Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-05-09


follows no such vain examples. Like a
heroic dog, grown insolcnt upon fa' diet.
with his head out of the kennel, he srowls
with swollen courage. with constitution
al privilege at his back, behind which to
retreat.
| Honorod with trust similar to his,
from the brave and loyal people of Kan
sas, yield to tn, senator's Constitution
al cx 'mption from accountability for Ian
guase usnd in debate. if he sees f. to
avail himself Of it; but yield it in the
letter only. not in is spirit for. by the
spirit, while aiming to surround vii h
safeguard. the utmo'' freedom Of op;n-
ion and debttc in the Senate Chamber
and s, preclude all accountability for it.
it implies and com,rehen Is that high no.
ton OF senatorial decurun, cand)r and
truth. which excludes the lea of wanton
and m ,li.nant wrong. 1t wa, given to
protect the sena or, in the expectation
that his du y AMI justice would protect
all 9th 'rs.
BIT it is within the senator's discrc-
tien - NOT only that "discr,tion" which
lis the better part Of vtIor'') to assert
| his l,gal exemption. as he might a so
D ca | tn statute Of limitation IA ,anst
coniding creditor an al on,st d ,bt -
He has done 50 cl,imin, Shy ock'- ) vir-
tuc. that lit is the law Safely shelter
c and hidden bch;n this constitutional
privilege. whchcxists lc5 5ally in all cases,
but mor div in n,nc. Senator Don las
n,w compcls me t. the unpleasant alter
native of protesting. before the ppblic.
sainst this rs nal outrag', perpetrated
where my voice was tn N silent, and
which he tcchnic lily declines to repair
under every oblisa ion OF honor. At Jaw
he knows can face my accusar and con-
front the witnesses with either coward
ice or privilcg. between me and my adj
vers Try. am compeile to sn.fer without
a hearing. at the hanls of constitution
al assassin
Senator Douglas eaoled M into an
undcserv trus, of his sine ,rity. He
IN .dc me III, "u st of his hospitality to
deceive and circumvent n. Ha has
broken the seals of friendl, confidence.
aud published it with criminal eifroatc-y.
10 maze TIE personal inii9nity the yrc IT.
or. h. has impeachc |. his frieni AMI wi :
ness an Il he has 81 distorted what di |
say, that | am unable t. call it my own.
He has inyei5 lcI. with gross criminal i'm
.tati>ns a5tin-t m. unsistalnei by 4
sin, fact IN ny o"n history. and al de-
nic By the public al familiar history Of
ka1sa3. SO s;i i,matize the lmpa'.tions
AMI cl .rses: and waen saar'in. ulier
it, all pres min, on soMe sincerity in
oar past rel ltions, ask for justie, or for
exp alati)n th,t sh III le I'd u jas ic,, h,
hunt; oui from thc Coa3titution that
m, .;cal W ord for wax klced spirits =
"Privilcs ."-.nl hies to his cover.
The public shall BE- our jui ses. To
thi- in election h.> it cone. Is the f.
rocious brag CART heroism OF the Senate
cI.,n5cr-wh,rh boas in its plac, Of
hlvilg g,zcl dowa pistol barrcls-o1ly
that quality which "ooz,s ont at the fin
ger ends ana expires outside OF the por-
tails of tn, cha nbcr? Are troachery
lilS 5lDDl, CDWttT lLCi', an pSttsi " u ttir|
they ar, privicgel: Is privilege to have
another meaning, VIII the senator
from Illinois abns, it, and make want Of
co ,rlse an privilege convertible and
equivalent terms: APPEAL from the
atrocisus conduct Of the senator from
Illinois. and submit to III, hon st public.
AMI its Just s.nsr an CO .vlction, that in
morals. no elevation OF place car dig nity
. I'd protect injustice--thst bccaas a per-
soni is humbl', his oppression becomes
more aggravated |, 4 I'd he is doubly ,ithin
the protection Of all honorable men above
hi n,-that acc ,sa ion and accountabl ity
always 20 tos th r; that, cha actor assa l.
ed, may al ways CO np.l the accnscr to his
proofs and ii tlc offender becomes fl
gitivc from this plain daty. aal attcmp 3
to retire to Legal sabter'ases. public jus
tic, Will take up he retribution of the
wrong, parsu, HIN over his le, al barriers
AMI whip the vlolator Of tn, univ .rsal
laws of friendship and hospitality. and
tn, slan er,r OF private reputat on at the
very affairs OF hls refuge J. II. LANE.
WAsuINGroN Cry, National Hotel,
No. "a.