Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-30

sentative-Mr. Sumner Severely
Iniured-His Assailant Arrested
f and Held to Bail.
WASHINGTON, May PIP. d. A
E most brutal assault has just been made
upon Senator Sumner by Brooks of South
Carolina. Mr.. Sumner was sitting in
his place in the Senate, writing, after the
: adjournment, when Brooks came up to
him, interchanged some words, and then
struck him on the head with large cane.
:. Sumner rose from his seat, but staggered,
and was quite unable to defend himself,
Brooks repeated the blow dozen or
twenty times, Notwithstanding this. He
was accompanied by Mr.. Keitt of South
Carolina, who attempted to prevent in
reference by the bystanders in Summers
behalf. Mr.. Summers head is cut badly,
and he is bleeding very much, but it is
hoped that he is not dangerously Injured,
although he is now in state of partial
Istupor.
The supposed cause of attack is Mr..
Summers remarks on Mr.. Butler, who is
an uncle of Mr.. Brooks.
SECOND DIsFAToH. Immediately af
ter the adjournment of Congress, to-day,
Preston S. Brooks, of South Carolina,
member of the House, entered the Senate
Chamber, and, approaching the seat of
Mr.. Sumner, struck him a powerful blow
with cane, at the same time accusing
him of libeling South Carolina, and his
gray-headed relative, Senator Butler.
Mr.. Sumner fell from the effects of the
blow, and Brooks continued beating him.
MIR. Sumner soon recovered sufficiently
to call for help, but no one interfered, and
Brooks repeated the blows until Mr..
Sumner was deprived of the power of
speech. Some eye witnesses state that
Brooks struck him as many as fifty times
on the head.
Mr.. S. was sitting in an arm chair
when the assault was made, and had no
opportunity to defend himself.
After his assailant desisted. he was car
ried to his room, but the extent of his in
Juries is not yet ascertained.
Various opinions on thesubject are ex-
pressed, many applauding, and some de-
nouncing it as cowardly attempt to beat
down freedom of speech.
THIRD DISPATCH. NIr. Brooks was
complained of by VIM. Y. Leader, on
whose oath Justice Hollingshead re-
quired Brooks to give bail in the sum of
5000, as security for his appearance to-
morrow afternoon.
Mr.. Sumner has several severe but
not dangerous wounds on his head.
The cane used by Brooks was shattered
to pieces by the blows.
When the attack was made, there were
probably fifteen ortwenty persons present,
including Crittenden, Foster, Toombs.
Fitzpatrick, Murray, Morgan, and other
members of Congress, together with Gov.
German, several officers of the Senate.
md some strangers. +
The attack was so sudden and unex-
1ected that Mr.. Sumner had no onnortn-
nty whatever to place himself in a de-
enslve attitude. The first blow given =
i'm by Mr. Brooks stunned him. and the :
hlck gutta percha stick which was used +
" Mr.. Brooks, was broken into MANY
pieces by the time the assault terminated 7
hessrs. Crittenden, Toombs, Murray
md others interfered as soon as thew a
'ould, and probably prevented further
lamage.
The greatest excitement prevailed :
dr. Sumner sank perfectly unconscious >
0 the floor, where he lay, bloody and "
readfully bruised, TIL he was raised bv .,
is friends.
Mr.. Summers physicians say his wounds .,
re the most severe flesh ones they ever 2
aw on mans head, and deny his friends =,
omission to him.