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

in such phrases at where tnere was pu
old selling beer and cakes he would be senced
at by those present Ii is most extraordinary that
any accustomed TO the association OF decent persons
should have made slch an exhibition Of himself can
only account for it this hypothesis; Mr.. SuMsEa -
nearly allied 10 the school OF Garrison and Wendsi M
lips who openly profess to be dsunionis and are aAng
constant efforts to destroy this government Doubtless
Mr. SUMNER entertains the views and y desrous q
bringing the Senate into disgrace as 10 Po"
eruly getting the whole goyernmentno dsrepue anu
thereby hasten its overthrow .
The manner too Of its delivery in keeping with the
speech ITSELF Whether considered with reference 10 its I'M
pudsnce and insolencs OF tone s ana an 'he
ACCOMMODATING circumstances was obviously intended 10
be as offensive and disgusting as II was possible TO make
Such speech SO delivered quietly listened TO by
The Senate out respect for of the States which he
claimed 10 represent may well say that the Senate then
exhibited the greatest regard for liberty OF speech hat IL
possible TO conceive.
now recur to the principle already stated and hold
with Franklin that has right to indulge in yitu-
peration without being liable to be called to account Tor
it. confess however that prefer the old mode OF seek
ing redress and that the duel is less Objectionable 70
me than the summary violence when II pract
cable 10 do So know that there great camor IN the
country against dueing and admit that II an ey %
is hanging evil IL you look at the case by itself 30 10
il evil to tie poor devil OF tiei 10 the whipping
post But these less evils than the crimes for which
thy punishmens and which would be indefinitely
multiplied for such checks Ssmondi was right when
he declared that of the principal means OF ciyizng
modern Europe pdS INC duel . I. ....a. sa# i.
strain Hence orbearanee justice and courtesy
of manner the results 1t is silly notion OF some peo
pie dueing necessarily makes men quarrelsome and
overhearing On the contrary of courage are rarely
If ever abusive and generally egardfu Of the feelings
of Others If of that seeks difficulty however
he only single word to effect his purpose But the
men who are fond Of utilization and abuse Of Others are
generally craven cowards who intend at the same time to
shelter themselves from responsibility.
sorry to say that il is quite common remark tha
the Senate the United States has deeneraed and so II
has When first here it the most orderly and
dgnifed body ever saw But four or hye aboihons,s
got into Il Who protesting to be non-combatants never
fbeess thought give themselves consequence at home by
denuncaton aad abuse OF their opponents and as they
could not under the rules be eectday punished so as to
casonay tempted to reort in strong language SO that
the Senate got such that recently the Oldest
paper published in this city abiding to debate that had
taken place one day in that body said that crafty
ing sat nothing personally offensive had occurred The
Senate ss been brought down to that condition that IL Is
thought is matter of congraulaton II they can de-
bate without excitement and personality for whole day
Some of these say have abused you and mean
10 do when like; will not fight you however in any
way; but if you attack me, will defend myself must
he pardoned for saying that think that aggravates the
offence Suppose vilifes me- and says, will not
fight you equal terms, but if yon attack me- will de-
fend myself"
Sir If attack him. and he kills me- he goes unpunsh-
ed but should kill him, must in law be held guilty
of murder and whether escape capital punishment or
not am seriously injured. A who has no fear OF
personal injury in the collision may well shrink from
placing himself in the attitude of elon These men say
however, that attacked they will defend their bodies SO
do all animals from the highest down to the craUf,ng
scorm. When men, therefore, willingly assail others by
viuperaon, without intending to be personally RESPONSE
BILE they necessarily Occupy most cowardy attitude but
when they declare that they will resist attacks If made on
Them by this pretence to sort of show OF courage they
exhibit the greatest hypocrisy and when thus they add
hypocrisy to cowardice they have crep down into the
lowest the most contemplate and degraded position that
humanity can descend to.
Such is my opinion, and stand it. At the same
time, when man conscientious, and avoids assailing
and abusing other people he is under obligations to
fight and in fact rarely If ever has difficulty OF per
sonal character but should he be assaed the law and
the whole community his side and ne ID wen pro-
tected. But do say that the who takes upon him
self to denonnce and calumnate others ought be made
responsible in mode other-I do not much care
how. North Carolina, from which / come, is old
fashioned State. We in the habit of Furnishing men
there for crime We have penitentary in the State at
all Some years ago the legislature submitted the question
of having penitentiary to the people and voted il
down BY a large majority. Why We admitted that
if got penentary should TO punish crimi
nails captally for high offences The consequence was
that we kept old eommon-law system. We hang
and whip men there if they deserve it: and the con-
sequence is, believe that there Is country in the
world where fewer crimes committed. / am
ry to say that in New England, and other por-
lions of the country where the light Of the present
claimed to have made progress there to be
great sympathy for criminals and offenders In the earlier
ages of every country generally rather indifferent
to personal danger but tenacious of character and they
prefer the hardy and maner virtues but the country
gets older people become and attached wealth
and comfort and endeayor to protect their bodies while
they careless about their characters Already in
portions Of the United States the people getting into
is much sympathy for criminals that you hard
ly ever have properly punished. There many
provided for the and comfort Of criminals that
suppose IL Is temptation 10 TO commit crime
as indeed the newspapers have in instances repre-
sented.
reminded Of ridiculous story which recollect to
have In paper When portion of the troops
intended for Mexico being drilled, an old woman
who was looking suggested that they ought have
cushions their weapons in order that they might not
hurt the Mexicans Well Of people have got to
cushioning the punishment of criminals TO such
that the consequence is great increase OF crime.
To the intelligent and educated and sensitive man i'm
prsonmen for long term perhaps the greatest punish
ment but IL is not with the who commonly commit
crimes II is the dread OF death and Of corporal suffering
that restraints them
hold sir that while the practice of dueing is obec
tionabe the prohibition of it by Congress some fifteen
years since then done and the state of public opn
ion gotten up by that legislation and the Cey duel out
Of which IL grew have done immense amount of mis-
chief There have probably been twenty fights in the two
houses OF Congress since that time suppose every men,
Der viii admit that IL is greater breach Of the dignity of
this House for members to have fscu fights on the floor
than for them 90 quietly TO some place and shoot AZ
each Other whether they hit miss If there any mem
Der here who does not agree TO that proposition sure
he will admit that the general system OF yituperatop
which prevails here lowering does the moral tone of
the whole country and diminishing the value Of character
Is greater mischief than the occasional loss of life
saw stated Ia the papers the other day that more than
hundred persons killed by lightning during the
Last year have idea that one-tenth Of that number
killed In dues Thunder storms are supposed 10 nm
ry the atmosphere and duelng has wholesome restrain
ing effect sometimes the public manners and morals In
stead OF such law Congress did pass IL Ii touched the
subject all twoud have been far better Congress pass
law, saying that where has been guilty Of gross