Who are the Senators thus arraigned?  He does me the honor to make me the chief.  It was my good luck to have such a position in this body as to enable me to be the author of a great, wise measure, which the Senate has approved, and the country will endorse.  That measure was sustained by about three fourths of all the members of the Senate.  It was sustained by a majority of the Democrats and a majority of the Whigs in this body.  It was sustained by a majority of Senators from the slave-holding States, and a majority of Senators from the free States.  The Senator, by his charge of crime, then, stultifies three fourths of the whole body, a majority of the North, nearly the whole South, a majority of Whigs, and a majority of Democrats here.  He says they are infamous.  If he so believed, who could suppose that he would ever show his face among such a body of men?  How dare he approach one of those gentlemen to give him his hand after that act?  If he felt the courtesies between men he would not do it.  He would deserve to have himself spit in the face for doing so. * * *

The attack of the Senator from Massachusetts now is not on me alone.  Even the courteous and the accomplished Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Butler) could not be passed by in his absence.

Mr. Mason:—­Advantage was taken of it.

Mr. Douglas:—­It is suggested that advantage is taken of his absence.  I think that this is a mistake.  I think the speech was written and practised, and the gestures fixed; and, if that part had been stricken out the Senator would not have known how to repeat the speech.  All that tirade of abuse must be brought down on the head of the venerable, the courteous, and the distinguished Senator from South Carolina.  I shall not defend that gentleman here.  Every Senator who knows him loves him.  The Senator from Massachusetts may take every charge made against him in his speech, and may verify by his oath, and by the oath of every one of his confederates, and there is not an honest man in this chamber who will not repel it as a slander.  Your oaths cannot make a Senator feel that it was not an outrage to assail that honorable gentleman in the terms in which he has been attacked.  He, however, will be here in due time to speak for himself, and to act for himself too.  I know what will happen.  The Senator from Massachusetts will go to him, whisper a secret apology in his ear, and ask him to accept that as satisfaction for a public outrage on his character!  I know the Senator from Massachusetts is in the habit of doing those things.  I have had some experience of his skill in that respect. * * *