Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-27
The speech of mr. sumner.

The New York Tribune publishes the
speech of Mr.. SUMNER, which drew upon
him the assault of Mr.. Books. 1t is the
most violent and insulting political and per-
sonal philippe that ever was made in the
Senate. The man who could make it, and
not hold himself personally responsible,
should not be allowed to sit in that body.
Such a wretch should be driven beyond the
pale of civilized society.
The following is the portion assaulting
Senator BUTLER, of South Carolina, who
was absent when it was made:
With regret / come again upon the Senator
from South Carolina (Mr. Butler) who, omn-
present in this debate, overlooked with rage at
the simple suggestion that Kansas had applied
for admission as q State and, with incoherent
phrases, discharged the loose expectoration of
his speech, now upon her representative and
then upon her people. There was no extrava-
gance of the ancient Parliamentary debate
which he did not repeat; nor was there any
possible deviation from truth which be did not
make, with so much of passion, arm glad TO
add, as 10 save him from the suspicion Of in
territorial alteration. But the Senator touches
nothing which he does not disfgure-wiih er-
ROT, sometimes Of principle, sometimes of fact.
lie shows an incapscity Of accuracy, whether
in stating the Constitution or in stating the
law, whether in the details Of statistics or the
diversions Of scholarship. He cannot open his
mouth but out there flies a blunder Surely
he ought TO be familiar with the life of Frank
lin and yet he referred 10 this household cha
racter, while acting as agent of our fathers 10
England, as above suspicion; aud this was doue
that he might give point To a false contrast
with the agent OF kAnsas--not knowing that,
however they may differ in genins and fame,
in this experience they are alike, that Franklin
when intrus,ed with the petition Of Massachu-
sets Bay was assaulted by a foul-mouthed
speaker, where he could not be heard ia de-
Tense, aud denounced as thief even A. the
agent of Kansas has been assaulted on this floor
aud denounced as q "forgrr." And let not the
vanity OF the senator be inspired by the par.
allel with the British statesmen of that day;
for IL is only 10 hostility TO freedom that any
parallel eau be recognized.
But Il is against the people Of Kansas that
the sensibilities Of the Senator are particularly
aroused. Coming, as lac announces, from Il
State aye, cir, from South Carolina - he
turns with iordly disgust from this newly
formed community, which he viii not recog-
niEe even as /" body polite" Pray, sir. BY
what title does he indulge In this egolism
Has be read the history Of the State which he
representa- lie cannot surely have forgotten
its imbecility from slavery, confessed 10 the
Revolution, followed by ils more shameful a..
sumptions for slavery since He cannot have
forgotten It's wrelohcd persistence In the slave
trade a. the very apple Of lie eye, aud the con-
dition OF lie participation in the Union. lie
cannot have f0rgolsen its Constitution, which
u republican only 10 name, confirming poser
10 the hands Of the few, and founding the
qualifications Of voters on "a settled freehold
estate and ten nsgrOes.n And YET the Senator,
20 whom that State has 10 part committed
the guardianship OF lie good name. instead Of
moving with backward treadihg steps 70 cover
its nakedDess, rushes forward IN the very
eestacy Of madness. 20 expose Il by provoking
n comparison with Kansas
South Carolina Is old, Kansas IL young.
South Carolina counts BY oeuturies, where