Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-02
VOL. xxI.---NO..as.


men, pedestsi which is imperishable as long as
the achievements of heroes, patriots, and states.
men can be transmitted to posterity by history.
His tribute TO South Carolina is worth some.
thing. 1t is the tribute of q statesman and an
orator--of man who could lift himself above
the bigotry, and even prepare to be crushed un-
der the wheel of wild fanatcism. 1t is such o
tribute as was paid by an orator like Pericles,
who had guided the helm of State, who had an
Athenian spirit of patriotism, who was an orator
and q statesman. Who is he that now gives q
different opinion of South Carolina? Is it not
Cleon-one whose warfare is to assail his an.
tagonist by elimination, calumny, and private
sander--a man who draw shis SMILES from oh.
scene sources, and always thinks he has con-
quered when he has mortified and hurt the feel
ings of his adversary?
But, sir the Senator undertakes to say that,
because have advocated here the constitutional
rights of The South and the equality of these
States, / subjected myself to an imputation
which shall not read myself. It bears his own
handiwork Mr.. Secretary, / beg your pardon
for asking you to read such thing as this, but
it is your duty, not mine.
The Secretary read the following extract from
Mr.. Summers speech of May 19:
" But, before entering upon the argument must
say something of general character, particularly
in response to what has fallen from Senators who
have raised themselves to eminence on this floor in
championship of human wrongs mean the Send
tor from South Carolina, Mr.. Butler, and the Sen
ator from illinois, Mr. DouglaS] who, though un-
like as DON Quixote and Sancho Panza, vet like
this couple, sally forth together in the same adyen-
ture. regret much to miss the elder Senator from
his seat but the cause, against which he has ran
tilt, with such activity of animosity, demands that
the opportunity of exposing him should not be lost
and it is for the cause that speak, The Senator
from South Carolina has read many books of chiy..
airy, and believes himself chvalrous knight, with
sentiments Of honor and, courage. OF course she
has chosen mistress to whom he has made his
vows, and who, though ugly to others, is always
lovely to him; though polluted in the sight Of the
world, is chaste in his sight, mean the harlot
Slavery. For her, his tongue is always prof1se in
words. Let her be impeached in character, ,.or any
proposition made To- shut her ont rom fha extension
Of her wantpnfess and no extravaganza 81 manner
hardihood of assertion is then too great for this
Senator. The frenzy Of Don Quixote, in behalf of
his wench Dulcinea del Toboso, is all surpassed.
The asserted rights Of Slavery, which shock equali-
ty Of all kinds, are cloaked by fantastic claim Of
equality. If the slave States cannot enjoy what in
mockery of the great fathers of the Republic, he
msnames equality under the Constitution-in other
words, the full power in the National Territories to
compel fellow men to unpaid toll to separate hus-
band and wife, and to sell little children at the auc-
ton block-then, sir the chivalrc Senator will cor
duct the State of South Carolina out of the Union
Heroic knight Exalted Senator! A second Mo-
ses come for second exodus!
I" But not content with this poor menace, which
we have been twice told was measured the Sena-
tor, in the unresraned chivalry of his nature, has
undertaken to apply opprobious words'tc tLoso who
differ from him on this floor. He calls them Sec
tional and fanatcal ! and opposition to the usurpa-
ton in Kansas, he denounces as an uncalcuIatng
fanaticsm.' To be sure, these charges lack all
grace Of originality, and all sentiment Of truth but
the adventurous Senator does not hesitate. He is
the uncompromising, unblushing representative on
this floor of fragrant sectionalsn, which now domi-
neers over the Republic, and yet with ludicrous
ignorance of his own poston-unable to see himself
as others see him-or with an effrontery which
even his white head ought not to protect from re-
buke, he applies to those here who resist his Sec
tionatism the very epithet which desgnates himself
The men who strive to bring back the Government
to its original policy, when Freedom and not Slave
ry was national, while Slavery and not Freedom was
SECTIONAL he arragns as sectional. This will not
do. 1t involves too great peryersion of terms
tell that Senator, that it is to himself, and to the
organization of which he is the committee adyo-
cate, that this ephet belongs. Inow fsten it upon
them. For myself, care little for names ; but since
the question has been raised here, affirm that the
Republican party Of the Union is in no Just sense
SECTIONAL but more than any other party, national,
and that it now goes forth to dsodge from the high
places Of the Government the tyranncal sectional
ism of which the Senator from South Carolina is
one of the maddest zealots."
Mr. BUTLER Now, Mr.. President how any
man, who has not been excluded from society,
could use such an illustration on this floor,
know not. 1 do not see how any man could
obtain the consent of his own conscience to rise
in the presence of gallery of ladies and give
10 slavery the persoHi6cation of "mistress,"
and say that | loved her because she was " har-
lot" I beg pardon for repeating it. What in
the name of justice and decency could have ever
led that man to use such language7 That is
the language of Cleon. 1t is a somewhat re
markable thing, that in the speech which de-
livered here in reply to the Senator from New
Hampshire, used the word slavery" but in
one paragraph, and that was in response to a re-.
mark of his speaking of the Supreme Court as
the citadel of slavery. I rebuked him. l said
| would rather regard that court as the defender
or as the 7romontory of the Constitution; and
that he was at loo great distance ever to reach
it by any arrow which he could discharge from
his bow. Sectionalism was not in the speech
itself. When spoke of individuals in par
tcular section, | did not speak in terms which
would imply or convey the idea that meant
the public Of the slareholding and non.slaye.
holding States. I confined it to that section
who are suffering at this time, hope to a limi.
ted extent and who are burning their fires until
they will be reduced to the caustic ashes of dis
appointment and disgrace. did not speak of
sectionalism in any other point of view. Sir,
there are men on this floor who believe hon.
estly differ from me. would not make any
personal allusion to them. Far from widening
this controversy. the object of my speech was
to appease public sentiment, In the course Of
it ventured to say, what had never said before,
that the man does not live who could look with
out concern at the consequences of separation
of these States effected in blood. I remarked
that would not say there was not intelligence
enough ultimately to form new governments
and make them union of confederacies. Sir,
in that speech attempted to throw oil upon the
troubled waters. My friends in some measure
blamed me for the tone Of my remarks The
so.called reply was already in the sap, the poi,
sonous sap behind, and the Senator had to use
his speech as conduit to pour it out on me
and on the country, when he had less occasion