The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-10
nh. BROOKS AND MR.. SUMMER.
EXTRACTS FROM TIE
SPEECH OF A. P. BUTLER,

SPEECH OF A. P. BUTLER,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
IN THE sxNArE, JUNE -, 1855,
Gu the bill to enable the people Of Kansas Terrific
nv to form a Constitution and State Government,
preparatory to their admission into the Union
whom they have the requisite population.
TcoNcLupED.
The liberty Of speech and Of the press is
tho great conservative element Of the Re-
public; it is to the political what fire is to
the material world, a subservient and afflu-
ent minister, when under the control of
prudence and intelligence; but, when I'M
checked and unregulated, consuming foe,
whithering and blasting everything along
lis pathway of ruin. Render freedom Of
speech tributary to the proprieties, decen-
cies, and restraints of social life, and you
may crown it with all tho ministries and
'supremacies Of intellect and liberty; but
release it from them, and it becomes blind
and maddened gian, Of evil, tearing down
tho bulwarks of social order, and desecra-
ting the very sanctuary Of republican liber-
ty. What would you think Of reckless
man who should set fire to his own house,
or should 60 about claiming the privilege
Of throwing his fire wherever he could
among the most combustble materials, and
say he had tho right to do so, on the
ground that he was a freeman, and could
do rs he pleased. Away with such liberty,
Liberty that is worth anything must be in
the harness of the law.
Liberty of speech and liberty of the
press must have two restraints. The first
is the highest, which will always govern a
clsss OF men who cannot violate 1.-THE
obligations of honor, deceucy, and justice.
Another restraint upon lieentiousness is, that
man may publish and speak what he
pleases viii, a knowledge that he is amena-
BILE to the tribunals OF the law for what he
has done. Congress cannot pass any stat
ute TO say that men shall not write against
religion, or against the Government, or
against individuals. Neither can Congress
pass law, nor can any State pass law,
depriving the tribunals of the country of
the right of saying whether you have gone
beyond the limits of liberty, and have used
your power, under that name, with criminal
recklessness, with licentious Indifference to
the feebleness Of individuals, and the con
sequences upon society. do not wish TO
live in any community where it is other
wise.
The press is losing its power, and it
ought to lose II; for it is now beginning TO
be an engine of private revenge, and ind;-
yidua, expression, instead OF being re-
spons bic organ Of public opinion. Sup
pose | were to go TO New York, and indict
one of the editors thero whom | could
name, for the most atrocious libel that has
ever been utterered upon the South. |
will not name the editor, but he has utter.
cd sentiment akin TO one which has been
expressed by the Senator from Massachu-
sets. saw in New York papcr-I have
alluded to it betore--a statement that the
Southern States are too feeble and weak TO
take any part in war--that all they can
dc is to take charge of their negroeJ 1t said
that if war should take place between
Eagland and the United States, the Eng.
lish fleet would only have to 90 to the
capes of the Chesapeake, and the etfeminate
masters would be kept at home. Fifty
thousand slaves, Injured to toll, could be
mustered into service, and they would have
the power to put their masters to the sword;
and when the declaration Of peace should
come, the result would be the freedom of
the slaves and the prescription OF the mas
ters! Suppose should go into the commu-
nifty where this libel was uttered, and indict
a man for such sentiment as this, what
would be the consequence in the present
state OF public opinion! 1t is idle, worse
than idle, to talk about that as remedy.
Llbety OF the press Sir, that man had
franked twenty thousands of his speeches;
and some Of them, if am not misinformed,
wero printed long before it was delivered.
70 bring him within the privileges Of par
liament is mockery-a perfect mockery
Now, Mr.. President, approach another
most painful part of This case, and come
TO it in no bad temper; for, God knows, if
my heart could be read, there is no one
who would sooner than myself have averted
could, consistently with my honor and the
honor of the gentleman to whom shall
allude. The resolutions of Massachusetts,
undertook, before any evidence was heard
10 pronounce sentence on Mr.. Brooks. Sir
Will tell you who Mr.. Brooks is, and why
he felt so deeply in reference to these abomi.
nable libes. do not allude to him now
as my hereditary kinsman; think that is
the smallest view TO take Of tho matter.
but am his constituent. | live in "Nina.
ty'Six"-a district through which, il YOU
pass, you will read upon the tohbstoaes
epitaphs which would reproach him for
tame and ignominOus submission to wrong
and to insult
lie has as proud and intelligent con-
stltueney as arc TO be found in any part of
the globe. am lis Constituent. But more
than that, he has worn the eqauIet and the
sword; he has marched under the Palmetto