The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-05-29
Ousrage on Mr.. summer.


a few days ego, .SHARLEs SUMNER, u s,
Senator from Massachusetts,, made speech
in the Senate, upon the Kansas question, in
the course Of which, he INDUCED in bitter
personalities towards several Senators, and
particularly against Senator Butler Of South
Carolina. He charged the latter gentleman
Of falsehood, and used other language un.
becoming and outrageous. Senator BUTLER
was absent. He is an old man-a man OF
amiable and courteous manners, and the at
tack Of Mr.. SUnNER upon him was unjusti-
fable.
Mr.. Books, member OF the House from
South Carolina, and and a relative Of Mr..
BUTLERs, hearing Of the affair entered the
Senate Chamber where SUMNER was sitting
and struck him over the head with cane,
knocking him nearly senseless, and cutting
his head and face badly. The blows were
repeated until SUMNER was deprived of the
power of speech. So snys the ielegraphic
report.
This whole affair from the beginning to
the end, is one Of the most disgracefuf which
has ever occurred in the Senate. That our
readers may form just judgment in regard
to The whole matter we give the following
extract from Mr.. SUMMERS speech in refer.
ence to Senator BUTLER:
"Wiih regret come again upon the Sem
ator from South Carolina, (Mr. Butler.) who
0mnipresCnt in this debate, overlooked with
rage at the simple suggestion thar Kansas
had applied for admission as 4 State; and
with ncoherent phrases discharged the loose
expectoraton OF his speech, now upon her
representative, and then upon her people -
There WIS nO extravaganza of
the ancient parlia IncutaTy debate
which he did not repeat; nor was
there amy possible dcVialiOn from
truth which he did moi make, with
So much Of passion, am glad to add, aS to
save him from the suspicion of intentional
alteration. Bat the senate. touches
nothing which Ese does not GiSGig-
ure with error, sometimes Oi DTin-
cipIe, sometimes of fact. He shows
an incdpaciiy Of accuracy, whether in stating
the constitution or in stating the law, ,whcth-
or in the details of statistics or the diver.
sons of scholarship. He cannot open his
mouth but out there flies blundcr."
Every honest man must admit that such
language is unbecoming in the characte Of
an American Senator. 1t sounds more like
the billingsgote Of the grog.shop, than the
words of honorable debate between hunora-
BILE men. Mr.. SUMNER did wrong. He dis.
graced himself and the Senate. He disre.
garded the rules of courtesy which should
ever characterize the conduct OF Senator
He allowed hatred and malice to bear rule
as, It seems to US, no honorable man ever
should.
Still this does not in any manner justify
Mr.. BRooKs. His attack upon Mr.. SuMNER
was "n outrage for which there is no posi-.
BILE justification. 1t was cowardly and mean.
II the House OF Representatives has any
regard for its characters if its members have
any respect for themselves, they will purge
themselves from the stain, by expellng
Brooks from that body. He is unworthy OF
seat among the representatives Of free
Government. While suth men as he, nre
permitted to occupy stations Of public trust
and honor, neither the lives of the people OF
the Institutions Of the country are safe. He
is guilty Of an offense that is not only cen.
surab!c, but criminal, and he should suffer
the just penalty.