The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-12
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, JUNE II, 1860

NV
It is greatly to be regretted that the ndscretion
of single individual should have given colour
able foundation TO the rumor that personal vio-
lence would be visited upon Mr.. SUMNER on ac-
count of his recent speech in the Senate 1t is still
more to be regretted that the reporters of the As
ISOLATED Press should not have ascertained the
real facts of the case before they sent off the alb
surd and exaggerated statements which have been
published in the papers The whole story appears
to have grown out of some imprudent remarks
addressed TO Mr.. SUMNER by gentleman who
"had been dining with some friends who does
not even recollect the threatening language he is
said to have used-and who has since disclaImed
the slightest idea Of offering any violence 10 MI
SUMNER and has amply apologlzed 1or llle "hoie
affair." That The importance OF the lnciueht slouiu
have been unduly magnifed by MIR. SUMNER ana
his friends was but natural. The course which
the Massachusetts Senator pursued after his cast-
cation by Mr. Books, had prepared us for any
amount of exaggeration in reference to any pos
sible demonstration which his late speech might
occasion. 1t would have been even worth while
for the Republicans and perfectly in keeping with
the character of Mr.. SUMNER, to have hired bully
to make a feint of attacking him, rather than let
the opportunity pass unmproved. We are heartily
glad that no Southern man has volunteered in
that capacity. If the Republicans covet the po-
litical capital which a hostile demonsra-
ton against Mr.. SUMNER would furnish,
they must make it or invent it for them
selves. We are only sorry that Captain
HENRY did not confine his Indignation to the
dinner-tabe, where it appears to have originated.
Apart from the folly of giving Mr.. SUMNER an OPP
portunity 10 rehearse anew his role of martyr,
there is no honor or glory to be derived from chas-
Using him. Mr. SUMNER is VIGOROUSLY coward
as devoid Of courage as he is, apparently, Of
every other manly and honorable attribute. The
pusanimity which would prevent him from re-
senting an attack should therefore be his protec-
ton.
While however we earnestly deprecate, and
would unhesitatngly condemn, any violence
which might be offered to the Massachusetts Sena-
tor, on account of his political sentiments or the
abuse which he has made of the freedom OF debate,
we are not insensible to the provocatlon which his
1oncuape fords or the severe trial it must have i'm
posed upon the patience ofthose who were compelled
tolisten it, For four hours, in crowded Senate
and before galleries filled with lades-without one
word of protest or single interruptng voice-Mr
SUMNER was permitted to run on in the utterance
of sentiments which were offensive and incendiary
in the highest degree, and in the use of language
vvhich-throughOut meant TO be insulting-fre-
oupntiy bordered on the verge of indecency. Argu-
ment in Mr. SUMNER speech there was none:-it
presented neither Ineligible premises nor tangible
conclusions. 1t was simply a formal bill of in
dictment against the South, in which every charge
imaginable or imaginary, was raked together with
inconceivable industry, exaggerated with stu
dous maIignity, and paraded with every possible
indication ofhate, and every conceivable aggrav va
ton oflanguagc. Its object was simply to irritate-
to nsult-and toannoy. Could Mr.. SUMNER have
succeeded, in addition, in goading Southern Seua-
tors into some breach of parliamentary decorum-
some violent outburst of passion, such as attended
the similar performance Of Mr.. LovEJoY in the
House the other day-he doubtless would have
considered his triumph complete. But in this he
was doomed to be disappointed. With the ex-
cepton of the few words of reply uttered by Sena-
tor CHESTNUT at the close his speech was listened
to in silence equally contemptuous and pro-
found. No further notice was taken of the ora
tor or his effort in the Senate and the dispatches
which we published yesterday show how utterly
groundIess was the apprehension that violence
was meditated outside. 1t may help the
public to an appreciation of the self-control
exhibited by Senators on this occasion, to recur to
the remarks Of an English contemporary in
reference to the speech of Mr.. LovEJoY, above
referred to. The London SATURDAY, Reoieag, GER
tanly not partial or an indulgent critic, speak
ing of the ''perfect tempest of execration'' with
which Mr.. LovEJoY was driven back from the
Democratic benches, says.
Zone is tempted to suspect that the English House
Commons under similar povocaton would have scarce
Mr. Loveioy's speech has hand 1t far tran
sends anything OConnel addressed to Cancellation
Hail. or Ferrand to dinner table of intoxicated farmers
We do not know what the proper English equivalent
Of black hearted scounrel niger stealing thief
Mr. Bright can supply them-but are much mistaken
they would not have been flying the House o
Commons long before Mr.. Lovejoy had concluded if he
or anybody coming near him in oratorica character
scs had been harangung that not too patient Assem-
bly,
The Reriel0 further adds-and the observation
apply equally TO the case of Mr.. SUMNER, anC
ought not to be lost upon that person. who is il
the habit we believe, of looking quite as much tc
the applause and appreciation of the English pub
lie as to that of his Republican colleagues or Mas
sachusetts cOnstituents-that
Engtsh public opinion occasionally does considerable
injustice to the Americans when it condemns the scan
daou scenes of which tn cir Legislatures the theatre
out omts to inform itself of the provocaon by which
hese outbreaks were produced. 1t really seems to
t'at American oratory is more in fault than American
character for dsgraceful the outbursts of passion
%hlch sometimes diversity debate in Congress- we hay
always found them infinitely more reasonable and intel
HsIoe than the speech they interrupted ;"