The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-05
THE LATE CASE OF ASSAULT IN THE SEN
ATE CHAMBER


In the House Of Representatives, Monday
June I'd, Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, from the Sc
lect Committee appointed to investigate the
facts connected with the assault by n member
of the House upon a Senator, on the 22d of
May last, made the subjoined Report 1t was
accompanied by mass of testimony, the sub
stance of which is embodied in the report itself.
Report of the Majority.
The Select Committee appointed under the
resolution of the House, passed on the 23d day
of May, 1856, to investigate the subject of the
assault alleged to have been made in the Sen
ate Chamber, by the Hon. Preston S. Brooks,
and other members of the House, upon the Hon.
Charles Sumner, Senator from the State of
Massachusetts, and to whom the House refer.
red the proceedings of the Senate, announcing
that they-a co ordinate branch of Congress-
make complaint to the House of Representa-
tives of the assault committed by one Of its
members, the Hon. Preston S. Brooks, upon
the Hon. Charles Sumner, Senator from the
State of Massachusetts" having taken such
testimony was accessible to them. beg leave
to make the following report, with the accom-
panying testimony:
The committee, upon full investigation of
the subject, concur in the following conclusions,
which the Senate seem unanimously to have
declared
l. That the Hon. Preston S. Brooks, a
member of the House of Representatives from
the State of South Carolina, did, on the 22d
day of the present month, after the adjourn
ment of the Senate, and while Mr.. Sumner was
seated at his desk in the Senate Chamber, as
sault him with considerable violence, striking
Al. L
with walking stick, which cut his head and
disabled him for the time being from attending
to his duties in the Senate"
2. "That this assault was breach of the
privileges of the Senate"
3. That the Senate, for a breach of its priv
leges, cannot arrest a member of the House of
Representatives, and, a fortiOri, cannot try and
punish him; that such authority devolves upon
the House of which he is a member" and,
therefore, that it is not within the jurisdiction
OF the Senate, and can only on be punished by the
is member"
The committee therefore report back the
complaint of the Senate, with the journal of
their proceedings and the testimony taken in
the premises, pursuant to the resolution of the
House.
The testimony discloses the following facts
On Monday and Tuesday, the ] 9th and Goth
days OF May, 1856, Mr.. Sumner delivered a
speech In the Senate, in reply to a Senator
from South Carolina, (Mr. Butler and other
Senators, an authenticated copy of which is
appended to the accompanying testimony, and
forms part of this report
1t appears that, as early as Tuesday, before
the speech was concluded, Mr.. Brooks took ex
ception to the remarks of the Senator: aud
and that on Wednesday morning, after the de-
livery OF the speech, he declared to Mr.. Ed
mundson, of the House, by whom he was casu.
ally met, IN the Capitol grounds, short time
before the meeting Of the two Houses, tina. ne
had determined to punish Mr.. Sumner, unless
he made an ample apology for the language he
had uttered in his speech, and expressed de.
sire that Mr.. Edmundson should be present as
a witness to the transaction that they there
upon took seat near the walk leading from
Pennsylvania avenue to the Capitol, and there
some fifteen minutes, awaiting the
approach of Mr.. Sumner; and, he not making
his appearance, they then proceeded to the
Capitol.
On Thursday morning he was again casually
met by Mr.. Edmundson at the western entrance
ofthe Capitol grounds, on Pennsylvania avenue.
a point which commands a view of all the an.
proaches to the Capitol from that portion of the
city IN which Mr.. Sumner resides. Here. Mr.
brooks informed Mr.. Edmundson that he was
on the lookout for MIR. Sumner, and again de.
ciared his purpose to resent the language of
Mr.; summers speech; and after remaining Tor
snort PERIOD, Mr.. Sumner not approaching.
The two again proceeded to the Cspisol,
After the reading of the Journal Of the House
On Thursday, the death of the Hon. Mr.. Miller
of Missouri, was announced, addresses Delivered
he customary resolutions adopted. and there
lpon the House adjourned.
When the message was received bv the Sen.
ate, from the House, announcing the death Of |
Mr. Miller, tribute of respect was paid TO the |
deceased by Senator Geyer, in an address, and |
hat body thereupoa also adjourned Most of |
he Senators left the Senate chamber, a few only |
Mr.. Sumner continued in his seal. |
engaged in writing. Mr.. Brooks approached |
md, addressing few words to him, immediate.
y commenced the attack, by inf1ictins blows
lpon his bare head, whilst he vas IN a sitting |
posture, with large end heavy cane Stunned |
md blinded by the first blow, and confined bv
ils chair and desk, Mr.. Sumner made several |
neffectual efforts to rise, aud finally succeeded
~ wrenching his desk from its fastenings. yba
blows were repeated by Mr.. Brooke with great
apidity and extronia violence, while Mr.. Sum.
aer, ainoss unconscious, made further efforts of
until he fell to the floor, under the
stack, bleeding and powerless.
The wounds were severe, and calcula.ed 70
ndanger the life of the Senator, who remained
or several days 10 e critical condition. n an.
ears thai the blows were inflicted with q care
ne material of which was about the snec;eG
ravlty OF hickory or whalebone, one inch in d.
meter at the larger end, and tapering To tho
iameter OF about ave-eighths of an inch at the
mailer END. 1t is not too much to saw that the
'eapon used was of deadly character. and that
ne blows were Unfortunately dealt, at the
azard of the life of the assailed,
The committee have extended 10 the parties
implicated the fullest facilities for taking excul.
atory testimony, There is no proof to show,
or mas 1t been in any way iutimated, that Mr..
'rooss, at any time, in any manner, directly
indirectly, notified Mr.. Sumner of his inten-
on to make the assault. There is no evidence
nat Mr.. Sumner ever carried weapons, either
or the purpose of attack or defence on the
ontrary, it appears that be did not anticipate
ersonal violsnce sntil ct the instant he re.
eiyed the FIRST blow, and that he was not armed
r otherwise prepared in any respect for self.
efence,
There is no evidence beyond the character of
ne attack tending to show an intention On the
art of MIR Brooks to kill thu Senator, his expres.
ions being that he did Nat intend 70 kill but to
unish him but the committee cannot but re-.
AID the assault as a most fragrant violation.
OF only of the privileges of the Senate and of