The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-07-24
Nh %
What English Papers say of the Sumner
OUTRAGE

S. 10y VI the sumner
After giving detail of the brutal assault Of
Tbs cowardly Brooks. the London Morning
>ias makes the following comments:
The assault upon Mr. Sumner stssts
without a parallel ia the xnnsls of civilized
communities While sitting st his desk in
the Senate Chamber. quietly engaged in Wi
ting member Of the other Legislative body.
the House OF Representatives. deliberately
walks up 70 him. aud taking advantage OF ais
helpless position, where he could nenbss es-
cape nor defend himself begins 10 beat lsim
Nioisntly upon his bare head with = heavy
cane, until he falls down stunned aad insen
stole. covered with his own blood. The cow.
afdiy rathan not desisaing even then. when
the form of his sntagonist Law presrste and
senseless before him. While this is taking
place number of his brother Senators stand
round and make no attempt TO stay The agn
It tbs aSsailant, indeed. mounted guard ex
pressiy 70 prevent interference.
Such conduct is utterly inexplicabls To rs
in this country. We say nothing of the obH
asaAons OF religion and morality-nothing Of
the requirements of personal self-respecs or
official decorum-nothing of the impulse Of
manly honor. 1t ls easy TO conceive thai
tten OF the quality OF Mr.. Brooks and his
sbetters should be utterly inaccessible 10 sen.
uments OF this nature. But the wonder -
that the mere instinct-we were almost .,5u..
10 say the mere animal instinct oil fair play
which Is found 10 actuate even the humblest
classes OF eur population in their rou ehesl
physical conflicts. did not cry shame within
their bosoms, We believe that there is nu
company Of coalheayers or eostermonge1s
isunting tho lowest pulieus of London Jhal
would have suffered wha. the elect and elu
Gated Legislators of Am.rica witnessed; some
"sth distardly connlyance and others Il
aNoWed complacency and eAultatIon.
1t anything could aggravate the inherent
brutality OF this act It is the character Of The
man upon whom 1T was committed. For Mr.
sumner is gentleman in whom there meets
combination of qualities adapted in rare
degree TO inspire the affectionate attachment
of friends, and TO command courtesy and res
pect from all generous and honorable opp3-
nents. A man of a chivalrous and heroic
spirit. o! a refined and sensitive nature OF a
powerful aud cultivated intellect. disciplined
by hard study. and adorned with profound
and various learning, who has led hfo OF ir
reproachable purity and active benevolence
The tavorite pupil of Story. the intima-e
lrieT4 aud disciple of Channing, the chosen
associate OF the finest living minds Of Ameri
e. Quincy. Sparks, Lrngfel,ow. Goo lrich.
Dana. Everett, BRYANT Emerson
Indeed, it is clear enough to eyeryhady
that If the southern gentlemen are compiled
% abandon the conflict OF reason and 70
fsenee. and confessing themselves bestan ~
Arguments aad oraory. obliged 10 have RI.
course 10 bludgeons and revolvers, as the IDly
recourse left to them they convert the
capitol from thu arena of honorable debate,
w..ere intellect meets intellect in an inspifin!
and ennobling emulation. into a pug g.h ic
ring, where bullies and bustere7s display
their superior animal strength and prowess,
they viii themselves proclaim trumpet tangu
ed that their cause IS indeed irresrie>a ab.y
.J5L.
E<s- There has been some discussioa IN
the newspapers and among members OF Con-.
gress, North and South, as 10 whetLlg tDe
speech Of Senator SUMMER was a libel upon
South Carolina III general and Senator BU4Lai.
Ii particular. Some say that inasmuch o. tis
parts Of it relating to them are true. il cannot
be libel We beg leave to remind tho-9 who
maintain this position chat there is at eid com
inou law maxim which says "the greater he
ruth the greater the libel" MANY be-
challenged this maxim parAdoxicai and
reasonable: AID The immortal members OF tlat
iluStrious body who formed the present ad
mlrable constitution Of the State OF Ono.
thought 10 insert therein a provision tAat
In all criminal prosecutions for libel. the
truth may be given in evidence to the jury.
and if it shall appear to the jury that the mat
ter charged as libellous is true, and was pub
lIshed with good motives and for justiiiable
ends. the party shall be acquitted Whel.,.
sr this maxim is founded on reason or n3t. j.
It not evident that the peculiar odousne-s of
senator SrasER's remarks in the ears Of the
Southern gentry was attributable to their tru.l !.
II was their truth that made them like serpent
stings aud venoned arrows in the heaG,s Il
the cane bearing Representatives. A man of
character eau live down the foulest calumn /.
but the hypocrite has innate horror Of +
truth. BUTLER and BRooKs are much in tie
same position as a certain delinquent grocss
who Walted MS lawyer to sue one Of The
deacons of the church to which he belonged
for SANDER What has he said? asked he
lawyer. He said gave short weigh to my
customers. Well, never mind. said the lawyer.
he can't prove it. But the id scoandrsl
has proved 1t. said the excited client, that's
the worst Of it. and before the whole eongregH-
ton, too.-Cin. Com.
EE- Nobody We have yet encountered ap
pears to know one great fact in Mr.. Buchaa-
ans whole public existence. The world thir,.s
-. l.. L.