The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-07-10
THE DAILY DISPATCH,
Thnrr,lay MORNING, JuIy I0. iSa6.
The Brooks and sumner Case.

The Washington Star of Tuesday evening, gives
the following full report of the speech of Hon p.
s, Brooks. Of S. c. before Judge Crawford, OF
| Washington.
The evidence being concluded Mr. Brooks rose,
aud the thronged court room listened la absorbed
silence while he proceeded In a few brief words
most appropriately expressed, to address the court
May 1t please your Honor: May be permitted
esay wordi Judge Crawford-Certainlyl |
appear In person before this honorable court simply
TO receive its judgment would have preferred
thar the person upon whom the assault was com.
mitted had been present TO answer whether or not
his speech which llbelled my State and my blood
was printed before It's delivery in the Senate. /
feel confident that under oath he could not have
denied this fact which with due Difference to your
Honor. regard as material to my defence inso.
much ~ libel is contrary TO law. and to that
tent would operate In extenuation of my offence
would like to have inquired of him, in person.
as to the degree of his personal injuries, and In
what way he could reconcile that part of his state
ment as to the words used by me when the assault
was made, with the sentence which Immediately
succeeds this language in his testimony before the
investigating Committee, and which is as follows
While these words were passing from his my
lips, be commenced a succession of blows with
heavy cane on my bare head by the hrst Of aojich
iods stunned SO as to lose sight"
Itwould have gratitied me had he been compel
ed to answer under oath as to the violence of the
hrst blow, which, aver, was but q tap, and in
tended to put him on his guard.
But, sir. he is conveniently aud deliberately ab
sent on travel notwithsta nding but six days ago
this case was postponed account of his extreme
indisposion and the nateriality of his testimony
and yet, with all these disadvantages, l prefer to
| receive the judgment of the court than to contn
ue in suspense
1t is not my purpose to adduce any evidence in
defence
have already accomplished more than half of
the journey Of lfe and this is the first time that it
has been my misfortune to be arraigned before
any judicial tribunal as q breaker of any law of
my country. ! confess, sir, and without shame,
that my sensibilities disturbed by my novel po
siion, and have but to express my profound re-
gret that in discharging duty imposed upon me
by my own sense of right and the sentiment of the
gallant people it is my pride and honor to repre-
sent am constrained as a consequence to ap.
proach you vioator and not as maker Of the
laws
In extenuation of my offence permit me to say
that no extraordinary power of invention is
quiste to imagine variety of personal griev-
auces which the good of society and even public
morality require TO be redressed; and yet no ade-
quste legal remedy may be had. So also are those
eases which may fall under the condemnation of
the letter of the law, and yet like considerations
will restrain its penalties. The villain who per.
verts the best feelings of the better sex, and
wards unsuspecting devotion with ruin, may bid
defiance TO this honorable court But where a sis
ters dshonor is blotted out with the blood of her
destroyer an intelligent and wholesome public
opinion, embodied in an intelligent and yrtuous
jury, always has and always will control the law,
and popular sentiment will applaud what the
books may condemn.
1t is the glory of the law that it is founded in
reason But can that reasoning be just that is not
regardfu of human feeling! Sir, one knows
better than yourself that such reproach does not
| rest upon our Jurisprudence. for even the stern
letter of the law touches with tenderness the hus
band who Stays in the act the usurper of his bed
TIE child who kills in defence of its parent is ex-
cused by the law, which is ever regardful of the
virtuous impulses of nature
By parity of reasoning, patriotism il regarded
by every nation upon earth as the cardinal pOliti
cal virtue. Sons are made to reward it, and to
perpetuate the names of those who are its exem
piars. And can it be expected-will it be requir
ed-that !. with heart TO feel and arm to
strike, shall patiently hear and ignoby submit
while my political mother is covered with insult,
and oblOquy, and dishonorl while her character is
sandered, and her reputation belledf
Sir, the substance which have been gathering
for my children may be squandered, my body may
be consigned to the common JAIL my lite itself may
be forfeited but will be true to the instincts OF
my nature-true to the home of my maturity, and
to the mother that bore me.
The first political lesson which my rpening fac.
ulties fully comprehended and appreciated rs the
high moral and social obligation of every citizen
to bow himself 20 the majesty of the law In ODE
dience to the precepts of my youth, which are
sanctioned by the experience and judgment of ma
turer years, submit my case to the discretion of
the court with entire confidence, that while you,
sir, as magistrate perform your whole duty to
the country and yourself you will remember that
in every regulated community, public opinion dis
tinguishes between crime and honorable resent
nent, and tolerates the refuge which men some
times seek in the magnanimty of their judges.
Upon the conclusion Of Mr. Brooks remarks,
Judge Crawford proceeded to give the following
decision:
las this matter will be within short time the
subject of investigation in another place, and as it
-. Is l,,4y, hat
/ should remark OH the evidence adduced, which
could not do without touching on some of the
points that will probably be raised elsewhere, it
appears to to be proper that the sentence of the
Court should be pronounced without comment
The sentence is that the defendant pay fine of
$500.