The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-07-11
Speech Of Hon. Charles Sumner, on the
BW for the admission Of Kansas as
Free State. In the United States
Senate, Jane 4, 1860.
(coNCLUDED.)

and the second making him leave undone tha
which he ought to have done-through child
hood, youth, and manhood, even unto age-un
able, while at home to escape these influences
overshadowed constantly by the portentous Bar
bartsm about him, the Slave.master naturally
adopts the bludgeon, the revolver, and tn,
bowis-knife. Through these he governs hi.
plantation, and secretly armed with these hi
enters the world. These are his congenial com
panions. To wear these is his pride to use
them becomes q passion, almost a necessity
Nothing contributes to violence 60 much as the
wearing Of the instruments of violence, thus
having them always at hand to obey the law.
less instincts of the individual. A barbarous
standard Is established; a duel is not dishonor.
able; contest peculiar to our Slave-masters,
known as "street fight" is not shameful
and modern imitators of Cain have a mark set
upon them, not for reproach and condemnation,
but for compliment and approval. / wish to
keep within bonds; but unanswerabe facts.
accumulating in fearful quantities, attest that
the social sytem, SO much yaunted by honora.
Bile Senators, and which We are now asked to
sanction and to extend, takes its character from
this spirit, and with professions of Christianity
| on the lips, becomes Cain-ike. And this is
aggravated by the prevailing ignorance in the
| Slave States, where one in twelve of the adult
white population is unable to read and write.
The boldest they who Ieas. partske the light.
As game cocks in the dark are trained to fight.
vi course there are exceptions, which We all
gladly recognise, but it is this spirit which pre-
dominates and gives the social law. And here
mark an important difference. Elsewhere vio.
lence shows itself in spite of law, whether 80.
cial or statute; in the Slave States it is be-.
cause OF law both social and statute. Else
hnr ss Al
Slave States it is adopted and hOnored. Else.
where it is hunted as a crime; in the Slave
States 1t takes its place among the honorable
graces OF society.
Let not these harsh statements stand on my
authority. Listen to the testimony Of two Gov.
ernors of Slave States in their messages to the
Legislatures:
I've long TO sec the day." said the Governor of
Kentucky in 1887, when the law will it, maes
~ and stop the wanton destruction OF life which almost
daliy occurs within the jurisdiction Of ths Common
wealth. Nm slaughter each other uith almost perfect
impunity. species Of common law has grown up in
Kentucky, which, were it written down, woald, in
rision, the land cf blood"
Such was the official confession of Slave.
master Governor Of Kentucky. And here is
the official confession made the same year by
the Slave-master Governor of Alabama:
"We hear of homcdes in different parts the State
continually, and Jet have few convictions, and still fewer
s%n., %o why 90 We he., Of a.g "a and '
A land Of blood! Stabbings and shOotings
almost daily! Such is the official language. 1t
was natural that contemporary newspapers
should repeat what thus found utterance in high
places. Here is confession by newspaper in
Mississippi:
The moral atmosphere in State appears to be
in deirions and sdn0uinary condition Almost every
excnanse paper which reaches us, contains some ina
I-Srdnd Gulf Adr7tiser, c7h June, 1887.
Here is another confession by ne " spaper in
New Orleans:
"Io rev Of the crimes which are daily committed
are led to inquire whether it owing to the INSULT
cheney Of our laws to the manner in which these
laws are administered that tbs trghm d.lu9e Of blood
olcs through our streets and Place. Of puilic Tfsor'
-Ne1 Orleans Bs, 23d Nav, ls3s.
And here is testimony of different charac-
ter:
No one who has not been atJral part of slarc
holding community have any ides of its abomna tons
is whted sspulhre full of dead mems bones and all
uncleanness."
These are the words OF Southern lady, the
daughter OF the accomplished Judge GrimkO of
South Carolina.
A catalogue of affrays between politicians,
commonly known as "street fghts"-I use the
phrase which comes from the land of Slavery
would show that these authorities were not mis-
taken. That famous Dutch picture, admired
particularly by successful engraving, and called
the kHife.fght, presents a scene less revolving
than one of these. Two or more men, armed
to the teeth, meet in the streets, at a court
house or q tavern, shoot at each other with
| revolvers. then cash each other with knives,
close, and roll upon the ground, covered with
dirt and blood, struggling and stabbng till death,
prostration, or surrender, puts an end to the
conflict. Each instance tells q shameful story,
and cries out against the social system which
can tolerate such Barbarism. A catalogue of
duels in our country would testify again to the
reckless disregard Of life where Slavery exists,
and would exhibit Violence Haunting in the
garb Of Honor, and prating of barbarOus code
dis0wned equally by reason and religion. But
you have already supped too full of horrors, and
hasten on.
Pardon me if stop for one moment to ex-
hibit and denounce the Duel. / do it only be-
cause it belongs to the brood of Slavery. An
enlightened Civilization has long ago rejected
this relic of Barbarism, and never has one part
of the argument against it been put more sem
| tentiously than by Franklin: I" A duel decides
nothing" said this patriot philosopher, "and
the person appealing to it makes himself judge
| in his own cause, condemns the offender without
| jury, and undertakes himself to be the execu.
TONER" To these emphatic words would add
two brief propositions, which, if practically
adopted, make the Duel impossible-6rst, that
the acknowledgment of wrong with apology or
| explanation can never be otherwise than honor.
able; and, secondly, that, in the absence of all
such acknowledgment no wrong can ever be
repaired by . gladiatorial contest, where brute
force, or skill, or chance, must decide the day.
Iron and adamant are not stronger than these
arguments; nor can any one attempt an answer
without exposing his feebleness Andyet Slave.
masters, disregardine its irrational character
insensible to its foIy-heedless of its impiety-
and unconscious Of its Barbarism, openly adopt
the Duel as regulator of manners and conduct.
Two voices from South Carolina have been raised
| against it, and / mention them with gladness as
testimony in that land of Slavery. The frs,
was Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, who, in the
early days Of the Republic openly declared his
"abhorrence Of the practice" and invoked the
clergy Of his State "as q particular favor al
some convenient early day to preach sermon
on the nm and folly Of duelling." The Other
was Mr.. Rhett, who on this floor openly declar
e his reason for declining the Duel, I" that he
feared God more than man" Generous words
for which many errors can be pardoned. Bui
these voices condemn the social system Of which
the Duel is q natural product
Looking now at the broad surface of societ,
whore Slavery exists We shall find its spirit &C
lively manifest in the suppression of all freedom
OF speech or OF the press, especially with regart