Secession Era Editorials Project

No Title.

Columbus, Ohio, State Journal [Republican]

(2 June 1856)

The committee on Federal Relations in the Connecticut Legislature, recently reported the following resolutions for the consideration of the two Houses of the General Assembly, viz.:

Whereas, A Senator of the United States has been assailed by brutal and cowardly violence on the floor of the Senate Chamber, in the National Capitol, and gross injuries inflicted upon his person, avowedly as a punishment for words spoken in the ordinary course of debate; therefore--.

Resolved by this Assembly, That the outrage thus committed is at once a crime against law, a flagrant violation of the Constitution, a breach of the privileges of Congress, and a disgrace to the national reputation.

Resolved, That the perpetrator thereof should immediately be expelled from his seat in the House of Representatives in the present Congress, and the Members thereof from this State are requested to use their most earnest efforts to accomplish that result.

Resolved, That on this occasion Connecticut sends to Massachusetts fraternal greeting. As our fathers stood side by side at Bunker's Hill, when the great conflict for civil and political liberty began, so will their sons stand in the assertion and defence of freedom for thought and speech.

Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor, be requested to transmit immediately a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to the Governor of Massachusetts, to be laid before the Legislature of that State, now in session, and a like copy to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

The consideration of these resolutions first came up in the Senate, and were adopted with only one dissenting voice against them. In the mean time, before being called up in the House, the Slave Democracy held a caucus and determined on opposition. After a debate of great spirit and power on the part of the American Republicans, and of trembling subserviency on the part of the Doughfaces, they were brought to a vote and passed -- 116 to 90 -- every supporter of the Administration voting in the negative!

All right for Old Connecticut. There were tories there during the war of the Revolution, who aided in burning her towns, murdering her citizens, and upholding generally the power of the oppressor. There were Blue-light Federalists in Connecticut during the war of 1812. And why not Doughfaces of '56, sympathising with the Aristocracy of the South and the Border Ruffians of the West? Now, as then, New England will assert her devotion to Popular Rights.