Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-06-20

. 'S''NN ~ I'o'i'N w VIZ 6"i'i VI
said the applause came from the floor Of tho
Senate.
Mr.. Butler said he would go on in such a
way that no one would applaud again.
Laughter Mr.. Brooks, he continued, as
saultcd Mr.. Sumner with no other purposes
than to disgrace him. Mr.. Brooks was one
OF the best tempered fellows he ever knew,
though impetuous no doubt, and quick Of
resentment. Mr.. Sumner received two flesh
wounds, and being rather handsome, did not
cxposc himself. If he had been in the army.
and had not gone out the next day after the
%iracas, he would have deserved to be cash
tered. Laughter.
Mr.. Butler thought that on some accounts
it was fortunate he was not here at the time.
Tor he did not know what he might have done.
To be sure, it was thirty or forty years since
he had been engaged in personal conflict, and
his hand was out Of practice laughter but
he did not know but he might have had II
trial NJ him. One thing he had no doubt of,
namely, If he (Butler) were Il young man, he
would have left him (Sumncr) in II worse con-
dltion than he now Is. The New England
papers, continued Mr.. Butler, call this Il
specimen Of Southern violence and Southern
rufiilnisin, but the first Congressional fight,
since the foundation Of this government, took
place between two New England men
Mathew Lyon and Roger Griswold. That
did not take place outside of the House but
they fought with hickory sticks, spit-boxcs
and tongs, all over the House of Representa-
tiycs (laughtcr) when it was in session, too;
but the House did not turn them out. They
eaid-Let them both. go, they are disgraced
enough already. NLuughtcr.)
MIR. Butler then proceeded to review MIR.
Summers speech, closing by claiming that he
had convicted Mr.. Sumner Of procliyity to err
ro", %calumny and misrepresentation, thus
ellcctually turning the guns which he CHR.
%Sumncr) had pointed at him.
MIR. WILSON ) REPLY.
Mr.. Wilson said he had listened to Mr..
Buffers speech with painful emotions. More
than twenty days ago,I Senator Of a sovereign
State was stricken down on the floor oithe SEN
ate Tor words spOke1.in debate. For more than
three weeks that Senator had been confined to
his room and on.a'bed Of pain and anguish. The
moral sentiment Of the country had been out
ragged, grossly outraged, by this assault on
the freedom Of debate. Intelligence Of this
transaction is flying abroad over the civilized
world and wherever Christianityhas Il foothold
and civilization exists, the fact will meet with
the stern condemnation Of mankind. The
Senator from South Carolina has spent three
hours and a half in vindication or apology
Tor an assault which is unparalleled in the
history OF the nation, and has commented on
the present condition of Mr.. Sumner in IL man
nernot exhibiting good taste. He (Alr. WILSON,
knew personally the comments to be grossly
unjust. He knew that for three weeks Mr..
Sumner had been compelled to lie on his bed,
IRON the injuries inflicted on him.
Mr., Bntlcr-l was delicate, and only al
ludcd to the evidence of others.
Mr.. Wilson caused to be read a note from
DIR. Lindsay. dated lotb inst +, the effect
as follows IL have been in attendance on
Mr.. Sumner as his physician. on account Of
injuries received ON the Doth of MAY. IN the
present time. part of the rcriod in con,ultn.
ton with Drs. Perry and Miller have
visited him at least once a dlv. Durinr that
time Mr.. Sumner has been confined TO his
room. and a greater mart Of the timo to his
bed. Neither now nor since Mr.. Sumner
came under my charge. has he been in Il con-
dition to resume his seat n the senate NV
advice to him is to 90 into the country ana
enjoy fresh air, and not to attemnt to enter
on his public duties for some time to co me,
NJ wl.. - 49,
Ter had taken occasion to apply to Mr. Sum
ner epithets-
MIR. Butler, interrurting-No Not erithets,
but criticisms.
Mr.. Wilson-Woll tbo Sonotor i, his
criticisms. used every word which a fertile
Imagination could invent. or stronr rassinn
suggest. The Senator from SOUTH Cprolioa
had taken full revenge for the spnecb made
by Mr. Sumner. and he CIr. WILSON, did nat
take exception to it. That was the way Mr..
summers speech should have been met, not
by blows. lie ONilson) Notwithstanding
Mr.. Buffers denial, said that NJ Sumner did
make a correct quotation from the Constitu-
OF South Carolina, which went to show
though south Carolina WAS nomiually ~ 10
u''lc, she had au'ocratic features IN her
CONSTITUTION
lie endorsed the assertion Of his colleague.
and would p5rIl his lie for any State of the
uiun, if assaulted. He hai and would con-
tinue to vote Just as chccriully for anything
to benefit South Carolina, as for the Com