Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-06-29
Rarhnrl.m ID slnrerr--sunner,s speech


Barbarian Of slRveFy--SumneF's Speech.
The Hon. CHARLES SU1nER's speech in the
Senate of the United States, should be read
by the whole people Il is the bOldest and
most truthful on the subject Of American Sla-
very ever uttered in the Capitol. The ora
tor had felt as well as studied the barbarism
Of the scandal Of the nation. His arraign-
ment Of Slavery is exhaustive-his array Of
facts most startling and Overwhelming. The
whole speech, long as it is, is a perfect arsenal
OF thunderbOlts, irving and crushing the great
curse of the land. It's barbarisms IIare laid
bare in all their hideOus deformity, and in
plain, strong, scholarly, unexceptional Ian
guage. If any portions seem harsh, it is be-
cause the institution dissected is cruel and
fendish, revolving and heather.
Slavery and its Democratic champions
stand forth boldly de6antly, aggressively,
Wrestling from the Constitution and the Peo-
pie every guarantee heretofore awarded to
Freedom. Mr.. SUHzER has.done great and
good work, such as the times and the coun-
try demand, conservative carpers, slavehold-
ers and Northern aunkies, to the contrary.
Read and circulate the greatest speech of the
age. att-tti AI f4
Mr.. SUMNER commenced his speech at Il
o'clock, and spoke four hours 70 a crowded
and attentive auditory. The slightest mod
ulation of his voice was distinctly audible to
the most distant hearer. The extraordinary
scene is thus described by an eyewitness:
His opening was very impressive and elo-
quent. You can imagine his style, his man
ner, and the profound impressionit it made
upon his vast auditory, when he said, "
have no personal grieis to utter; only bar
barous egOtism could intrude these into this
chambeS- I have no personal wrongs to
avenge; only q barbarous nature could
attempt to WELD that vengeance which be-
longs to the Lord. The years that have in
tervened, and The to1l5s that haze opened since
SPOKE, haze their Voiess TOO, which cannot fail
to hear"
He then proceeded with the most elaborate
and terrible argument against the institution
of slavery ever delivered upon that floor, or
anywhere else. Il would be useless to de-
scribe the manner Of Mr.. Summer to most Of
your readers. His whole manner discloses
the ripe scholar, the finished logician, and
the most accomplished rhetOrician and elOcu-
ZIONIST. His sentences fall in measured
cadences, musical and rythmetical; his
gestures are graceful and appropriate; his
elocution distinct; his quotations classic, apt
and appropriate; in short he IS the most I'm
ished scholar and the most graceful orator in
the Senate. lAH aafi
Senator Hunter, Of Virginia, listened re-
spectfully, to its close. Not a muscle moved
on his placid countenance to denote what was
going on in his mind. Wigfall, the Texas
Bombastes, was in great torment He would
keep his seat for few moments quietly, as if
struggling to be a gentleman; then he would
glide round noiselessly to some other Sena-
tors seat, and confer IN low whispers, as if
debating whether it was best TO remain quiet
OF not
Mr.. Breckenridge, who was not in the
Presidents chair, remained through the entire
delivery. BE made strong effort to appear
Indifferent, sitting with an open book in his
hand, istlessly turning its pages, but his eyes
turning to the speaker, and finally, with a
frown upon his brow he laid aside bis book
and regarded the speaker intently till he
closed. After an hour OF two the absent
Senators began to come back, and one after
another dropped into their seats. JEFF. Davis
was busily engaged reading the Globe.
Keitt, the aceomplice Of Brooks, came in
frem the other House, and with much nom
chalancs took hisseat near Senator Hammond,
and turned his monkeys face up to the gal
leries as If to notice the dramatic effect Of
has presence upon them. But finding that no
oneEeemed to notice him, be gradually began
70 give heed to the speech. Then his vulgar
phiz became disturbed with angry grimaces
and froWns.
By this time many Democratic members Of
the other House had come over to hear Sum-
ner, so that With them and the returning
Senators, the body ofthe Senate chamber was
as densely crowded as the galleries. Mr..
Sumner spoke four hours and held his i'm
mense audience, which could not have been
less than FIVE thousand, toits close. It was a
most remarkable effort, aud take it all in ali,
It was q scene and an occasion never to be
forgotten.