The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-15
THE BROOKS AND SUMMER CASE.-CLOSE OF THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF Mr.. BROOKS.

After sprotracted debate lasting four days. the Brooks
and Sumner affair has ended far as the action Of the
House Of Representatives is concerned From the time Mr.
Sumner suffered himself to be conveyed to his lodgings to
the closing speech of Mr. Campbell of Ohio, there have
been reckless determined and persistent attempts made
convert purely private quarrel into important ad-
junct to systemazed political agitation. Ninety-nne out
of every hundred readers of the back-repubcan jour
uals firmly believe that Mr. Charles Sumner was stricken
down in his seat in the Senate chamber because Of his
heroic championship of freedom in Kansas Quite equal
number Of the opinion that he beaten nearly to
death with heavy bludgeon, and that II he should u
timately from his wounds, IL will be with shat
tered frame and disordered intellect We do not hazard
| too much in saying that not than out Of
every hundred readers Of the class alluded to
Of the fact that Mr.. Sumner soundly but not
dangerously punished by Mr.. Brooks-not because Of
his hostility to southern insttuonsnot because Of bis
peculiar positions the Kansas questonbut because
he had committed FOUL unprovoked and malignant libel
upon his native State and upon near aged and absent
relative How long this wretchcd deception be kept
up not prepared to say Many Of It's authors ap
pear to be heartily ashamed Of it Mr.. Sumner himself
has got tired Of being housed In Washington inter
esting, bleeding martyr and has len for parts where his
excellent physical condition will he the subject Of pub
lie observation and laughing COMMENT and It is not too
much to expect that the discussion OF tie last four days in
the House. with all Its attendant statements and develop
ment viii soon reach the eyes Of the great Of the
pie Of the North as well OF the South and the whole Of
this unfortunate difficulty fully comprebcnded and dispss
'iOnatey passed upon by the public voice.
Soon AFTER the meeting Of the House yesterday became
apparent that blunder possibly serious one Of some
kind had been committed by such Of the bscepublcan
leaders have the prosecution Of this in charge Mr.
Campbell Of Ohio made repeated and strenuous efforts TO
have the majority report Of the investigating committee
amended This resisted BY Mr. Houston Of Alabama
Mr.. Orr Of South Carolina Me-. Lstcher Of Virginia
and others on the ground that the Investigating
committee ceased To exist with the presentation Of their
reports and that amendment offered BY one Of the
members Of the late committee had force
and effect than an amendment offered by any other
member Of the House After running debate, partly
relevant partly irrelevant and slightly personal the pre-
vous question called and ordered with the under
standing that The parties implicated should have the priv
ege OF addressing the House Awaiting himself Of this
privilege Mr. Edmundson, Of Virginia. took the floor He
spoke Tor nearly an hour and listened to from the
commencement 70 the close Of his remarks with eager
searching an mpsssoned and powerful appeal to his
brother members in their judicial capacity. lie had he
said been consulted by Mr. Brooks, friend would
consult another who suddenly ends himself in an un-
pleasant personal difficulty. To have betrayed the conf
dence thus reposed In him would have been TO render
himself odous and contemplate in the eyes Of all
honorable men II Is true, he continued, that he ac-
compaucd Mr. Brooks at FIRST in bis hostile journey, but
it fair play and he would have felt At to have
been his duty assist Mr. Sumner in he bad had to
contend against unfair odds he would assist Mr. Brooks
in similar state OF affairs The strongest point made by Mr.
Edmundson was in the startling disclosure that hewa FIRST
used by the committee witness and then converted
into principal The majority Of the committee carefully
concealed from Mr. T. that he implicated by them In
the transaction. Not the slightest notice to that effect
given TO bmnot the least chance afforded him for
defence explanation. He tried in secret found
guilty in secret sentenced In secye without the fomay
Of an indictment or even requiring his personal presence
The debate closed by Mr. Campbell In long ramb-