The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29

bay-but this policy was soon abandoned.
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Campbell,
of Ohio, (who, by the way, acted throughout
with spirit and 6rmness,) prevailed by vote
of SO to 68-al the members present who
had voted for Mr.. Banks, and who had not
paired off, voting aye, together with Broome Of
Pennsylvania, Edwards of New York, Fuller Of
Maine, Haven of New York, Hoffman of Mary.
land, Humphrey Marshal of Kentucky, Scott Of
Ohio, Walk of New York, Wells of Wisconsin
and Williams of New York. The nays were
from the South, with the exception of Elliott
of Kentucky, Miller of Indiana, Florence OF
Pennsylvania, Herbert of California, Kelly OF
New York, Allen and Marshall of Illinois.
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE.
AS might have been expected, this outrage
has aroused intense excitement in the free
States. We are only beginning to feel the
tempest of indignation.
The Legislature of Massachusetts has already
referred the subject to Committees to report
suitable action while the People of Boston of
all parties have met and denounced the act in
scathing terms. In the account annexed the
reader will observe the names of George S. Hill
lard and Samuel Valley, distinguished leaders
of the Conservative Wings of Massachusetts:
INDIGNATION MEETINGS IN MASSACHUSETTS,
" Boston, May PA meeting of citizens
was held here last evening, to express the popu-
lar sentiment regarding the assault on Senator
Sumner. Though called at a la;e hour on
Friday, it was very large. Chapman Hall was
found to be too small for the meeting, and it
adjourned to fremont Temple. PRAYER was
offered by the Rev. Mr.. Beecher, and Deacon
Samuel Creole presided. General Indignation
was expressed, and speeches we're made by
Rev. w. Freeman Clark, Wendell Phillips,
Judge Russell, Theodore Parker, j. NJ. S. Viii
liams OF Cambridge, Lyman Beecher, John l..
Swift, and w. b. Spooner. The speeches of
Messrs. Phillips and Parker were almost pure.
ly political, with minor references to the object
of the meeting. Mr.. Spooner dissented from
the declaration made by both, that men not of
the Free Soil party rejoiced at the assault on
MIR. Sumner, and justified Mr.. Brooks. He said
it was not SO, and held out requistion for the
use OF Faneuil Hall on Saturday night for mass
meeting on the subject, signed by over fifty
men of all parties. The present meeting, he
SAID, was spontaneous one, and no special
party had had the credit of its initiation.
h.
to-day Saturday in Faneuil Hail.
Boston, May 25-One of the largest meet
ings ever held in Faneuil Hall took place last
evening, to give expression to the general in
dignation felt at the assault upon Senator Sum-
ner. There were five thousand inside of the
hall, and many thousands outside Gov. Gard
ner presided assisted by forty Vice Presi-
dents, comprising distinguished gentlemen of
all parties, including Lieut. Gov. Benchley.
Mayor Rice, Mr.. Baker, President of the State
Senate, Mr.. Phelps, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Ex-Governor Boutwell,, Hon.
Samuel II. Valley, Ex-Mayor Smith, Hon.
Nathan Hale, editor of the Daily Adoertiser,
Amos A. Lawrence, Professor C. G. FELTON,,
Lyman Beecher, and others.
The meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev. Rollin Fl. Neale.
"Gov. Gardner, on taking the chair, made
stirring Speech characterizing the assault ON
MIR. Sumner as an exhibition Of grossness and
brutality exceeding anything written upon the
pages of history, and calling upon Congress to
expel the assaiants from its halls. The Gov
errors sentiments were responded to with ire
mendous cheering throughout.
"Judge Russell followed, and introduced q
series of appropriate resolutions. The meet.
ing was afterwards addressed by John C. Park.
George s. Hillard, L. c. Baker, Charles A.
Phelps, Samuel s. Valley, Col. Brewster, Pc.
leg W. Chandler, and John A. Andrew, repre-
senting all political parties.
Many of the speeches were unusually warm
and defiant, ehciting in their prominent points
the tumultuous responses of the multitude.
"The resolutions passed unanimously, and
the meeting adjourned at ii o'clock. Large
delegations were present, from all the neigh
boring towns.
"At Lowell and Worcester, large indigna-
ton meetings were also held"
amherst, Mass, May 23.-An Indignation
meeting of the students of Amherst College
was held last evening, in reference to the re.
cent outrage on Hon. Charles Sumner. The
meeting was addressed by President Stearns.
Professor Haven, Mr.. Greene, and a number of
the students. Resolutions were unanimously
adopted, expressing Indignation at the insult
to Massachusetts, and sympathy with Mr.. Sum- |
ner.''
"New York, May 24.-The Republican
County Committee, at a meeting held last even |
ing, passed strong resolves, denouncing the |
assault upon Mr.. Sumner, calling upon the |
House of Representatives to expel the assail. |
ants; also, upon the courts of Washington city
to punish them, otherwise the seat of Govern |
ment must be removed"
Mr.. Brooks, having appeared before Justice
Hollingshead, of this place, and fully admitted
the assault and battery, has been bound in the |
sum of 81 900, to appear at the Criminal Court.
THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
The following editorial, from the NeD York
Ecening Post, presents most forcible view of
the question of privilege aud the duty of Con.
gress:
Has the freedom of speech in the United |
States Senate been put in peril? Has Sena- |
tor been questioned by person not member |
of that body, and put in bodily peril for words |
uttered in debate? If he has, then the Con.
stitution has been violated the law of Con-
gress, the ter parliamentaria, which Black
stone calls the most essential part of the
common law, as it directs, guides, and ought to
protect the very formation of all laws, has
been violated, the dignity and supremacy of a
co ordinate branch of the Government has been
a wrong has been perpetrated, which,
if not properly punished, exposes every de-
partment of the Government to the intimida.
ting influence of brutality and violence, and
must soon compel even the President himself
to surround his person and fortify his residence
with military guard.
"There never was q time when England was
barbarous enough to excuse any violence to a
member of her Parliament, or to permit the
author of such an offence to go UNPUBLISHED.
The right to freedom of speech is coeval
with the existence of Parliaments and leg;sla.
tive assemblies, and is protected against every
whether under color of laws or
by open and rufiian violence. In England.
it is protected by statute, as one of the Iiber
ties OF the people; and with us, the Constitu-
ton of the United States declares that Sena.
tors and Representatives, for any speech in
debate, In either House, shall not be question
ed in any other place.