The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-06-22
Mr., Summers Speech,

Tho recent speech of Charles Sumner in
tho United States Senate, on the Bar.
barism of Slavery" is undoubtedly the
greatest effort of his life. 1t is worry lengthy.
elaborate in argument and adorned with
tho classical illustrations peculiar to all tho
productions of it's author. We have read it
with pleasure, and should publish it entire,
did not our limited space forbid.
We regret to notice that somo leading
Republican Journals aro disposed TO ccnsure
Mr.. Summer for this speech, which they re-
gard as incorporate and ill-timcd. With
out pretending that it docs not prosopt a
faithful picture of Slavery in all its forms,
they think it impolitc to mako such n
speech. This complaint would be more
plausible, if Southern Senators had not put
the character Of Slavery directly in issue, by
claiming that it is tho basis of the only safe
aud permanent social system, and, as such,
not only to be tolerated whore it now exists.
but to be extended into all the new Tori.
tories. When such claim is made and por.
sisted in with tho greatest boldnoss. should
Northern Senators, who know its fasity,
and have tho ability to expose IL. alone ro-
main silont ? To do so would bo an ud-
mission OF weakness sure to be followed by
deserved humiliation aud defeat. Mr. Sum-
nor has shown, by q collection OF facts and
figures, and an array of arguments perfectly
overwhelming, how groundless is this mon.
e.. -, 10
titled to gratitude rather than censuro.-
Wo are glad that he has done tho work so
ably and we'll.
1t was fitting that Mr.. Sumner, of oil the
Republican Senators, should make such u
speech and, if anything in it may seem to
SAVIOR of undue severity, lot it bo romem-
bered that he has had occasion to know too
we'll the Power no opposes. Tho early part
of his career in the Senate was character
ICED by degree of courtesy unusual in that
body. A scholar in his tastes and habits, a
genteman in all his intercourse with others.
and provcrbially avorse to angry contro-
vcrsy, no soon became on object OF the most
gross and vulgar abuse that the disor-
dered minds of his Senatorial opponents
could invent, HIS uniform urbanity wa.
mistaken for want Of courage, and he was
therefore tho moro bitterly and Professionally
assailod. At tho close of his first great
spncch in tho Senate, in which ho demon.
stratcd in most thorough and skilfui
though perfectly parliamentary manner
that Freedom is national and Slavery sec
tonal, he was attacked in style moro be.
! fitting br0tbol than that honorable body
Bnt Charles Sumner. by series of insults
and abuses, eliminating in the murderous
assault of Preston s. Brooks, 10 at last
aroused, and has shown his unscrupuout
assailants how much powor thore is in the
truth, when it assumes the form of "thoughtt
that breathe and words that burn" Who
that cares aught for tho cause he has SC
ably and eloquoutly vindicated, eau bam,
him Let such ungracous work bo loft fol-
its enomics Would he havo proven hmso
man of tru0 spirit, If, after all no had suf
fered Cor opinions sake, he could speak losl
freely of the great wrong Of our nation ant
age' n.r .'