New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-24
THE OUTRAGE on Mr.. SUMNER.
From tn. Erenins Pou Of ys'serS1y.


From tn. Ecenins Pon Of ys'serS1y.
The friends of Slavery 81 Washington are attempting
N silence the Members of Congress from the Free
States by the same modes OF discipline which make
tho slave. mute on their plantations. Two rufisns from
,ba Uouse of Representatives, named Brooks and
x et both from South Carslins, yesterday made the
Senate Chamber the scene OF their cowsrdy brutality
Tbey had armed Themselves with heavy canes, and
nptroaching Mr. Sumner, while sitting IN his chair
efqaged in writing Brooks struck him with his
violent blow on the head, which brought him stunned
10 the ioor and kett with hs weapon kept on the
bystanders while the other ruhsn repeated the blows
upon the head Of the apparently hfeess victim t his
csne WAS shattered to fragments. MIR. Sumner was
conveyed from the Senate Chamber bleeding and
enseess so severely wounded thst the physician at
tending him did not think It prudent to allow bis friends
10 have access to nm. -, O.
on the Senate floor in the Of debate had spo-
ken dsrerpecfsy Of Mr.. Butler relative OF Preston
S Brooks one OF the authors of this outrage no
possible indecorum Of language on the part OF Mr.
RUNNER could excuse much less justify attack Ike
this; but we have carefully examined his speech 70
r.e if il contains any matter which could even exten
uate ouch al act OF violence, and fnd none. he had
ridcued Mr.. Buffers devotion TO slavery, II i truei
but the weapon # ndicue in debate IL by common
mt a. fair and allowable weapon as argument.
Tbe Journal of Com rerce of this morning apologies
for the brutality of Brooks and his confederate, by
say ing that Mr. Sumner was guilty OF wholesale ue
What TIs Va,h,pefou Star saws of the character of
Mr. Summers speech. What The Warrington Sfdr
nay say is nothing to the purpose; ths question IS
what Mr. Sumner said, and as this has Deen puosneu
The Journal should have placed it before its readers
that thew might Judge for themselves IL prudently
however keeps the prOyocation, whatever " might
be. out of sight Our readers have already had the
ave !, 10 them to gay whether there any wholesale
denuncati bitter personality IA it, whether con
taips any thing which goes beyond the fair decorum
de bate.
MI Butler of South Carolina, who is always fussing
about Slavery and always the watch for an oppor-
tunity of fitting in its defense and who, therefore,
makes himself fair mark for ridcule, is compared to
Don Ouixote the mirror of chivary ready to do
battle with any giant in behalf of his peerless mistress
Mr.. Sumner pursues the parallel, and provides Mr..
Butler with q mistress also-the polluted vixen,
Slavery, TO whom he offers his vows, and in whose
defense he commits every extravagance making
havoc, in his frenzy OF principle, and perverng anu
mutlating facts II il not the rst time that pOliti-
cal enthusiast-for Mr.. Butler is enthusiast for
Slavery-has been compared TO Don Quixote, but we
90 not recollect that II was ever deemed sufficient
proyocation for murderous attack upon the author OF
the Jest.
II will not do to detach any part of Mr.. Summers
speech from the context hear the apooglsts for
Brooks and bis friend disposed TO do as an extern
uation for the cowaIdy brutality of which they were
guilty The whole drift of Mr. Summers remarks was
that Mr.. Buffers head, like that Of bis prototype the
mirror Of knighthood in Cervantess novel, had been
turned by his devotion To Slavery so that he made
wild wok with both principle and fact. Don Qax1te
was by temper just, generous, and lover OF uuih'
yet be would twist any principle to CONFORM II 10 MS
notions Of chivay and in bis madness would affirm
windmill TO be giant and a kitchen wench 10 De
princess.
There il, surely no wholesale denunciston IN this,
for Mr. Butler IL sssaled point only-hls insane
devotion TO Slavery. There Is no bitter persohsny u
il, for his character man. in the ordinary relations
Of liie il len unquestioned. We agree fully with Mf.
sumner that Mr. Butler is monomaniee IN the respect
OF which We speak; we certainly should place no con
tdence IN any representation be might make Wnicn
concerned the subject of Slavery and We say this
without any expectation of an attempt being maze
upon our lives, of having heads broken tor
our bOdness.
Has it come to this, that we must speak with bsted
bT,sth In the Presence OF Southern masters tnat
even then iOes too sacred subject tor ridlcue
that W. must not deny the consistency OF their prnc1
ples or the accuracy OF their statements Ii We ven
ture TO laugh at them, or question their logic or ds-
pu,e their iacts be chastised a. they cnasse
their slaves Are we too, slaves, slaves Tor hte,
target for thar brutal blows when We do not comPor.
ourselves to please them Ii this be so It Is TINE thsi
the people Of the Free States knew IT, ana prepared
themselves to scquiesce in their fate They have Ia
bored under the deluson hitherto that they were lne
own masters.
Even if il were true a. it is not, that there were
"whOlesse denunciation andl bitter PERSONALITIES
against Mr.. Butler IN Mr.. Summers speech, tue ue-
Lunc!ation shoCa have been repeed and person aIe'
rebuAed by some OF the fluent speakers o' inc Po"t
10! majority 10 which Mr. Butler belOnys, snu tne mat
ter -houc have ended there. The sudden attsck 10
with cesdly weapons upon unarmed msn IN inc
Sense Chamber where be could not expect Y OF nave
bee prepared for H. was the act Of men who must DC
pctloons as well rufiaps II was a. indecent aiso;
a. "ss cowsrdy the Senate floor should De sacIyr
from such Outrsges: or, II they are committed a. a-'
Il stouid only Be By Senatorial blackgusrds. IL i
true that the Senate had just adjourned, but tne me-
bers were stu there many Of them II then place,
wa their chamber and this violence cominHlel u
then presence an insult TO their body lie, We
have 10 expectation that the Senate vii 90 any thhs
10 Indicate tie sacreduess and peace of then cham
ter the night Of their members not 70 be called 20
acc ut for words spoken in debate Inefe VIII oe q
Nt ulrcussoni some vii denounce anu sou'e Ii 4e
iend The Assault, and there the matter VIII end
he truth Is that the Pro Slavery party ~hea ruee
IN tie Senate looks upon violence as the proper insru
iett Of s designs. Violence relgns IL the streets OF
Washington; they not safe Tor the man "ho
hs hlnd without reserve, as Mr. Ureeiey proven lnr
olhtr cay, when he was Gs-au!ted Or commenting ~
fety upCn the conduc; Of one Of the southern pon-
tclans. 1t bad been supposed thst'the Senate Caam
ber tie room dedicated to the slttiDgs OF that
ned boy, a. II las been called, Was al least nee V
the uirusion Of outside buiies but violence nae IT,
icuud lie way into the Senate Chamber. 'oene - -
II wait on al the gable rvers anl az tne To- ~:
o; hi-suuii 70 otstrEci those who pas from tDe
Siatcs 10 hsnsss. Violence oyerhahSr 'n ,,b baii
4. Territory Ike stOlm-c4oud cIsi - aF,-r
ard Ert,rfrc Vo,. nee ha- cglTIed elecl'u - -
l.eC;.cn IL that Territory vieener bss I'M -
IS ma 80. a.t..s-s Leg->t-s al =! 'A---