Washington sentinel., 1856-06-07
THE RECORD FOR pOsTERITY.
:" The whole ocean into tempest toss'd,
To wAfI feather or 10 drown a flyn

he whole ocean INTO tempest tossd,
To wafl feather, or 10 drown fly"
If history did not abound with evidences of
the most trifing incidents having occasioned
violent popular explosions, we might feel sur
prised at the extraordinary spectacle just ex-
hibited of whole communities being thrown
from their propriety by private occurrence
purely personal. Had the collision, between
Sumner and Brooks, been between Matteson
and Haven, for instance, it would have receiv-
ed just that attention which it deserved The
nation would, in quiet confidence, have looked
to the action of Congress and the courts, and
without perturbation have awaited the, result
Every person who reads these remarks will feel
within himself the conviction of its truth.
Why then the extreme and tumultuous pas
sions of nation, because it happened that the
collision was between Sumner and Brooks, in.
stead Of between Matteson and Haven, in
which case, though under identical circum.
stances, no commotion would have been made
North or South.
The reason is clear. The question of Kan
sas and the Slavery question had been so
violently agitated by the reasonable free-soiers
that public feeling North and South had been
aroused 10 white heat, and it required only
the slightest application to explode. Without
stopping to examine the causes of the collision,
it was instantly construed into national mat.
ter. At the North they considered il as an at
tempt on the part Of the South to stife legiti.
mate debate and at the South as a vindication
Of the South against Abolitionism. When, in
truth, it was neither the one nor the other. 1t
was in truth and in fact, neither more nor less
than a personal chastisement for personal in.
suits, having no connexion or reference what
ever TO any other thing or matter; the only
sembance Of any other aspect, was, that the
offence was intruded into an anti-slayery
speech, but having no necessary connexion
with it. Had the offence been introduced as
episodes 10 a speech on an appropriation for
the Charleston, South Carolina Harbor, as
they we're in the speech delivered, and had the
speech been most favorable to the appropria-
tion, the same collision would have taken
place. The "freedom Of debate" the right
TO discuss all measures to the fullest extent is
in no manner whatever affected by this col
lsion.
Let those who condemn all such attempts
to remedy injuries and affron,s, condemn this
as in their judgment it may deserve. But let
them be careful not TO sanction as an ntegra,
part Of the "freedom Of debate" the unre.
strained flow Of private slander and venom.
In what aspect must this matter appear to
posterity?
The records Of the day will carry down to
future time the humAiating spectacle Of large
masses Of the community rising in unrestrain-
ed passion, with reverend ~ clergy, governors,
eminent lawyers, and editors all joining in one
harmonious denunciation Of Brooks, and of
applause and approval Of Sumner, claiming
for Sumner and for all, as an undeniable rirbt.
which should be unreservedly exercised the
use Of such language and och insults as Sum.
ner had uttered.
WHAT ARE THE FACTS7
In a speech delivered by Mr.. Sumner in open
Senate, be took occasion in no less than one
hundred and ninety passages Of bis speech, to
give uttersnce to offensive and insulting Ian.
guage which we're each and all violations Of the
freedom Of debate" as expounded by John
Quincy Adams, as understood by Webster, by
Calhoun, by Everett, by Fillmore, by Winthrop,
BY Hamilton, Jefferson, and by all parliamen-
tarians
That the speech was intended as persona