The Placer herald., 1856-07-12
The Brooks and Sumner Difficulty.

The Brooks and Sumner Difficulty.
We make the following extract from the
leader of the San Francisco Sun of the 2nd
inst, and believe it will be indorsed by every
unprejudiced man who reads it:
The papers received by yesterdays mail are
filled with comments on the late attack of rep
preventative Brooks on Senator Sumner, in
the Senate Chamber The N. York Tribune
and papers of that ilk, are raising heaven and
earth to turn the circumstances to the benefit
of abolitionism, and make a mere personal as
sault (aggravated, it is true,) national, or
rather a sectional affair. Fortunately for these
incendiaries, Mr. Brooks halls from South
Carolina, and Mr.. Sumner is one of the lead
ers of norther tanaticism.
The attack has Justly reused public indigna-
ton throughout the Unon-because the Sen
ate Chamber, which should be hallowed
ground was the scene and the cause, the ex-
preston of words in debate, at which Mr.
Brooks felt aggrieved.
The hall of the United States Senate should
not be the place to witness such scenes. If
there be aught Of dignity in the American
people, it is there we expect to find it-and
liberty of speech (aye, even license of speach,)
is guaranteed by our constitution to those
whom the voice of the people has sent thith-
er as their Representatives.
If honorable Senators so far forget their
own dignity, the honor of their country, and
the sacredness of the place, it is no justifca-
alton for turning the Senate Chamber of the
nation into an arena Of bloody broils and out
rageous assaults. Surely, it is bad enough
for Honorable gentlemen, commissioned by
the people to maintain the honor and the
glory Of the Union-It is bad enough when
they forget themselves and become the heroes
of bar-room fights and street encounters, but
when they desecrate the chamber of the as
sembled wisdom of the Rcpublic-the abode
of the honor, integrity, wisdom and patriot
ism, Of all that is respected, rcvcred and be-
loved in the American name then do they de-
serve the blame the censure, the reprobation of
every man who loves his country and cherish
es her fame
We, therefore, as a public journalist, Sc
verely condemn, aye, in unmeasured terms,
reprobate the conduct of Mr. Brooks, in at
tackng Senator in the Senate Chamber, for
words spoken in debate. There s-there can
be no cause which will Justify, few that can
paliate such an outrage.
While however, we cannot but censure the
representative from South Carolina for an act
done in hot blood and under the sting of gal
ling words and bitter reproach, we feel doub-
ly bound to express our adherence, our utter
detestation and contempt of those partzan,
sectional misguided and tanatical presses who
see in it a new excuse for abusing without
stint or shame one half Of the American peo-
pie; who are endeavoring by intiamatory ap-
peals to insence one class of four people against
another, and rend in twain our glorious
sectional and selfish schemes.
They seek to turn to political account, for
the benefit of Meir parfyi personal con
flict or rather a personal assault. They seek
to array one section of the Union against
another portion of the Union, that they may
profit by it. They hold one half of the ma
ton to account for the act of a single mad
dcned individual, aud hope to turn the excite
ment and passion of honest Indignation to a
severance ofthe Union itself Such men would
glory amid the wreck of disunion, the horrors
of triumphant tanaticism and the blood OF
an intestine war; could their vile schemes
be accomplished or their selfish aspirations
forwarded.
1t is to such, who place the worst possible
construction on the act of Mr. Brooks and by
intlammatory appeals to the passion and en-
element of the people seek to array the north
against the south. We have no idea that
this will bc-can be the result of their frantic
appeals. Their fulminations pass by as but
the idle wind and leave no trace of intended
destruction behind to mark its track.