Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-02

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than was presented by any speech which ever
before made. Anybody who says we are inca
pable of preserving free Institutions. should
be inclined to consider slanderer on free lnsti-
tuliOns but will never agree to live IN any
Government that has not some operative ana
cnforciblc provisions Of u constitution to pre-
serve my rights II the Government were us
! il formerly was, South Carolina and Massachu-
setts having u common interest, do you thlnK
the Senator could arise rs an adversary TO be
applauded by his peopes There was time
sir, when his people would have disgraccd hin,
for that very speech. At this day, DO not say
they will acquit my kinsman; | dare say they
will not bul the time is coming when there will
be but one opinion-tliat that is the most mis-.
chievous speech which has ever been delivered
in this country, and has involved more innocent
spersons. If The contest goes or upon such 49,
SUES as makes, blood must follow. do not
look on any such scenes with pleasure. have
not temper for them, though when young man
! might perhaps, not have been indisposed TO
embark in the hazards of contests.
But now come to the rcsoluiiong of Massa-
chusetts. ask that they be read.
The Secretary read them as follows:
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IN 1856.
Resolves concerning the recent assault upon the
Hon. Charles Sumner, at Washington
Resolped by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatires of the CommonDea eaLth of Massachusetts,
That we have received with deep concern, informa
ton Of the recent violent assault committed in the
Senate Chamber at Washington, upon the person
Of the Hon. Charles Sumner, one OF our Senators
In Congress, by Preston s. Brooks, member OF
the House Of Representatives from South Carolina
An assault which no provocaton could justify
brutal and oowardly in itself-a gross breach Of
parliamentary privilege ruthless attack Upon the
liberty of speeeh--an outrage of the decenoes OF
civilized life. and IN indignty to the Commonwealth
OF Massachusetts.
Resolued, That the Legislature of Massachusetts,,
in the name of her free and enlightened pcoPe,
demands for her rcpr ,sentatvcs in the National
Legislature entire freedom Of speech, and will up
hold them in the proper exercise OF that essential
right of American citizens.
RcSolued, That we approve Of MIR. Summers s
manliness and courage in his ernest and fearless
declaration of free principles, and his defence oi
human rights and free territory.
Resolued, Tha, the Legislature of Massachusetts
is imperatively called upon by thepainest dictates
of duty, from decent regard to the rights of her
citizens and respect for her character as sover-
e;gu State, to demand, and the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts hereby does demand, of the national
Congress, prompt and strict investigation into the
recent assault upon Senator Sumner, and the expul-
sion by The House Of Representatives Of Mr.. Brooks,
of South Carolina, and any other member concern
ed with him in said assault.
ReSolred, That his excellency the Governor he
requested to transmit copy of tho foregoing re-
solves to the President Of the Senate, and Speaker
Of the House of Representatives, and to each of the
Senators and members of the House Of Represen-
tatves from this Commonwealth, in the Congress
Of the United States.
IIoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 90, 1856.
Passed. CHARLES "A. PHELPS, Speaker.
IN SENATE, May 80, 1856.
Passed. ELIHU C.. BAKER, President.
May 81, 1856.
Approved. HENRY j. GARDINER. q
SEcRErARY's OFFICE,
BosroNr May 81, 1856
certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the
original resolves.
Attest: FRANCIS DEWITT,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Mr.. BUTLER. These resolutions give rise to
moro serious reflection than anything which has
occurred to me in my time. l have been in the
Senate for ten years, and this is the first occa.
sion that have ever seen one Of the sovereign
States Of the Union taking cognizance of mat.
tiers which occurred in Congress, with view to
influence thejudgment of Congress in relation
to one of their members. This is the first oc.
casion of this kind in the history or the country.
1t has been done from an &c parte view of the
subject; for it is now very apparent that the
resolutions of Massachusetts were introduced
and passed without regard to the evidence
These resolutions anticipated and asserted wha
may not be true-what the public may moi
think true-what the Senate may not think
true-what the House of Representatives may
not think true; and yet the sovereign State Of
Massachusetts, before there was any evidence
indicted my relative upon rumor-a measure
which would have taken Stafford TO the gaows
WhalI sir; indict man in the language o
these resolutions upon the rumor of newspa.
pers? These resolutions-I say it more in sor
fancy of judgment that do not look like having
Justice. | shall speak respectfully. So far as
have spoken If Massachusetts hitherto, no ex
ception can be taken; but, when speak Of
Massachusetts now, it must be of Massachusett.
rs she has sent forth these resolutions-undeI
The influence of feeling which perrades her
under the influence of sentiment which denied
Daniel Webster the right to speak in Faneu
Hall, and threw off the coffin of Lincoln because
he had fallen in performing his professional du.
ties in the cause of his country. Boston now
is not the Boston that she was when Hancock
wrote, and Adams spoke, and Oils thought, and
Warren fell. They would not recognize her
She j. no more the same Yet, from that very
hot-bed of bitter feeling to the South, and es-
rccally to South Carolina, have / to look for
the feelings which dictated these resolutions.
have to meet an indictment-for what?. |. is
said that the liberty of speech has been violated
Upon that point intend to deliver some re.
marks which, whether they be correct or not,
shall throw out Our ancestors were people
of hardy morality. Generally, when they spoke
ethey spoke directly from the heart. Such d
thing as printing speeches beforehand, or having
them printed without being uttered in the Sen
ate, was unheard of in their day. They were
men who stood on their legs, and spoke out
They had hearts and mouths. They did no,
resort to the appliances Of paper and printing
before they brought their speeches here. L
the Senator from Massachusetts were present
and would answer me, ! would put the question
to him, "Was not that speech of yours printed
and published before you spoke it in the Senate
of the United Statcs7' What is the meaning
of that provision Of the Constitution, Which says
that Senator, or member of the House, fo
any speech or debate in either House, shall no