Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-06-07
CONGRESS--FIrst Session
In A
SENATE.

WASHINGTON June 4.
SENATE.
On motion by Mr.. Wilson, resolution was adopted,
directing the Secretary of State communicate to the
Senate copies Oany correspondence or other papers on
file 10 his department in relation to the arrest board
of American merchant vessel at Palermo, OF Father
lava an Italian patriot by the Intervention agency
of Henry H. Barstow consul of the United States at that
place.
Mr. Hamlin introduced bill concerning pilots and pi-
9otage aud Joint resolution to have the accounts OF
mebers and delegates OF the 18th Congress revised and
reviewed and the balance paid; which severay read
twice and referred.
Mr. Kennedy moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration fhe bill to authorize the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company to extend the Washington
brluch of their road the Potomac river aud across
the He said that anything was to be done in
reference to the subject ought be done at
The question being taken the motion not agreed
to-
On motion Of Mr. Harlan, the Senate took up and pass
cd the House bill for the relief of John W. Taylor aud
certain other assignees of pre-emption land locations
The bill for the admission of Kansas was taken up and
Mr. Sumner made long speech thereon. He discussed
the "barbaTism" of slavery manifested first in the
character Of slavery and secondly in the character OF
slave masters He argued that the constitution nowhere
recognizes property in man. and spoke of the practical
results of slavery as shown in comparison between
the free and the slave States. After drawing picture
of the relations of slave masters with their slaves, he
said "fi could receive any further darkness il would
be By introducing the figures of congenia agents through
which the barbariSm is maintaned-the saveoverseer
the save-breeder and the slayehunter each without
peer except in his brother and the whole constituting
the trumyrate of slavery in whom its essential brutal
W vugarity and groSsaess are all embodied" The
following brief extracts afford fair sample Of his speech
which was very throughout in denuncation OF
slavery He spoke for four hours:
Unhappiy there is barbarism elsewhere in the world
but American slavery defined by existing law, stands
forth the greatest organized barbarm which the
sun now shines IL is without single peer Its author
after making it, broke the die.
'By the license of slavery whole race is delivered
over to prostitution and concubnage, without the pro.
lection of any law language is feeble to express all
the euormity Of this institution which is now Wanted as
in itself form of civilization "ennobing at least to the
MASTER if not TO the slave Look at 1t in whatever light
YOU will and il is always the scab the cauker the bare
bones aud the shame of the country; wrong not
" in the abstract is often admitted by lis apologis
but wrong in the also and possessing single
element Of right.
Founded in violence sustained only by violence such
a wrong must by sure law of compensation blast the
master as well as the slave blast The lands which they
live blast the community of which they part blast
he government which does not forbid the outrage; and
the Logger it exists and the more completely 1t prevails
must its blasting influences penetrate the whole social
barous in all preteusou barbarous in the instruments
il EMPLOYS barbarous in consequences; barbarous in p
rit: barbtrous wherever il shows itself Slavery must
breed barbaGns while il deyelOpes everywhere alike IN
the individual and in the society Of which he forms
part the essential elements OF barbariSm.
Nor there anything within the limits of life inflicted
a beast which may not be inflicted the slave. He
may be marked like hog, branded Ike mule, yoked
like an on hobbed like horse driven like ass shear
ed like a sheep manned like cur aud constantly beaten
Ike q brute all according 10 law.
The swsgger OF bully is called chiyalrv switness
to quarrel is called courage the bludgeon adopted
the substitute for argument and assassination is lifted TO
be one OF the fine arts.
Slavery founded on violence "a we have already
clearly seen; OF il be sustained only by kind
red violence sometimes against the deienceess slave,
sometimes against the freeman, whose indignation Is
aroused al the outrage Il is founded brutal and vul
gar preensions have already too clearly SEEM OF
course can be sustained only by kindred brutality and
yulgary.
As in considering the character Of slavery, so in con
,ideriug the character OF slave masters must begin
with the law of slavery, which, the work. testhes
against them. In the face Of such uuutterabe abomi-
nation where mpety, cruelty, brutality aud robbery,
all strive for the mastery it Is in vain to assert the hui
msnty or refinement offs authors.
Slavery paints itself again in its complete abrogaon OF
marriage recognized sacrament by the church, and
recognized contract wherever civilization prevail
nder the law Of slavery such sacrameniS respected,
aud , such contract exist The ties that may be
formed between slaves all subject TO the selfish inter
ess or more selfish lust of the master, whose license
knows check Natural affections which have come to
Pether rudelY asunder; nor Is tins all Stripped
OF every defence the chastity Of whole is exposed
to violence while tie result is recorded in the tele ia
ces OF children glowing with their masters blood, but
doomed for their mothers skin to slavery through all Dc,
sceudng generations. The Senator from Mississippi Mr
Brown Is CALLED by the comparison between slavery and
polygsmy aud Wnces hail this sensblity as the sign
Of virtue.
The visitation Of the abbeys in England disclosed vice
aud disorder in startling forms coaked by the irespon
sibe privacy OF mOnastic life similar visitation Of
plantations would disclose more fearful results, coaked
by the irresponsible privacy Of slavery Every slave mas
ter on his plantation is Bashaw, with all the preroga
tiyez OF Turk.
The meat that IL eaten by man enters into and be-
comes part Of his body the madden which IS eaten by
dog changes his bones to red, and the slavery on which
men live, in all its veold Ouuess must become part
of themselves discOorUg their very souls botng their
characters, and breaking forth in moral eprOsy. This
language is strong but the evidence is even stronger
Some there may OF happy natures like honorable Sena
ators-who can thus feed and not be harmed. Mhr-
dates fed on poison and lived and it may be that there
il a moral MIthridates, who can swallow without bane
the poison Of slavery.
Elsewhere violence shows itself in spite Of law whether
social or statute in the slave States is because of law
both social and statute. Elsewhere it is pursued and
condemned in the slave States it adopted and honor
ed. Elsewhere it is hunted crime in the slave
States it takes its place among the honorable graces Of
society.
The slave master naturally adopts the bludgeos, the
revolver and the bowie knife Through these he governs
his plantation and secretly armed with these he enters
the world. These his congenial companions. To
wear these is his pride, to them becomes passion
almost necessity. Nothing contributes TO violence SO
much the waing Of the instruments OF violence thus
having them always hand obey the awless instincts
Of the individual.
Mr. Chestnut remarked that the extraordinary,
though characteristic speech which they had heard
to-day demanded word two TO be said in reply. At
long absence in Europe awning at the feet OF ars
tocracy seeking pity and receiving only contempt the
sandercr of States aud men had reappeared in the SEN
are. We had hoped that should be relieved from the
miserable outpourings of his vulgar malice. We had
hoped that one who had felt though he failed to meet
the consequences Of former insoence would have be-
come WISER not better by experience. In this we were
disappointed In the heroic ages of the world men
often deied but il for the possession exercise
OF some virtue wisdom, justice, magnanmity courage
on Egypt beassS aud reptiles were worshipped not for
their sake, but for what they represented and it
has been left for this day. and for the aboltonists Of
Massachusetts to defy the incarnation Of malice, menda
city and cowardice.
We do not intend to be guilty of any such apOtheOsis
Of malignty and meanness. We do not intend to con-
tribute by any conduct upon part to swell the
Der of devotees the shrine of this idol No. sir
know the expectation and the hope, but we are not
inclined again to send the recipient of punishment howl
ing through the world yepng increased volumes OF SIAN
der and malice. These are our why we have re-
NAMED quiet and shall endeavor if possible to remain