The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-13

the "OpprefsOrs Sc0rn" ana proud mans cOntuuo-
ly." We are ast0nished when we read that 1t came
into the spirit even of barbaroua nation 10 make
pecuniary payment q full and sufficient compensa-
ton for the life Of man; aud we are horriied
when we read OF men claiming credit for the most
exact observance OF the point Of honor, who by lay
ing in wait for their adversaries, or by colectinga
force Of friends, and finding their adversary alone,
cured the mpunity OF the coward while they did the
work Of the assassin, But If 1t Ia truth of fire.
quent recurrence that there is nothing new under
the SUM- 1t seems to be no less fact that the worst
evils Of the past are too constantly repeated i'm
the present. This affair OF Mr.. Summers is case
in point. All the circumstances which rendered the
assaults OF the mobiles OF the seventeenth century
upon unarmed and rnwarned men 30 afro cious, were
to be found in the attack made by Mr.. Brooks upon
Mr.. Sumner; and there were other circumstances
which still heightened the exhibition Of reckessness
nd violence. Mr.. Sumner had received no warn
ing; ne was alone, he was unarmed, aud in posi-
ton alike unfit either for defence or for retreat On
The other hand, his assaapt was acting in accord
a weapon which was calculated to intiict deash; and
had taken the precauton to guard ag iinst inter-
ference by having small party of friends at his
cowardly outrage successful and at the same time to
avoid personal risk, even interference Mr. Brooks
was not deferred BY any consideration of the sacred
ness of the character in which Mr. Sumner spoke or
respect due to the Senate Chamber-thc very focus
and throne Of popular sovereignty; nor OF the right
of free discussion which is plainly Notwithstanding
Its frequent abuses the FIRST condition and necessity
Of every government by popular representatives.
This is pretty good parallel to any Of the waylay-
ings and assasfna,ions Of the bygone centuries.
for this desperate Offence MT H.
ton. He had, under the aggravaang circumstances
we have mentioned, almost done to death one Of the
most worthy and honored of the public men Of his
country-a scholar, lawyer and statesman of high
rank, deputed to represent in national councils
perhaps the most intelligent of the confederate
commonwealth. The injured party declined to
stantate the guilt of the accused, who, after
the evidence had been heard, was put upon
his defence. That defence seems to have been
A cowardly, brutal criminal, like Mr.. Brooks,
who had all but murdered a man worth q thou
sand blackguards like himself, stood up in court
of his crime and avewed his intention to repeat it.
The appreciation Of his deed, which has rung
throughout the South, has, of course, had an echo
in his own breast and where there should have been
sorrow and repentance, and where, if justice had
been administered with any regard to right, there
must have been remorse and regret for the conse-
auences the only winch was uttered was
altogether too well to have any fear OF the sentence
Even vulgar rowdies, with political influences, es-
cape among our neighbors either without punish
ment, with fires nicely graduated to their pecu-
mary means How could any one think OF inconve-
niencing, by any real punishment, Senator Of the
United States, whose offence has been apPlauded by
the public voice of eight ten States each one ow-
ing to its happy possession Of slavery being as nu
entail two other States nhab solely by eemen2
The Court did not trouble itself with any of modern
ideas OF law, but went back to that great Teutonic
principle which we have alluded to at the COM
mencement Of this arcle-the principle that every.
thing has its price. There was nothing 10 do then
but to assess the sum which Mr.. Brooks should be-
called on to pay for the amusement In which he had
INDUCED; and what do our readers think was the
amount demanded from this wealthy man, the repre-
sentative Of wealthy class for the attempted MUIR
der Of one Of the best men on this Continent? So.
twenty-five pounds currency! Law like this is just
fitted to countenance outrage and provoke retalia-
tom it is, indeed the abdicaton Of his functions by
the Judge whose Intervention for the future will no
doubt, be dispensed with. Men who have that
Christian Difference for the laws which animates
Mr.. Sumner, will be beaten as he has been and nd-
ng that their cause has no chance OF being fairly
yenged by the laws, they will either retaate in
erson or hire rufians to do so. We cannot but
xpress our apprehensons for liberal institutions,
when we regard the lawlessness which prevails
n the law courts among our neighbors. In Califor-
Ia New York, and Washington, the judges 80 far
rom being terror to evil doors, seem to form Q
lind Of criminal nsolvent debtors court, whose
chief business it is to whtewash the most notorious
and hardened criminals, and turn them loose again
pom society to commit more crime.
The Canadian Line OF Ocean Steamers.
IRON the Montreal Herald July III
We called attention some few weeks ago 10 the
very gratifying revival in the export trade Of our
port, especially in the great agricultural pro-
ducts Of the Western States and Canada We en-
deavored to show that the falling of in that branch
Of trade, during the years 1854 and %, was at
tributabe to exceptional causes, over which we had
no control; and that the immensely increased ex-
NAL condition Of trade, based, as IL Is, upon no
mere Legislative restrictions, but upon our geogra-
phca position at the head Of the ocean and at tha
loot of the vast inland navigation of the continent
We did not forget, however, to remind our readers
that the great natural advantages of our position
would be unavailing, in these days Of boundlesa
enterprise, by which capital and skill are every
where applied TO the construction of artificial
channels TOR the transport TO the seaboard marts
OF the surplus productions Of the interior, un-
les developed and improved BY similar -s exer.
10 the subject Of line Of ocean steamers the es-
Enlistment, and far az the public are concerned,
the complete success Of which Is SO legitimate .
source OF congratulation TO all interested in the adj
vancement and prosperity Of our country. We say,
so .he public Is concerned for while the own
Of the line have spared no cost or effort In honor
ably and strictly fulfilling the terms Of their contrac
with the government, competing, as they do, wit,
the enormously subsidized Cunard and Collin
lines, We fear the remunerative result OF thei
is perhaps premature in this, the FIRST season Q
the experiment which has proved 30 entiret
suct essinl TO the country, 70 suggest reconside
obligations OF the contract between the gov
eminent and the owners OF the line; but so impor-
tant we are satisfied, Is its continuance and extern
sion TO every interest In the country that Il is with
much pleasure we observe our leading merchants
have already taken action in the matter In the form
Of petition to the Board OF Trade, praying that
body to urge upon the government the wisdom Of go
revising the existing arrangements as will not only
secure the continuance OF our present fortnightly
line, Lut firmly establish II as weekly one This
erected and we believe the most important disds-
ratum OF our export trade viii be attained-thst IL,
reliable regular and moderate freghts for western
produce. Although carrying full home cargoes, Il
IL evident by the recent rise In feghts, the great
demand for carrying vessels, and the large accumu-
lation of produce in stores that our fortnghtly
steamers fave but very partially aged the supply,
and, consequently, the rate Of freights TO Great
Britain--a rise OF fully so per cent having taken
the season. Now, unless produce for the Eu-
ropean markets can find the means OF prompt
shipment nc moderate rates In our hhrbor,
Il h vain to expect that Montreal can ever
assume her natural and legitimate position N one
OF the most favoraby situated export marts on the
continent of America; and are greatly mistaken