Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-10-23

The Proposed tee Election of Mr.. De-
Wfft-Kiis Vote upon the Revolution
80 Censure the AccOmPlices Of 'Assas-
sin Brooks.
Many persons have attributed the weakness
of the North in Congress to the fact that its
representation is TOO often changed and it is
common to contrast the practice of Massachu-
sets, and of Virginia, and South Carolina, in
this respect. Doubtless, there is considerable
truth in this view of the subject, but we think
it may well be questioned whether, on the
whole, our members do not lose quite as much
in honesty and straight. forwerdness, as they
gain in experience and knowledge of legisla-
tive tactics. The Hon. Mr.. Dewitt is strik-
ing instance of the truth OF this remark. He
is now what may be called " an old stager
in Congress. Few members from the North
ern States have served longer than he. 1t is
not for us to say how much more useful in
the general business of legislation, he may be,
than his colleagues or associates of a shorter
time of service but one thing is quite certain,
and that is, that his habits of intimacy and
good fellowship with slavehoding members
have materially weakened his steadfastness of
principle and determination to stand by the
rights and dignity of his constituents. Ger
tain proceedings on his part, in July last. show
that he is in the same unhappy predicament as
Mr.. Buchanan, viz =
He has no bones IN the middle Of his back,
Where the bones ought TO grow very strong"
Without further preface, we proceed to the
details Of the case which we have in mind.
On the 22d day Of May, an assault was
committed in the Senate chamber, upon
CHARLES SUxsER, Senator from Massachu.
setts-an assault which has, until this time,
disabled him from p,sblie service, and which
may remove him wholly lfora public liie--an
ssssslt WHICH CRESTED sss greatest indignation
throszhcae eae @Aols North, and aroused the
ssssaaoN 81 she wASle sssiazed world, to the
bseearoas coAIic9 esd eocs ~ fhe slave own
sTs~sa asHault iElsiei, n sac spision Of ma
ny pessoas wis designed f. bs deadly, and
which wa4 li,e FseultSf acSa&ysracy ON the
part n sqsadssl,aAe saA,ssses Of members
from The slssS ssaess ms seeomplices of
the principal cglpfit, whose name is sufficient
~ uobotlQuh NlthOub II ncfbf Ntte
Lawrence NJ. Keitt and II. A. Edmonson.
A Comniues q The House of Representatives
after an invs,@lgst50u. lasting many days, re-
ported the l5liswisg. a. their conclusion rela-
tive to the eondaei Of Messrs. Keitt and Ed
mondson:
"No testimony has been taken, nor are the
Committee aware Of any, which shows that
any other member of the Honse was either
aeasely engaged in the assault or designed to
commit any violence upon Mr.. Sumner, nor
that any other member knew the prectse time
vAsn, or The place sohere' Mr.. Brooks would
sssall hun. Il docs appear, however, that
the Hon. Henry A. Edmundson, of Virginia
and the Hon. Lawrence M. Keitt, of South
Carolina, members Of the House, had been
pyeysonsiy informed Of the purpose Of Mr..
0rgots 70 commit an assault upon Jfr. Sumner
ana Mas heg anticipated that the assault ioouA
tahe place n or near the Senate CHAMBER about
use time us Occurrence did take D2aoe. Mr..
Nett wa IN the Senate Chamber, and Mr..
Edmunnson tn Tie room adjointnq "a at the
time tne eiiack wus made; and Il d proved
that MI hcit rushed UP with chus In a
threatening manner when tho bystande,s =,
tempted 10 protect Mr.. sumner nom tho Now
Of Mr.. Brooks, and that M. Edmundson en-.
tered The Chamber soon after M. summer feu
Those allegations against Mr. Edmundson.