There is a proper interest in knowing the personal provocation under
which Mr. Sumner spoke. Something of this will be seen in the early
onslaught upon him by the combined forces of Slavery, to which he
replied promptly.[149] The _Globe_ shows constantly the tone which was
adopted by the representatives of Slavery towards all who presumed in
any way to question its rights. Here Mr. Butler, of South Carolina, was
always prominent; and when the question of the admission of Kansas as a
Free State occurred, he was especially aroused.
His previous personalities and aggressions were set forth by Hon.
Henry Wilson, in a speech made in the Senate, June 13, 1856, in direct
reply to him, after he had spent two days in criticising Mr. Sumner
and defending his assailant. On this occasion Senator Butler was
particularly indignant because Mr. Sumner had personified Slavery as
a “harlot,” saying, “What in the name of justice and decency could
have ever led that man to use such language?”[150] In the course of
his speech the Senator described his former patronage of Mr. Sumner,
saying, “I did not hesitate to keep up what my friends complained of,
an intercourse with him, _which was calculated to give him a currency
far beyond what he might have had, if I had not indulged in that
species of intercourse_. My friends here and everywhere know it.”[151]
Mr. Wilson’s reply is important in this history.