The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-01-07
Senators and Representatives in Congress.
HOUSE RESOLUTIONS.


HOUSE RESOLUTIONS.
Resolutions approving the speech of the Hon.
Charles Sumner.
Resoired That in the speech of the Hon. Charles
Sumner, of Massachusetts, delivered in the SEN
ate oil the United States, in May last, we recog-
nze the most unmistakable evidence of deep and
laborious research, and of intellectual greatness,
of true craftsmanship, patriotism and philanthro-
py, an unwaverng attachment to the cause ofhu.
man freedom, even in the midst of terror fully
iustifying the confidence reposed in him an hon
est, able and fearless advocate Of the rights of
man; and we, the representatives of the people
of Vermont, here publicly and uphesitatingy ex-
press our unqualified approval of the sentiments
and doctrines therein enuciated; and we hereby
tender him our most cordial thanks for the ability
displayed, and the fearlessness manifested in
graphing with gigantic and unmitigated wrong;
and assure him that the people of Vermont will
ever hold him in grateful remembrance for the
ability and invincibe firnness with which he has
defended the principles of eternal Truth and Jus.
tcc.
Resolved That these resolutions be signed by
the Speaker Of the House, and presented to the
Governor for his approval, aid when approved by
him, copy of the same, properly attested be
epared by the Secretary of State and by him
forwarded, at his earliest convenience to the Hon.
Charles Sumner, as a testimony of our approval
of the course he has pursued, and the sentiments
he has uttered in behalf of suffering Kansas and
his whitening rebuke of slavery and the Slave
Power and as slight token Of the high respect
80 $50
his integrity
Resolutions touching the outrage upon the person
of the Hon. Charles Sumner.
Whereas on the twenty-sccOnd day of May
last, the Honorable Charles Sumner Senator, from
Massachusetts, while in his seat in the Senate
Chamber; was violently assaulted with weapon
of attack by Preston 5. Brooks member of the
House of Representatives from South Carolina
and beaten 70 insenbity upon the floor of the
Senate, which was stained with his blood that
the assailant sought the Senate Chamber to per-
petrate the outrage provided with his weapon and
attended by 4 follower in its aid, and taking his
unarmed victim unawarcs and in posture which
rendered defense impossible, by eavy blow
disabled him, and with cruel REPETITION inflicted
frequent and bloody wounds upon his prostrute
he pess form, from which injury, now, after the
lapse of five months the Homo able Senator has
not fully recovered, but still anguishes under it !;
that the sole reason alledged for this violent ou'-
rage, was speech made by Senator Sumner in
debate upon public question then pending in
Senate not word of which, during its delivery,
was made the subject of objection by the Prc>i-
dent of the Senate or any other Senator, which
was concluded on the twentieth day of May last {;
therefore,
Resolred, That we sincerely ard respectfully
tender our sympathy to Senator Sumner in the
personal outrage inflicted upon him, and the an
guish and peril which lie has suffered and still suf
ters from that outrage and that feel and pro-
claim that his grievance and his wounds are not
of private concern, but received while in
the public service, and every blow which fell up-
On his head should be recognized and resented us
an insult and an injury to the honor and dignity
not only of Massachusetts, but of Vermont ard Il
vital attack upon the Constitution of the Union.
Resolced, That the right of the citizen, to utter
his opinion upon all subject affecting the public
veal, is one of the essential distinctions between
u free and q despotlc government and that with
out it republic cannot exist that the free and
full enjoyment Of this right was not denied to the
American people even when colonies that it was
established before the Constitution, and its secu-
ri.y guaranteed by provisions incorporated in that
instrument; and that il is right which the peo-
pile or this country cannot surrender, without an
abandonment of all their privileges as freemen,
and the overthrow of these institutions and lber-
ties which they inherit as the price of many pat
riotic struggles and sacrifice.
ResOlred That in this ferocious, brutal and
cowasdly outrage on the unnamed person of dis
tinguished Senator, whose generous and rare quail
itief as man whose purity, enthusiasm and fidel-
ity as philanthropist, whose accomplishments as
u scholar whose abilities, earnesness as a states
man, have endeared him to the hearts of so many
of his cOuntrymen who love freedom and hateop-
preston, We recognize, without expressing APP
proval or dsapproval OF the sentiments enunciatel
in the speech which preceded and furnished occa-
sion for this shameful occurrence, not only ma
lignant blow at the right Of Free Speech which
is the necessary condition of our continued exis-
tence a free, united and enlightened people
but direct, papable and fragrant violation of the
express terms of the Constitution, securing to
members of Congress freedom in debate, and OF
those safeguards which, in every country not alb
solutely despotc, invest with sacred involability
the office Of legislation.
Resolred, That in the appreciation expressed by
leading journals as well us individual citizens and
lopular assemblies, in certain quarters, toward
the prominent actor in This unprecedented and de
testablo crime, and in the distinct and unequvo-
cal approval of it which has been expressed by
Representatives and Senators in Congress ; and
above I'LL, in the wish which has been publicly ex
pressed that similar outrages might be perpetrat-
ed upon other men holding similar opinions with
Senator Sumner, is plain to be recognized spirit
if possible more deliberately malignant than that
which inspired the first assault and more threat
ening to the perpetuity of the Union than any
thing which Southern arrogance has before cxhib-
tied.
Resolred, That in this strange and unprecelent
ed conjecture Of affairs, we do not hesitate to de-
clare it deliberate conviction, that our
members of Cong ess ought rot TO suffer them
selves to be driven from their positions by any
form OF attack or Intimidation that Vermont
will stand firmly and forever for the liberty of de
bate and the inviolability Of Legislative Halls; and
that we exhort our Senators and Representatives
in Congress to maintain their ground with mag
naniInity but withinvincible firmness and courage
and to hold their persons sacred from assault and
we hereby assure them that Vermont will stand
by them in every noedful emergency for the vim
dication of their rights Of the State and the pro-
motion of ORDER liberty and lsw.