"We Mean to Subdue You."Springfield, Illinois, State Journal [Republican](26 May 1856)
That seems to have been no idle threat which
Senator Douglas made to Senator Sumner some
time since, in the Senate Chamber -- "We mean
to subdue you, sir." On Saturday, we published
an account of a cowardly assault made by Preston
S. Brooks -- a ruffian from South Carolina,
and a member of the Douglas faction, -- on the
person of Senator Sumner, while occupying his
seat within the sacred precincts of the Senate
chamber. This outrage is of a piece with those
in Kansas, with the additional merit of being
bolder and having a more distinguished person
for its victim.
The Register of this city, affects to find a palliation
for it in the provocation contained in
Senator Sumner's speech, which was so complete
an expose of the machinations of the slave Democracy,
and abounded in such severe threats at
the leaders of that faction, that they "were blinded
with rage at being used up in debate," and
sought a remedy for their discomfiture by employing
a member of the "southern chivalry" to
assault and beat an unresisting opponent, whose
caustic words they were unable to shun or reply
to. No palliation can be offered for this display
of ruffianism. Another place and another time
should have been sought by the southern hot - head
for the display of his prowess. We shall
see, however, what notice the House will take
of the matter. Having voted the slayer of an
Irishmen a fit associate, it will have but little
difficulty in recognizing the member from South
Carolina equally so. The man-slayer and the
ruffian, have each commended themselves in the
eyes of the Douglas Democracy, and while it
"warrants and defends" the one, it can do no less
than "applaud" the other.
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