The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-28
As snow-fiakes on the sod,
But executes the freemans VIII.
As lightning does The will of God

A word more, sir, in response to the honor
able member from Virginia, and take leave of
him. When the sons of Massachusetts shall be
summoned to the use OF sterner weapons, they
NAV requite the compliment to their valor by
| adopting for a rallying cry the motto emilia
zoned on the armorial ensign of his own proud
| Common wealth, 4" Sic semper tyrdnnis so
| always to tyrants-a motto made doubly signif-
icant by The emblem of the Genius OF Liberty,
sword in hand, trampling upon Tyranny
Sir, gentlemen, in pursuit of pretexts to JUS
tify or excuse the assault, have thought proper
to denounce Mr.. SUMNER and his speech. 1t is
enough for me, sir, to point to the splendid rec
ord of his career, sufficient answer to this
general Clamor We are told that the speech
was hbellous and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES it was
so fragrant in personalities to call for punish
ment. Ay, sir, punishment is the word. A
fellow Senator himself "a spectator Of the out
rage, announces in his place that the distin-
guished victim of this violence got only what
be deserved" And yet this Senator, who thus
excuses the deed, was present during the deliv
cry of the speech. If the proprieties of de-
bate were outraged SO rcpresented-if Mr.. Sum
NER deserved " to be beaten with deadly
weapUn-did lac not deserve at least a prompt
| reprimand from those whose nice sense of pro-
| priety was thus offended?
Sir, will make no boast of knowledge of
parliamentary law. Some ten years of my life
| have been passed i'll connection with legislative
| bodies. In common with many members Of
this House. heard the remarkable speech of
Mr.. Sumner. / istened, with attention, to its
burning periods. Severe i: surely was, but
| it was the severity of truth encountenng Gigen-
| tic crimes. In my Judgment the speech was
| strictly within the law and usages of debate, as
recognised by the Senate. This certainly seems
| hao nd on al Cor
present at the time. No voice of dissent vas
heard-no sound Of the Presidents gavel. And,
sir, if South Carolina was insulted in that speech,
one OF her Senators Mr.. EVANS was there,
| and can testify that he was not asleep. Once
| indeed he rose quickly ana called for authori-
| ty, but he called not TO order. For my part,
regarded the effort as the greatest forensic
| achievement of the Senator's life. This feeling
was svoge9 to him, rs, on its conclusion, l
grasped his hand there on the spot so
soon to be marked by his own o,ool
| Mr.. Speaker, vital issues are involved in the
| question before the House. Gentlemen may
characterize this matter personal affair-a
| police CASE peccaaillo-but the people will
regard and treat it as . Laost AMBIGUOUS blow
hurled at the great right Of free opinion--yss,
sir, free opinon--at once the primal element
| end safeguard Of constitutional liberty. What,
! sir, is your Government itself, but opinion
I
On parchment? When that shall be super
seeded 10y force, in defiance Of law-force, spuy-
red on by individual caprice, or the shifting hu.
mors Of blind sectionalism, what viii regain
of civil liberty but the shadow of its departing
glory?
| Sir, it was laid down as a maxim by phi
losopher OF another sgs end country, that THAT
is the most perfect Government, yhere an injury
done to the humblest citizen is an insult to tls
whole community" We proclaim, in theory,
ies'' e equally and UNIVERSALLY oil human
the first "Give me- said kil.or, "tbe right
to reason and TO argue freely above al ii6er-
ties" This great right is now, and here im-
| perilled. invoke the House and the country
20 come u It's rescue
| " Ere the cDI4es forth,
| The gathered wrath OF f,os s9d r1en,
Like that which wasted EsyPts sari.,
When ire and hail above 1t ram"