment had
adduced was that some of the expressions
used in the resolutions not grammatical and in
good taste. But this was no argument for the reso
utions were well drawn up, and he would advise the
gentle nan from Hartford to get copy of Blair's
Rhetoric and Mur1ays Grammar and make those
books his constant study. The galleries were crowded
and his speech was listened to with deep attention.
Mr.. C. II. Ipgersoll of New-Haven tDem. replied to |
Judge Kellogg, in vindctlve, yet characteristic |
speech. Geo. W. Goddard Of Nsw-London Americanl |
q la John Randolph. DR.. Maddox (Dem.l of Killing. |
worth popped up next, and made doughface speech |
of unauestionable quality. Messrs. Tnmbull and |
Russell of S.onipgon favored the resolutions but OPP
posed the amendments, and 50 did the Rev. A. NJ. |
Train Of Milford American
At the close of the days debate
Or. Asa Hill Of Norwalk tAm Republican, made |
the final rallying speech, IL was noble effort
direct to every heart. Nothing but verbatim report
OF this speech would do it justice.
Various amendments were offered and every
effort was made to defeat the resolutions But when
the final vote taken their adoption they were
ns,sed by a vote Of ll6 Yeas 10 90 Nays.
Thus much for freedom Of speech in Connecticut |
I ,et other States emulate her example until dough.
faces ale extermipsted in the North and freedom |
triumphant
We have Grand Mas Meeting this evening to er. |
nre s. the sentiments of NewHaven on the recent ONT
Ieoes in the Senate Chamber and also in Kapsss
1t will be grand gathering of the ps s5S no,
ro rur JlVrUOIDrnc