The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-01-03
IL SENATE. November ), 1885,

Asst. Clerk
IN SENATE. November ), 1856.
Read and adopted IN concurrence.
L. IL. CHAPMAN, Secretary
No. G3 Resolutions Touching the Outrage
pom the Person of the Hon. Charles
Sumner.
WHEREAS, on the twenty second day OF
May last, the Hon. Charles Sumner. Sen
ator from Massachusetts, while in his seat
in the Senate Cha nbcr, was violently as
saultrd with a weapon OF attack. 10y Pres
.nn ). Brooks. a Member Of the House Of
Representatives, from South Carolina. and
beaten to in>rnSihilitv upon the floor OF
the Senate, which was stained with his
'AoOd; that the aS,alant sought the Senate
tham5"r to pcrpetrate the outrage. provl-
Died with his weapon and attended by
follower in its aid. and taking his unarmrd
victim unawarrs. and in posture which
rendered defence impossible. hy heavy
blow utterly disable him, and wiz, cruel
repetition inflicted frequent and bloody
wounds upon his PROSTATE, helpless FORM
from which il jury, now, alter the lapse
Of five months, the honorable Senator has
not fully recovered but still Ian.uiShrs UNI
der it; that the sole reason alleged for
this violent outrage, was speech made by
Senator Sumner IN debat,, upon a public
question then pending in the Senate, not a
word Of which, during its delivery. was
made the subject OF objection by the Prrsi-
dent OF the Senate or any Senator. and
which was concluded on the twentieth day
of May last: therefore,
Ers're'i, That We sincerely and respect
fully tender our sympathy to Senator Sum
ncr IN the personal outrage inflicted upon
him, and the anguish and peril which he has
suffered and still suffers from that outrage,
and that We feel and proclaim that his griev-
ance and his wound, are not of private con-
cern, but were received while in the public
service. AMI every blow which tell upon his
head should be recognized and resented as
m insult and an in urv to the honor and Dig
nifty, not only of Massachusetts. but of Yer.
mont, and vital attack upon the Constitu,
ton of the Union.
Reso'r>i, That the ri sht Of the citizen to
utter his opinions ON all subjects affecting
the public veal, is one of the essential dis
tinctions between free and drspotic govern.
mcnt, and that without it republic cannot
exist; that the free and full enjoyment Of
this right was not denied TO the American
people even when tO'onitS that it was cS-
tabllshed before the Constitution, and its Sc
ru-lty guaranteed by provisions Incorporated
in that instrument: ana that it is right
,.b tb. IL, IS ~,
render, without an Abandonment of all their
privileges az trremen. and he overthrow of
those institutions and liberties which they
inherit AS the price Of many patriotic struy
giles and sacrifices.
Reso'r'd. Tha: in this fcrocio,s. brutal
and cowarilv outrage on the unarmed person
Of distinguished Senator, whose generous
and rare qualities as man, whose purity, en-
thusiasm and fidelity as a ph!anthropst,
whose comp!iShmrn>s as scholar, whose
ahllitIes,earneStncss and r'olucnce as states
man, lave endearrd him to the hearts of so
many Of his countrymcn who love freedom
ard haze oppression, we recognize, without
expressing approval or disarproval of the
sentiments enunriated in the speech which
preceded and furnished Occasion for this
shameful occurrence. not only malignant
blow at tn: right OF free speech. which is the
necessary condition of our continued exist
once as free. united and enlightened PEG
pie. but direct, payable and tl,grant vio-
laicn c. The express terms of the Consritu-
tior, securing TO Members Of Congress free
dom III debatr. ana of those safeguards which
IN every country not ahSolut. ly dcspotic, in
volatility the office of Legislation.
HtSctrrd, That in the appreciation express.
ed by Iea'ing Journals as we'll as individual
citizens and popular assemblies, in certain
quarters. toward the prominent actor in this
unprecedented and dcttstaols, crime, and in
the distinct and une'iuvoral approval of it
which has leen publicly expressed 10y Repre-
senta:iv"s am! Senators in Congress and
above all , in the wish which has been public
ly expressed, that similar GU TRACES might be
perPrtrated upon other men holding similar
opinions with Senator Sumner, is plain 20 be
recognized asprif if possible more dei5c-
rateIy malignant than that which inspired
the first assault, and more threatening to the
perprtui'y of the Union than anything which
Southern arrogance has before exhibited
R's"lred, That in this strange and unpre-
cedented con uncture of affairs We do not
hesitate to declare it as our deliberate con
vIction, that our Members OF Con .rrss ought
not 10 sni!-r themselves TO be driven from
their position by any form OF attack or inrim-
nlation; that Vermont will stand firmly and
forever for the liberty of debate and the in
volatility of Legislative halls and that We
rxhort our Senator'S and Representatives in
Congress to maintain their ground with mag
nanlmtv. but with invinr;tie lirmne>s and
courage. aud 70 hoii their persons sacred
from assault and We hereby assure them
that Vermont Will sand nv them in every
aeedful emergency for the vladication Of
their rights and the rights of the State. and
the preservation OF order. lbert.' and law.
IN House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,, No.
yember IS. 1856.
Read and adopted
NORMAN WILLIAMS. JR.,
assistant (Ierk.
No G4.-Kesolu'ions approving the Speech