An Atrocious Speech and a Disgraceful Assault.

Newspaper Title

Detroit Free Press

Publication Date

5-23-1856

Publication Place

Detroit, Michigan

Event Topic

Sumner Caning

Political Party

Democratic

Region

free state

Disclaimer

Please Note: Some editorials in this collection contain offensive language, opinions, and other content. The editorials serve as evidence of the time period in which they were created and enable us to engage in more truthful conversations about history. The views expressed in these editorials do not reflect Furman University's values or our commitment to embrace meaningful diversity and equality in all of our endeavors. If you have questions or concerns, please e-mail digitalcollections@furman.edu.

Quote

It was an atrocious speech. But its atrocity did not warrant the personal assault upon him by a South Carolina member of the House of Representatives.

Document Type

Article (Journal or Newsletter)

Full Text Transcription

Senator Sumner, ofMassachusetts, delivered an atrocious speech the other day in the Senate. It was fitly characterized by Gen. Cass as the most un-American and unpatriotic speech he ever heard on the floor of the Senate; by Mr. Douglas as filled with libels and insults, gross and vulgar, which their author had conned over and written with cool and deliberate malignity, and repeated before the looking-glass, night after night, in order to find the appropriate grace with which to spit them at men who differ from him, and by Mr. Mason, as language which Senators were compelled to listen to in that chamber, because the constitution permitted its utterance there, but which no gentleman would lend an ear to elsewhere. It was an atrocious speech. But its atrocity did not warrant the personal assault upon him by a South Carolina member of the House of Representatives. -- That was a cowardly assault -- the manner of it as well as the spirit by which it was dictated. -- We do not know what conduct, public or private, would justify such an assault -- the coming stealthily upon an unarmed man, in a sitting posture, and prostrating him at a single blow of a bludgeon. We trust that, on one of these occasions, the assailing party will become the assailed, and that a lesson will be taught profitable to all combatants of the character of Mr. Preston S. Brooks.

Edited/Proofed by

Transcribed and reverse-order proofed by Lloyd Benson

Identifier

midfsu560523a

Rights

This item is in the public domain, and can be used by anyone without restriction.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

Event Location

 
COinS
 

An Atrocious Speech and a Disgraceful Assault.

It was an atrocious speech. But its atrocity did not warrant the personal assault upon him by a South Carolina member of the House of Representatives.