Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-06-17
IN CuNGaEs~-Fir.t Session.
THURSDAY. JUSE IL, 1856.
SENATE


THURSDAY. JUSE IL, 1856.
SENATE
Mr. Hamlin asked 10 tie excused from serving {
chairman Of the committee on commerce.. tie al
for tbs nine years he hal held a seat IN Inc Sehat
he had almost been silent member. Upon The sui
iect OF slavery that had so much agitated the coui
try he had rarely uttered a word Heloved his cour
trv more than he loved any party-inore than any
thing that could agi,ate and disturb ITS harmony.
believed the repeal of the Missouri compromise wa
q great moral and political wrong. SiEce, however
tina, wrong has been endorsed oy the Cncipna' Goi
v.ntiou, in its consun nation ana Results NC ie'' u
his duv 10 declare that he Could no longer ma'h'a'u
Marty associations with any parry that iilsised upon
surh doctrines, and he could support no man iof
President who svaTed anu recognized sucn aoe'
trin-s His motion to be excused was then agreed 10
Mr. Butler proceeded 10 reply 10 Mr.. Summer
aoa.rb The galleries were crowded with auditors
Mr. Batter said tina, the necessity for his address
ing the Senate this occasion WA brought about oy
events over which he had no control events which
have grown out OF 8 controversy, srom Inc com
meucenent of which the Senator from Massachusetts
not nov in his seat, tMr. Sumner) would DC held ex
cusively responsible by his country aud his Gnd.-
II, mad delivered speech, the most extraordinary
IN # ever had u,erance in any legislative body re-
cynizpg the sanctions of law and ct tue Constitution
All that lime Mr.. Butler was not here, and what ne
would have done if he had been here II would now Or
perfectly idle TO say, because no one eau substitute
the deliberations of subsequent period for what
might have taken place On the impulse OF the uio'
nent. .
H,. impression was if he had been here he would
hsv, asked that Senator, before he had finished some
OF the paragraphs personally applicable 10 hln 10
pause; and II Mr.. Sumner had gone OH he would
have demanded that he aould reraet or modify the
offensive remarks, SO 50 10 bring them within the
sphere OF parliamentary Proprety. Ii Mr. d had re-,
Used 70 do this what he wuuld have done he could
not exactly say, but thing tie knew. aud thar ~.s
he would not have submitted 10 H. 10 what mod
OF redress be would have resorte he could NOT tell:
b., wnu.i AT least have assumed upon hlinse all thu
srr,it If n
ms consequences, let them tail where ticy might
Bat instead Of that, that speech had involved rlenu
ana kius;nan 10 the eStent thai he had been obliged
~ rni hts fortune and litr at stake.
l: Butler expressed the opinion that the speech Of
Nr Sumner would be condemned ny the public mind
.: the cuunry aud would be consgned 20 ,niu;ny by
pr,.e-i,y. for the mischi-voas consequences which
nav. ed from il already, and which We're likely III
tn. fu,are TO disturb the peace and repose Of the
coun'ry. Mr. Butler had SAID nothing to justify the
gross personal abuse and caunny with which lie had
been as,ailed; no had been very guarded i'll his re
marks during the whole Of this exciting debate. In
d~prndeutly of the personalities which have distorted
sud d.graced Mr. Summers speech there Was nothing
IL L 10 distinguish it from all his other abolition
Speeches.
Ius:aad of making his own speech here, under the
obig ation of the constitution. aud in dgnifed man
Ne III. SENATOR from Massachusetts, had acted rs the
conduit tue fang through which 10 pour out malign-
~ snG injustice. To conciiate Theodore Parker the
S=ma.D- must make South Carolina and on
himself, Mr.. Butler.) Ii the purpose of that
Senator to pander 10 the prejudice of q portion oi
Massachusetts. Ii the Senator now here he
would make him hang his head in shame and prove
bin a caumniatOr.
He accused Mr.. Sumner Of having pretended to
,,n"'. from the constitution Of South Carolina that
witch il not found i'll it. One thing is certan-either
The SENATOR did not the read that constitution, Or II he
s;' he could not understand It. Laughter!
tie noticed Mr.. Summers charge OF the shameful
imhc!ty Of South Caronina during the revolutiona-
~ war. in consequence Of slavery, and reiuled INC
allegation that tut for Northern aid the South cnno
not have sustained itself in that struSS e. SCUM ~
-ona sent Massachusetts, bread md seventy barrels
OF wine. The Maine lag was not then IN operation
lLa:shter.3 The very powder used oy Massacnu,
sets after the battle Of Bunker HUI was turhisheG
BY South Carolina, which in the reVolutI"n' poured
on hogsheads Of blood where Massachusetts poured
out hut gallons. He characterized the remarks OF
M. Sumner applied to him as indecent, aud utterly
uht to he as they were uttered Ill the presence o'
gallery OF ladies.
Mr.. Butler siuuily condemned the resolution OF the
Massachusetts Legislature relative TO the assault on
NJ. SImner, saying that Mr.. Brooks had been IN
sIc,sd on mere newspaper runor, and with preclpi
fancy OF judgment Incompatible with legislative dig
nlty and justice. MIR. Brooks could not 60 into 4
drawing room o. public place utter MIR Sumner
suasch was delivered without The question beug ask
ed HAS South Carolina chivary escaped i-and II
there To be- tame submission to such insults ii,
felt as il he could no; look his constituent. IN The FACE
withou, being tainted with dishon"r. lbs S.na
mad before been protaned by the Senator from Mas
sachusetts.
II. iMr. Butier) would rather take ten blows tha
endure the gas of the rhe0rcian pouring out cnluul
MES upon hts State. Something must, therefore, o.
pardoil-d 10 the sensibilities of maR acting unde
in. dictates of manhood and honor.
Without concluding, Mr.. Butler gave way LOT
,nu:ou To- adjourn, which prevailed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Only one hundred amc ak nelnbers were present
and, for want OF quorum, the House again adjourn
FRIDAY, JuSE Is, 1856.
SENATE.
Mr.. Butler resumed his remarks from yesterday Il
further apology for Mr. Brooks attack on Senate
Sumner lie said wheu the Legislature Of Massachu
sets say ii at -ue,nans act was cowary let then
Try him in auy way they ch"ose. Applause.
Mr. Stuart said t.e propretles and a'n.n't,rs OF tn
Senate were too often thus disturbed by applause III
il the galleries cannot be occupied by gentlemen the
shuuid be cleared.
The Chair inquired whether the Senator from Mich
gan moved that the galleries Or cleared.
Mr.. Stuart replied that he did not.
Mr.. Fessenden IN justice To those in the galleries
said that the applause came from the floor OF the 5.
Mr. Butler remarked tina, he would 20 on in such
way that nobody would applaud again. Laughter
Mr. Brooke approached Mr.. Sumner with no othe
puruoss than to disgrace him. MIR. Brooks was on
OF IN. best tempered fellows he knew, thouy
impetuous no doubt, and quick at resentment. NJ
Sumner received two flesh wounds, and being rah,
handsome did not expose himself 1t he had bee
after the racas he would have deserved 10 be cashe
ed. Laugher
Mr.. Butler thought some accounts It was fort
nate that lie WIS here al the time, tor he dlu
know what he might have done. To he sure, It la
been thirty ar forty years since he had been engage
in persousi CONFLICTS, AMI his hand out of practc
but he did not know but what he might have had
trial al hun; and one thing he had no doubt Of th
If he had been younger nun he would have le
Mr.. Sumner in worse condition than he was in nov
Tae New England papers cali this n specimen
Southern violence aud Southern ruiiiansIn but Il
fret Congressional fight since the foundation of th
government took place between two Now Euylar
Ln.u, Mathew Lyon aud Roger Griswuld; and III
did not take place outside ut the House, but tn,
Fought with hickory sticks, spit boxes aud tuugs d
over the House OF Representatives Laughter VIII,
i was in session. But hey dld not turn them ou
tie, said let them both 90 they are disgraced euou.
already. Laughter J
Mr.. 1uicr reviewed Mr.. Summers speech, claiI
!uy that lie had convicted MIR. Sumner o; a procvi
ia error, ca.u,nny and Misrepresentation, and ID
etf,otualy turned the guns which Mr.. Sumner b
poptoC u. him.
MIR. Wilson said he had listened to Mr.. Butls
speech with panul emotions More than tween
days ago Senator Of u suvereig State was strlck
dow on the d ,or Of the Senate for words spoken
debate. For more than three weeks that Senator
beeu confined 10 his room, oo bed OF pam aud q
Suish. The mural Seltimept Of the country bad be