Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-06-07
BUTLER AND DOUGLAS CHARACTERIZED

From Mr.. Summers Speech in the Senate.
We extract from the full report of MIR. Sum-
ner's great speech-the passage describing Messrs.
Butler and Douglas, which one of the chvalry
sought to avenge in the Senate Chamber in the
true Border Ruffan stvle.]
My task will be divided under three different
heads-First, TIE CRIME AGAINST KANSAS, in its
origin and extent Second, THE APOLOGIES FOR
THE CRIME : and Thirdly, THE TRUE REMEDY.
But, before entering upon the argument, must
say something of Il general character, particular
lv in response to what has fallen from Senators
who have raised themselves to eminencc on this
floor in championship of human wrongs mean
the Senator from South Carolina (slr. Butler
and the Senator from Illinois Mr.. Douglass who,
though unlike as Don QuiXote and Sancho Pan
za, vet. like this couple, sally forth together in
the same cause. The Senator from South Caro-
lima has read many books of chivalry, and be-
lieves himself chivalrous knight, with senti-
ments of honor and courage. OF course he has
a 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, Slave
rv. For her his tongue is always prOfuse in
words. Let her be impeached in character, or
any proposition made to shut her out from the
extension of her wantonness, and no eXtravagancc
of manner or hardlhood of assertion is then too
great for this Senator.
The frenzy of Don Quixote, in behalf Of his
wench, Dulcinca del Toboso, is all surp tssed.-
The asserted rights of Slavery, which shock equal
itv of all kinds are cloaked bv IL fantastic claim
of equality. If the Slave States cannot enjoy
what, in mockery of the great fathers of the Re-
public, he misnames equality under the Consti-
tution-in other words. the full power in the ma
tonal territories to cOmpell fellow-men to un-
paid toll, to separate husband and wife, and to
sell little children at the auction. block-then,
Sir, the chivalric Senator will conduct the State
of South Carolina out of the Union Heroic
Knight Exalted Senator A second Moses
come for second Exodus
But not content with this poor menance, which
We have been twice told was ''measured," the
Senator, in the unrestrained chvalry of his ma
ture, has undertaken to apply opprobious words
to those who differ from him this floor lie
calls them sectional and fanatical - and oppo-
stion to the usurpaton in Kansas, he dcnounces
us ian uncalculat;ng fanaticism.'' To be sure,
these charges lack all grace Of originality, and
all sentiment of truth; /; but the adventurous SEN
ator does not hesitate. lie is the uncompromis-
ing, unblushng Representative on this floor of
fragrant sectiOnaHst, which now domineers over
the Republic, and Vet with ludicrous ignorance
of his own position-unable to see himself
others see him-or with an elfrontery which even
his white head ought not to protect from re-
buke, he applies to those here who resist his
tionais,a, the very epithet which designates him
self.
The men who strive to bring back the Govern
ment to its original policy, when Freedom and
not Slavery was national, while slavery and not
freedom was sectional, he arraigns sectional.
This will not do 1t involves too great perver-
sion of terms. | tell that Senator that it is to
himself and to the '.organzation'' of which he is
the ..commited advoctte,' that this epthet be-
longs. | now fa,ten it upon them. For myself,
| care little for names but S.nce the question has
been raised here, affirm that the Republican par
ty of tfs Union is in no ust sense sectional, but,
more than any other parry, ndtioa0L; and that
ii now goes forth to dis odge fom tn. high places
of the Government the tyrannical sectIonalism Of
VIII :ch the Senator from South Carolin, is one of
the ma,ide>t zealots.
TO the charge Of fannticism | also reply
Sir, fanaticsm is found in an enthusiasm or ex-
a"geratiCn of opinions, particularly on religious
sub iects but there may be fanaticism for evil
as well as good. Now, will not deny that there
are persons among US, loving liberty too we'll for
their personal good, in selfish genera
ton. Such there may be, and for the
sake OF their example, would that there were
more In calling them ''fanatics,'' you
cast con,umeiy upon the noble army of martyrs,
from the earliest day down to this hour
upon the great tribunes of human tights, by whom
life, liberty AID happiness on earth have been
secured: upon the long line of devoted patriots
who, throughout history, have truly loved their
country; and upon al, who in noble aspiration
for the general good, and in forgetfuincss of
self, have stood out before their age, and gath
cred into their generous bosoms the shafts of
tyranny and wrong, in ord der to make path
way for truth.
You discreiit Luther, when alone he nailed his
articles to the door of the church ut Wittcnperg:
and then to the imp rial demand that he should
retract, firmly replied, ''llere | stand cannot
do otherwise, SO help me God - You discredit
llampdcn, when alone he refused to pay the few
shilings of ship-money, and shook the throne of
Charles l.; you discredt Milton, when, amidst
the productions of heartless Court, he lived on,
the lofty friend of liberty, above question or
suspicion; you discredt Russell and Sidney.
when for the sake of their country, they calmly
turned from family and friends to tread the mar
row steps OF the scaifold You discredt the early
founders of American institutions, who preferred
the hardshpS of wilderness. surrounded by a
savage foe, to I'M Justice beds of ease; YOU dis
credit our later fathers, who few in numbers,
and weak in resources, yet strong in their cause
did not hesitate to brave the mighty power of
England, already cncircling the globe with her
morning drum beats. Yes, sir, OF such are the
fanatics of history, according to the Senator.
But tell that Senator that there are charac-
tcrs badly eminent of whose fanaticiem there can
Dc no QuCStlOn. Sucu were TIE ancient EpypllauS
who worshipped divinities in british forms the
Druds who darkened the forests of oak, in which
they lived, by sacrifices OF blood the Mcxic.ns,
who surrendered countless victims to the propi-
tiation of their obscene idols the Spaniards, who
under Alva, sought to force the Inquisition upon
Holland, by tyranny kindred to that
ployed to force slavery upon Kansas; and such
were the Algerines, when in solemn cane We,
after listening to speech not unlike that of the
Senator from South Carolina, they resolved to
continue the slavery of white Christians, and to
extend 1T to the cOuntrymen of Washington !
Aye, sir, extend it And in this same drearv cat
alogue faithful history must record all who now,
in an enlightened age and land of beasted
freedom, stand up, in perversion of the Consti-
tuition and In denial Of immortal truth, to fasten
Il new shackle upon their fellow-man. If the
Senator wishes to fanatics, let him look
around among his own associates; let him look
at himself.
But have not done with the Senator. There
is another matter regarded by him of such con-
sequence that he interpolated it into the speech
of the Senator from New Hampshire, (AIr.
Hale,) and also announced that he had prepared
himself with it, to take it in his pocket all the
way to Boston, when he expected to address that
community. On this account, for the sake of
truth stop for one moment and tread it to the
earth. The north, according to the Senator,
was engaged In the slave trade, and heped to
introduce slaves into the Southern states /: and
this undeniable fact he proposed to establish by
statistics, IN stating which, his errors surpassed
his sentences IN number. Bat let these pass for
the present, that l may deal with his argument.
Pray, sir, is the acknowledged turptude of
departed generation TO become an example for
us And yet, the suggestion of the Senator, if
entitled TO any consideration in this discussion,
must have this extent. join my friend from
New Hampshire in thanking the Senator from