The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-02
1Aulitual.
NIX. BROOKS AND MR.. SUMNER.
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH
HON. A. p. BUTLER
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

~ TiE SENATE, JUNE l2, 1856,
On the bill 10 enable the people OF Kan
sns Territory TO form n Constitution and
State Government, preparatory to their
admission into the Cu!un, when they
have the requisite population.
Mr.. Butler. Mr.. President, tie occa-
siou and the subject upon which am
about TO address the Senate OF the United
States, at this time, have been brought
about ty events over which have had
40 control, aud could have had home
events which have grown out of the com
menccment Of u controversy for which The
Senator from Massachusetts (not now in
his seal Mr.. SumncrI should be held ex
ciusively responsible 10 his country and
his God. llc has delivered speech the
most extraordinary that has ever had ut
teramcc IN any dcliberative body recognis
ing the sanctions Of law and decency.--
When it was delivered Was not here
and il had been present, what | should
have done it would be perfectly idle for
me now To say; because no one can sub.
stitu,e the deliberations of a subsequent
period for such rs nright have influenced
him at another time and under different
circumstance. Ny impression now is That
IL had been present, | should have asked
the Senator, before lac finished some OF
the paragraphs personally applicable to
myself, TO pause and il he had gone on,
would have demanded Of him, the next
morning, that he should review that
speech, aud retract or modify it, so as to
bring it within the sphere Of parlismenta
~ propriety. Ii lac had refused this, whu,
j would have done | cannot say; vet |
can say That would not have submitted
to it. But what mode Of rcdress should
have resorcd Ia, cannot tell.
wish had been here. I would have
at lea.t assumed, as | ough. to have done
on my responsibility rs n Senator, aud on
my responsibility rs representative of
South Carolina, all the consequences, let
them lead where they might but Instead
ofthat, the speech has involved his own
friends aud his own colleague. IL has in.
volved my friends. 1t has Involved one
OF them TO such an extent thst, at thi.
time, hc has been obliged to put his Tor.
tune and his life mt sake. Aud, sir, il
the consequences which are likely to flow
from that speech hereafter shall end in
blood and violence, that Senator should
De prepared TO repent IN sackcloth aud
aghes.
Now, ] pronounce Judgment on that
speech which will be adopted by the pub.
lie. l am ms certain as am speaking
that It is now condemned by tie public
mind, and by postcrity il will be cons,gn
ed to iniamy, for the mischieyous conse
quenceswhich have flowed from il already
and such as are likely yet to disturb the
peace and repose OF the country.
said-nolbing. Ms. President, at any
period Of my life---much less did say
anything in the course Of the debate TO
which lao purporis TO have made a reply
that could have called Cor, much less
have justified, the gross persona, abuse,
traductiop, and cslumny, to which he has
Tesorted.
When | was at my little farm, enjoying
myself quietly, and as thought had Ia.
ken refuge from the strifes aud contentious
Of the Senate and Of politics, message
was brought TO me that my kinsman bad
been involved in difficulty en- my &C.
count. il was so vague that did moi
know how 20 account for IL. I was far
from any telegraphic communication. L
did not wait five minutes before left
home to pst myself within the reach Of
such informaiion---and garbled even that
Mas--as was accessible. I travelled four
days continuously TO Washington: aud
when ] arrived found the very sui,icc,
under discussion which had given me 20
much concern; and il hes been source
ofthe deepest concern to my feelings ever
since ] heard Of Il, on many accounts Ion
account of my country, and on sscount of