Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-06-29
MR.. SUMNER s SPEECH.

tory bearing upon the Barbarism of
Slavery 1t has the genuine ring
Eloquent in its appeal, severe in its de-
nunciation, and intensely personal in the
application of its quoted facts-it is the
kind of talk that the Senate chamber
has not heard for many a year, and ii
will find thousands of readers in both
sections of the country. The speech
would occupy nearly the whole of our
sheet, and we are only able, therefore, to
make such extracts as will show the
course Of the argument. Abiding to
himself in the opening, he said:
When last entered into this debate,
it became my duty to expose the crime
against Kansas, and to insist upon the
immediate admission of that territory as
q state of this Union. with constitu-
ton forbidding slavery. Time has pass
ed bat the question remains. Resum-
ing the discussion precisely where l left
it, am happy to avow that rule of mo-
deration, which, it is said, may venture
TO fix the boundaries of wisdom itself.
I have no personal griefs to utter; only
q barbarous egotism could intrude these
into this chamber. / have no personal
wrongs TO avenge only barbarous ma
ture could attempt to WELD that venge-
ance which belongs TO the Lord. The
years that have interviewed and the
tombs that have opened since ] spoke
have their voices too, which / cannot fail
to hear. Besides, what am / - what
is any man among the living or among
the dead, compared with the question
before US 1t is this alone which l shall
discuss, and I open the argument with
that easy victory which is found in char
ity.
"The crime against Kansas stands
forth in painful light. = y
And yet the most important part of the
argument was at that time left untouch-
ed; I mean that which is found in the
character of slavery. This natural Sc
quel, with the permission of the Senate,
Ipropose now to supply. Motive is to
crime as soul TO body; and it is only
when we comprehend the motive that
we can truly comprehend the crime
Here the motive is found in slavery and
the rage for its extension. Therefore,
by logical necessity, must slavery be dis
cussed not indirectly, timidly and spar
ingly, but directly, openly and thorough
ly. 1t must be exhibited as it is alike
in its influence and in its character, so
that not only its outside but its inside
may be seen. This is no time for soft
words or excuses. All such are out of
place. They may turn away wrath but
what is the wrath of man? This is no
time to abandon any advantage in the
argument. Senators sometimes an
nounce that they resist slavery on politi-
cal grounds only, and remind US that
they say nothing of the moral ques-
Gion. This is wrong. Slavery must be
resisted not only on political grounds
but on all other grounds, whether social
economical or moral. Ours is no holi.
day contest; nor is if any strife of riva
factions of white and red roses f; O
thestric Neri and Bianchi; but it is &
solemn battle between right and wrong
between good and evil. Such battle can
not be fought with excuses or with rost
water. There is austere work TO be done
and freedom cannot consent to fin!
away any of her weapons"
Abiding to the assumption of south
ern senators that slavery ennobles ant
civilizeS" man, and that the institution
is especially protected and fostered b,
the constitution, Mr.. Sumner said So
meet them both. To the first oppos
the essential barbarism of slavery, in al
its influences, whether high or low, a
Satan is Satan still, whether towering il
the sky or squatting in the road. t
the second l oppose the unanswerable
irresistible truth, that the constitution G
the United States nowhere recognize
property in man. These two assump
tions naturally 60 together. They ar
twins sucked by the same wolf The
are the couple in the present slav
hunt. And the latter cannot be answer
ed without exposing the former. 1t
only when slavery is exhibited iu il
truly hateful character, that we can full
appreciate the absurdity Of the assumF
ton, which, in defiance of the expires
letter of the constitution, and without
single sentence, phrase, or word, upholc
ing human bondage, yet fOists into th
blameless text the barbarous idea ths
man can have property in man."