Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-26

requite the compliment to their valor by adopting
for eirfal.yin2 CRY the motto emblaxoned on the
arnorial ensign Of his own proud commonwealth
s-s Sic sensper ty,annis'--So always to tyrants
"a motto doubly significant by the emblem Of
upon tyranny!"
: Mr.. WOODRUFF of Conn. stirred up the chivalry.
He crowded into the short time allotted to him
the whole of very Effective and able speech, to
which there is q sequel. Its pungency excited the
most keen reflections in the mind of Mr.. Brooks,
who sat within arms length of Mr.. Woodruff
while he was pouring out upon the offending
Member the severest reproof, characterizing the
act for which he was then arraigned before the
country as brutal outrage and u violation of al.
honor and decency. IL the House did not now
unite to rebuke and emphnticallv condemn this
monstrous violation Of all law, the very Hall of
the House of Representatives will continue to be
characterized as a"Chamber of Assassins." But
will not quote from the speech, for 1t is short,
sweet, aud plucky, doing eminent credit alike to
Mr.. Woodruff and the State he represents. and
therefore | send you it entire as reported ex-
pressly for the Tribune. 1t is as follows
SPEECH OF THE HON. JOHN WOODRUFF, OF CONN.
House July H. 1856.
MIR. SPEAKER: This House has deliberated al.
| ready too long on these resolutions. They should
have passed promptly, and by reclamation. The
exigency of the adjournment and the pressure Of
public business may, perhaps, partially excuse the
delay; but we now owe it to ourselves to act with
becoming boldness, and with such vigor as may
redeem this House from imputations injurious to
itself and to the country. Will not this hall with
! too much. reason continue to be characterized
sschamber of assassins" if we do not now unite
to rebuke and emphatcally condemn this mon
strous violation of'all honor and decencJ? The
country demands action, and the times hot for
some expatiou of dastardy and brutal outrages,
whether committed in the capitol or on the plains
of Kansas. If there is not spirit or manliness
enough to promptly purge this body by proper
and constitutional means, at all events let trial
be made. Let the v0te come. We shall then
know who dare screen audacty, or give counten-
ance to crime.
There is no middle ground in this case between
submission to violence that excites and will in
augurate the very spirit of war, and the prompt
expulsion of one no longer fit to be a member of
this body. Let Northern men, especially who
wish to vote against these resolutions, be allowed
to iuscribe their names as soon as NAV be 10 APP
prevail of this outrage upon the freedom OF speech,
and if it be not met with a whiriwind of indig
nation and contempt by their constituents that will
sweep them from public life, have yet to know
of what material they made. Let Southern
men deliberately Justify and by their vote applaud
this act it will ring trumpet-tongued to future
generations. 1t shall be placed high on that dark
catalogue where stands recorded the uIlavenged
murderers of Love-joy, and Dow, md Barber,
and Brown. where stand recorded countless crimes
and indignities perp .trated upon all ages, sexes
| and conditions, from that in which the aged and
| venerable Judge who, in obedience to the voice
Of Massachusetts. went to Charleston, South Car
DINA, To test a question of constitutional law,
and driven from its Streets to those sustained
by the humber men and women whose persons
and property and lives have long been shamefully
| and systematically outraged and destroyed. If
no expiatiOn shall now be made, they shall ut all
events stand there lighted to the end of time by
the lurid glare of burning Lawrence. the blood
red dag of blood stained State, 6tly designating
the le;dng perpetrators and their shameful work
and if violence shall be fairly naugurated think
you the recollection of these will calm excited
! passions and cause more forbearance to Il ruinous
and hated institution. have never before tres
passed for one moment upon the time of the
| House, but with u unanimous, enlightened, and
patriotic constituency, l look with deep anxiety
for action on these resolutions. For myself, l
wish to have it practically decided whether par
lamentary law and the Constitution are any
|
of Congress-, or whether we have already and in
evitably come to the law of the blu lgeon.
COURT no disturbance, but the privileges of debate
shall not, so far as ain concerned, be inffinged.
With an enJeavor and design always to cultivate
courtesy. shall not hesitate here i'll my place or
elsewhere to freely characterize as thev deserve
any lofty assumptions of arrogance or any mean
| achievements of cowardice. say again. let the
vote come, and if honorable gentlemen cannot
wholly rid themselves of an unwecOme presence,
they can ut least show their appreciation of an
action wanting few of the elements of a most
! audncious crime.
| These resolutions have already been pub
lished. They denounce the assault, and call
upon the representatives in Congress from the
State OF Connecticut, to use their most earnest
efforts to expeI the bully Brooks.
These resolutions, which fully indorse, are
expressive Of the feelings Of the people Of the
State which have the honor in part to rep
resent; of the State, Sir, which furnished
more men than any other State Of the Union,
save Massachusetts, to fight the battles of the
Revolution. Her gallan, sons left their pows
in the burrows, and their flocks and herds in
the field, and gathered in their workday gar
ments to seek a stern redress for the wrongs
inflicted on them by the naughty monarch of
England. They dyed their garments in their
own blood, and left their bones to bleach on the
plains Of South Carolina, and upon the soil Of
nearly every battlefield of the Revolution
They were true men, and though badly equip.
ped and poorly paid, they did what they wen,
out to do--they conquered. The names Of
her heroes are household words at every pa.
triotic htartbstone in the land, and are bu, 9TH
er names for Liberty or Death And let me
tell you, Mr.. Speaker, tina, the spirit of true
courage in Connection, STILL LIVES Her
sons have not forgotten that they fought on
Southern as well as Northern soil they have
fulfilled all their obligations to their Southern
brethren. they have done more they have
borne reproach and n,sul. they have seen
Massachusetts Senator stricken down in his
seat in the Senate Chamber by the hand OF VIZ
olence. That hand was the hand of South
Carolina. Her people have Endorsed the act
and made it their own; and it is now for Mas
sachusetts TO determine how and when she
will return the blow. only wish to say tina,
when that blow comes, Connecticut, as in the
days when she stood :" side by side and Shout
der TO shoulder" ia the Revolution. will strike
with her.
Now for the sequel. When Mr.. w. con.
cluded., Mr.. Brooks, who sa, in the seat facing
him. looked sterny at Mr.. Woodruff and,