The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-30
Address Of Hon. Il. M. KeItt,
TO THE VOTERS OF TIE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL
TRICT In SOUTH CAROLINA.

TO THE VOTERS OF TIE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DIS
TRICT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
from che Charlie ton Mercury, July 25.l
Fellow Citizens 1 have deemed it my duty to re
sign my seat in the Congress OF the United States,
and to appeal to you from the decision Of black re-
publican and abolition majority there With the cir
cumstances connected with the punishment of Mr..
Sumner, OF sachusetts, by Col. Brooks, you are
familiar. My connection with that punishment has
invoked the censure of the dominant majority in the
House, and from that resolution OF censure have
appealed to my constituents
II is true am Indifferent to the opinions of the
individual members who passed the resolution; but
their recorded act, from their official position, ac-
quIes an importance should by no means attibute
TO their judgment under other circumstances. You,
too am convinced, Indifferent 10 the individual
opinions; but you will feel that when they are i'm
pressed upon the records Of the country, they &C
quire something Of gravity. Under all the circum
stances, US the expressed disapprobation Of the
House will live upon the records OF our legislation,
have deemed it due to you and just TO myself, to
transmit with 1t the recorded appreciation OF my
constituents.
am willing that posterity shall Judge between
the disapprobaton Of a black republican and abO-
lition majority, and the appreciation of my con-
stitueuts.
submit the closing remarks which made in the
House on resgning my seat, as somewhat more ex-
planatory OF the motives which have Influenced me
IN the course have pursued
Now, Fir, have to perform the Inst In this legis
tive ceremony. majority In this House has passed
resolution Q censure on me- For what Because did
Against my then colleague (Ar. Brooks against my
friend, my bosom friend and as the black republican
Journals have charged completely on my part and
spiracy, VIII sBy-iniormcr against my slater What,
SIR. turn public iniormer against colleague against
my friend, against my S'atef Sir, those who wish 10 BIO
galvanized into walking sares upon honor and deccncy
aud fidelity, may turn informels, never shall. And
turn niormer In favor OF whom man who has slau-
dered my state AMI one OF her most distinguished and
trusted sons Judge Butler).
Sir knew that my colleague intended 10 punish the
Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr. sumncr) unless he
apoogzed. knew he would punish him, for he told
So and he always performs what he attempts. did
not know, however, when or where the punishment
would be inflicted and did not anticipate its inicton
the Senate Chsmber Had anticipated that OF justice
there should have been still nearer the scene Of action
Sir, the Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr sumner) had
sandcred South Carolina and one OF her distinguished
Senators Judge Buter) Sir, he had slandcred q
dear TO my state Judge Butler); man whose name Ia
interviewer with her history; man In whose veins flows
only patriotic blood, and whose family cscutcheon is
hound with laurels won on many field SIR, when this
man was slandered-this man distinguished by dignity
and usUoltcss, by service and rcputation-ihis man
crowned With oil the honors Of well spent hfc-whcn
hc was sandcred In his absence, strange that tho
blood Of kinsman should run swiftly and boil up with
ndignaion against tho randercri Cir had my colleague
acted otherwise than be did he would have deserved
contempt
There are wrongs sir for the redress or which no ap.
peal can be made to human tribunal. Wounded honor
can tsver be retrieved by an attorney nor can manly
PRIDE be weighed in legal scales Ny colleague rcdressed
wrong TO hs blood and his State, and he did u in fair
and manly way.
chvslry the vii Of man has ever cons'rucche churi
vas never touched with the knghty sword his pers
was mulcted by the quarter stat
SIR what spectacle has this House presented 10 the
worlcl The adherents OF Mr.. Sumner say, hold q
mans sacred but his repuai out ~ the pale o
protection. We the other hand that the charac
sacred and without H. mans person IL not worth
protecting. Sir LET 20 TO the country this issue:
ancty Of character on the one side, and immunity TO
ask again sir did this House expect me 70 turn in.
ormerf Inform er STR against my colleague and intimate
rici d-and that too IN favor Of sanderer Sir, Of all
Characters that Of the nformer, the sandcrer IA
most desmcable Even after he shall have breathed the
supr,me breadth Of his hdcous life-for cold blooded
md measured SANDER Is moral hdcousnesseven for the
worms nty haitening his dsgraced remains, az
ter The flesh that wraps him shall have dissolved away
and mingled with the tainted eartheven then will his
tory select his from among the dIshonored names
OF earth and condema IN stercoty ped inamy, TO live
among her most whitening records Sir, whoever wishes
10 be poried IN dishonor may turn nformerncyer will
l. n the constitution only protects the sianderer II s
worthless II iis ngis is only thrown around mans
s 70 be blurred and stained and suicd BY obscenity
AMI SANDER, then the lightning Of an indignant people
should blast aud consume IT, SIR never viii submit 70
SANDER nor will ] betray confidence
For the individual opinions OF those who have pressed
the resolution Of censure, care nothing For their OH
cia opinion formally recorded have proper sensitive
ness Prom this recorded Of majority here almost
entirely black rcpu Dlcan and abolition, shall appeal 70
my constituents shall appeal 70 those who bold cha
racter sacred, aud among whom honor " maintained. !
shall appeal 10 a constituency 10 whom are given our
revolutionary records as the primer Of learning given
traed volumc for those who have mastered the horn
b9ok Of fame and the alphabet Of patriotism mag decide
upon the character Of an act.
have only TO add that have placed my resigna
ton IN the hands Of my colleague (Gov. Mkcn) to ak
eject when make he announcement upon this door and
that he has already TRANSMITTED 10 the Governor OF the
STATE Of South Carolina.
may add that the Hon. Mr.. Edmundson, of vir.
ginia was fkst embraced in the resolution Of censure
by the Committee, but was relieved from IL by tue
vote III the House, making IL more pointed aud en-.
pbatic against me- and thereby also continuing II 10
South Carolina. The issue which the black repub-
leans have presented hve felt II my duty 10 ac
ccpt, and have transferred II from an abolition
House to my Congressional district.
have written this address because Il would be
impossible for me 10 visit more Chan one district
before the time at which the election is ordered, and
because there also portions of the district which
coold not visit with afety At this period Of the
year. now remit the whole matter 10 you. my
constituents, for your approval or dsapprov'l. |
have the honor 10 be, &C.,
IArRFyCF M. kETTT.