The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-05-03
Col. Lane and senator Douglass.

ing IN explanation and retraction of the H.
bellous and abusive charges made against
him in the Senate by Stephen A. Douglass,
! that Senator, after due deliberation, throws
himself upon his Senatorial privilege. And
in his response the following reasons for de-
Ginning to ''face the music either as an hon
est man or a man Of honor
lst-0ther Senator'S used language equally
I Objectionable.
! 2d-The Senate rejected the memorial by
large majority.
! 3d-Gen. Cass would not Youch for its
genuineness.
4th-Rumors of the purpose Of hostile
meeting promulged through the press, of
which my request for an explanation was the
forerunner.
jth--As Chairman Of the Committee on
Territories, it was his duty to compare the
memorials; and for what he said, stands
behind his privilege and constitutional pro-
lection.
Col. Lanes response is scathing, and he
alludes to his plea of privilege in a spirit Of
the most whitening contempt.
COL Lane concludes thus
His heart, constitutonally adapted to it,
pleads "privileges' 1t is said of distin-
guished senator that, after his head was bios
soming for the grave he gave offence to one
much his junior. The young man complain
ed Of his inability to resent the insult ON
account of the disparity in years and posi-
.tlon. The venerable senator exclaimed, 81
ask no exemption on account of my age no
privilege from my position; no Sir, none ~
But the Senator from Illinois Yields TO 10
such vulgar weakness, and believes in no
such vain examples. Like heroic dog
grown insolent upon fat diet, with his head
ont of the kennel he growls with swollen
courage, with q constitutional privilege ut
his back, behind which to retreat. Honored
with trust similar to his, by the brave and
loyal people of Kansas, yield TO the Sena-
tors constitutional exemption from respon-
sbihty for language used in debate, if he
sees lit to avail himself OF it but yield it
in the letter only, not in the spirit; for, by
the spirit, while aiming TO surround with
safeguards the utmost freedom of opinion
and debate in the Senate Chamber, and so
preclude all accountability for it, it implies
and eomprehends that high notion of Senate
rial decorum, candor and truth, which ex-
cludes the idea of wanton and malignant
wrong. 1t was given to protect the Senator,
would protect all others.
But 1T is within the Senator's discretion
not only that "discreton" which sis the
better part of valor'--to assert this legal
exemption, as he might also plead the Statute
of Limitations against conhdng creditor
and an honest debt. He has done so, claim
ing Shylock's virtue, that Kit is the law
Safely sheltered and hidden behind this con-
stitutional privilege, which exists legally in
all cases, but morally in none, Senator Doug
lass now compes me to the unpleasant alter
native of protesting, before the public,
against this personal outrage, perpetrated
whore my voice was then silent, and which
he technically declines to repair under every
obligation of honor. AT law he knows | can
face my accuser and confront the witnesses
with other cowardce or privilege between
me and my adversary, am compelled to sof-
fer without hearing at the hands Of q con
stitutional assassin.
Senator Douglass eajoled me into an un-
deserved trust of his sincerity. lie made
me the guest Of his hospitality to deceive and
circumyent me. lie has broken the seals Of
friendly confidence and published it with
criminal efrontery. To make the personal
indignity the greater, he has lmpeached me,
his friend and witness and he has so dis
call ii my own. He has invtighed, with
gross and criminal imputations, against me,
unsustained by n single fact in my own his
tory, and all denied by the public and fa-
miltar history Of Kansas. | so stgmatize
the imputations and charges and when
smartng under it, and presuming on some
sincerity in our past relations, | ask for
Justice or for an explanatian that shall
lead to justice, he hunts out from the con-
stltution that magical word for weak
kneed spirits" Privilege "-and flies to
its cover.
The public shall be our judges. To this
complexion has ii come. Is the ferocious
braggart heroism Of the Senate Chamber
which boasts in its place Of having gazed
down pistol --only that quality which
'oozes out at the finger end" and expires
outside the portals of the Chamber? Are
treachery, falsehood, cowardice any better
because they are privileged? Is the priyi-
| legged to have another meaning? Will the
Senator from Illinois abuse it, and make a
want of courage and s'priyilege" convertible
and equivalent terms ? appeal from the
| atroeious conduct of the Senator from Hi
| nols, and submit to the honest public, and irs
| just sense and conviction, that in morals no
elevation of place can dignity and protect
| inJustice---that, because person is humble,
his oppression becomes more aggravated,
AMI he is doubly within the protection Of all
/ honorable men above him---that accusation
and accountability alwaya 20 together that,
character assailed, may always compel the
accuser to his proofs, and if the offender be-
comes fugitive from this plain duty, and
attempt to retire to legal subterfuges, public
justice willtake up the retribution Of the
I WRONG pursue him over his LEGAL barriers
and whip the violator of the universal laws
of friendship and hospitality, and the SIAN
derer of private reputation at the very affairs
/ Of his refuge.
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