New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-06-14
THE QUESTION OF THE CRISIS.
SPEECH OF CHIEF JUsTlC PARKER AT THE
SUMNER MEETING IN CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
From The Canbridx ChyoHieie.


SUMNER MEETING IN CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
From The Csnbridsf Chronicle.
EIrLow.CITIzINs / consented - the use Of my
name in connection with the call for this meeting upon
some delberstion, after having been requested so to
do. A note from friend this morning informed me
that there was desire that should preside and am
here on your election, to perform, as well as may,
the duty which you have assigned to me.
make this statement, not by way of apology for
my appearance here but that you may be aware that
am not acting from any mere personal impulse, how
ever strong my feelings may be upon the present occa-
sion; and that whatever may ray should be regarded
as the expression of well considered opinion
have no doubt myself that / ought to be here. 1t
has been my duty, as Professor in the Law School,
to support and mslntan-not the Justice the expe
diency-but the consttutionality of the so-called
Fugitive-Slave Law, because l believed 1t 10 be a
constitutional enactment aud 10 the constitutional
Convention in 1853, upon debate respecting the judi
ciary, / expressed hope that Massachusetts, would
not come in conflict with the authorities of the Uoiou
upon that question. One who has to the bes. of his
ability maintained that opinion is at least fanatic
and need not be suspected of any mmoderate desire
Tor agitation.
We are called toy ether at this time by act of per-
sons violence. cowsrdly and infamous assault has
been made upon a citizen Of Massachusetts,, in the
Capitol If the United States. most grievOus wrong
has been done to him personally endangering his life
andinvolvpg the possibility of the crime Of wiul muir
der. If this were all however much we might condemn
the conduct Of the assailant, and however much we
might sympatbze with the victim, we might well leave
task Of asserting their majesty and of Furnishing the
aggression without any public expression of our opn
iOntba is supposDg that there is any vitality in the
law relating to the personal safety Of citizen within
the precincts of the Capitol Of which, however, it
would seem there may be a reasonable doubt.
This dsstardly outrage was committed upon the per-
son Of Senator of this Commonwealth, and within the
walls Of the Senate Chamber, and was thus indig-
nifty to the State ITSELF and this might well justify the
Commonwealth in asserting her rights and demanding
the punishment of the potoon who had assaed her in
the person of her defenseess representative If there
more than this, the matter might well be left
in the hands of the constituted authorities who well
know what s due to the dignity of the Commonwealth,
and viii not be slow to vndicate her honor upon all
But this is not all. The felon blow which struck
down the citizen and the Senator Frustrated at the
same time the privileges Of the Senate and the freedom
of debate guaranteed by the Constitution OF the Unite
States. 1t was vengeance for the free expression
unpaatabe opinions and designed to deter Others from
the exercise Of their constitutional nights and but
the last of series of outrages similar in character,
though not in degree, which have made the City OF
Washington bear garden, and the Capitol little better
thsn den of wild beasts.
II is this blow to freedom of speech and constitu-
tons privileges which gives this act painfu sgniti-
cance above that of any mere private assault upon
citizen even upon sne OF those appointed 10 repre-
sent the interests of sovereign State in the Congress
the United States Ii is this prOsirati0n of constu
toBsl liberty which has called here at this tme and
ia this which demands of rs, and of all Others who
respect the law and possess love OF liberty, care
sequences to which such occurrences will lead II their
repetition is permitted.
The matter attains still more amentable eminence
from something like an appearance OF support and
justification given to it by Others, and elsewhere.
There have been some indication of confederacy and
maintenance from other memb m of Congress, who
seem 10 think they were sent TO Washington for pur
poses Of violence and not for leg station. There have
been exciting paragraphs of approval in some news
papers which appear to have forgotten that the better
part Of vaor is discretion There has been it is said
at,ns ~ n t,tfn nd Caua RI CO
stuents of the principal offender. The articles which
compose this testimonial to the vaor Of the recipient
and which may be exhibited in the triumpha ovation,
which, perhsps, awaits his return to his admiring
friends, seem TO be fitting accomplishments to each
other in bis hands the use of the one being expected
to nerve his courage up to the sticking point forhe use
Of the other.
But Notwithstanding all such demonstrations of ap-
probation, is not 10 be assumed that this atrocous
deed will be characterized chivarous, and its miser-
able perpetrator be hailed gallant son of the South
by any beyond the halls Of Congress except q few
choice spirits who should rank below the bully and the
BLACKBOARD. 1t Is by no means to be concluded, as
vet that il will be sustained by high-mndei men OF
Honorable standing in the southern States And until
that IL made apparent is not TO be treated as the act
of the South.
observe that some of the Boston papers have no
tic<d this as an indignation meeting. L am unwil
hing to accept that designation. No doubt 1t is al
that but trust that this and all meetings of like
character viii be much more than that The inquiry
has been made, "Wbat is to be done what can oe
dopei" The answer is, attempt to obtain redress FOL
the psst-demand security for the future. The Com
has acted became her in ner re4ulsition
for the expulsion Of the aggresor and she should no.
rest satisfied unless that punithmen is Inflicted The
Legislature Of Connecticut has acted as became the
representative Of a free and sovereign State 9th
ems viii doubtless ADOPT similar measures
Meetings Of cit izens should be holden not only 10
every town within this Commonwealth, but without
regard 10 sectional lines and section prejadces, there
should be meetings IN all PAGES where there Is love
ofaw and liberty and shatred of violence and oppres-
sion; and stem ebuke should be given 10 tbs aud to
all other attempts to stfe freedom Of opinion and tree
dom ofspeech. These meetings should attack nobody.
and menace nobody, and denounce NOBODY except the
perpttIstors and abettors OF this uunany outrage.
There sbould be union OF all men, aud all parties for
the assertion of constitutional freedom through the
bahot.box, and by ali other constitutional methods.
And II all these measures fail God in HE infinite
mercy avert such CATASTROPHE But If a wise Provi.
d'nce, for known only TO 0mniscience, should
Perm the madDess and violence of few 10 tear away
nom the Constitution the safeguards Of freedom upheld
nav, leaving only the forms Of free government ia
tne Psee oil The substance which we have fondv hoped
op'sneo, " snot for us now aud here to SAY what
shei 'nen DC ooDe The exyencies of that time must
n.eos oiihg with them its measures
In the mean time, however with no,bi,g of tbrea,
and nothing OF onehse lct it be made to annesy IN al
eonsiha'ohsi msdes, that these assemblages az Tie
people are not matter OF form; that thew are no, Co.,
NAL protests that they not mere ~ @ ~; W -,
indignation, however deep; but that thsy ar 70 Va
taken as the exponents of unaltersbe All ,a e
supremacy Of the law free thought aud fee speech