Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-06-09
SENATOR SUMMERS SPEECH ON
SLAVERY

SLAVERY
Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts, made
speech on Monday last, more remarkable
for its bitterness and severity against slavery
than bis former effort for which he was
struck down in the Senate Chamber by
Preston Brooks, of South Carolina. IT is
now four years since Mr.. Sumner has taken
any part in the debates of the Senate, having
been most of bis time in Europe under medi.
cal treatment. The speech is, of course, an
able one, remarkable, not only for its ability,
but also for its extreme hostility aud hatred
for the peculiar institutions Of the South
1t is to be regretted that Mr.. Sumner did
not present his views in language, if not
conciatory, at least less offensive. AS
friend of Kansas be has evidently greatly
damaged her prospects Of q speedy admission
into the Union. The character of the debate
may be judged by the following extracts:
Slavery must be resisted not only on politi.
cal grounds, but on all other grounds, whether
social, economical, or moral. Ours is no holi.
day contest; nor is it any strife of rival fac.
Neri and Bianchi bat it is solemn battle
between wright and wrong between good
md evil. Such q battle cannot be fought
with excuse or with rosewater. There is
aus.ere work to be done, and Freedom cannot
consent to fling away any of her weapons.
The whole character Of Slavery as preten.
ded form OF civilization is put directly in issue.
with pertinacity and hardihood which
Danish oil reserve on this side. In these
assumptions Senators from South Carolina
naturally take the lead. In this connection
Mr.. Sumner quoted from Senators Hammond
and Chestnut, from Calhoun ana McDuiie
from Senators Davis and Brown of Mississippi
and Senators Hunter and Mason of Virginia,
Thus, he continued, by various voices IS the
claim made for Slavery, which is put forth
deiantly as a form of civilization, as if its
existence were not plainly inconsistent with
the hrst principle of anything that can be
called civilization, except by that figure of
speech IN classical literature, where a thing
takes It's name from something which it has
not, as the dreadful Fates were called merci.
ful because they were without mercy. II ia
natural that Senators thus nsepsibIe 10 the
true character Of Slavery, should eyince an
equal insensibiity to the true character of the
Constitution. This is shown in the claim
next made, and pressed with unprecedented
energy, degrading the work of our fathers
that, by virtue of the Constitution, the pre'
TENDED property 10 man is placed beyond the
reach of Congressional prohibition even within
Congressional jurisdiction so that the slave.
master may at all times enter the broad ont.
lying Territories Of the Union with the vic.
tins OF his oppression, and there continue IN
hold them by lash and chain. Such are the
two assumptions; the first an assumption of
TACT, and the second an assumption of consti.
tutonsl law, which are now made withon,
apology or hesitation. He met them botb
10 the first be opposed the essential barbar.
ism OF Slavery, in all its influences, whether
high or low, as Satan is Satan still. wbetber
towering in the sky or squatting in the toad
10 the second ne opposed the unanswerable.
irresistloie lruln, that the Constitution of the
onlleu ntales nowhere recognizes property in
together. They are twins" suckisd hyS So 6O
same wolf. They are the "coupIs" IN ,bo
present slave hunt aud the latter csrnot ho
answered without exposing the former, II il
only when Slavery is exhibited in its truelv
hateful character that we can fullv appreciate
the aosnrdlty Of the assumption which in da.
nance ol the express letter Of the Constitution
anu withont single sentence, phrase, or word
uPhoiuing human bondage, yet fois:s into this
olaheless text the barbarous idea that man
can hold property iu man.
Dwelling on the first assumption be said
Slavery is bloody "touch. me. NOT u and
everywhere in sight now blooms the bloody
mower lt is on the wayside as we approae6
the national Capitol it is on the marble stems
which we mount it dsunts on this floor lie
stooc now IN the house of its friends. About
MN, While he spoke, we're its most sensitive
guardians, who have shown in the past how
mucn they were ready either to do or not 10
90 "here Slavery is in question. Menaces to
deter him had not been spared but he
should i'll deserve this high post of duty here
with which be had beer honored by gener.
Gus aud enlightened people, if he could hesi-
tate.
Alter drawing the picture of the relations
OF slave masters with their slaves" ;" be said if
slavery could receive any further darkness. it
would be by introducing the figures of the
oil the congenial agents through which the
oarbarism is maintained-the slave. oyerseer.
tho slave-breeder, and the slave.hunter, each
without peer except in bis brother, aud the
whole constituting the triumyiIats Of Slavery