Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-15
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS

s1 AoAA oE LIE MO aNld6 kRESS.
The Lntsligsneer, to-day, devotes its space
principally to the proceedings of Congress,
publishing at length the speech of Mr. Adams,
of Miss, in the Senate, urging an extension
of the term Of naturalization.
The Union, in the course of an interesting
article descriptive of yesterdays proceedings
In the House, says:
From the time Mr. Sumner suffered him
self to be conveyed to his lodgings to the
closing speech Of Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio
there have been reckless, determined, and
persistent attempts made to convert purely
private quarrel into an important adjunct to
systsmatized political agitation Ninety nine
ont Of every hundred readers Of the Black
Republican journals 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
an equal number are Of the opinion that he
was beaten nearly to death with heavy
bludgeon, and that if he should ultimately
recover from his wounds, it will be with a
shattered frame and disordered intellect
We do not hazard much in saying that not
more than one out of every hundred readers
OF the class alluded to are aware of the fact
that MI Sumner was soundly but not dan
gerously punished by Mr.. Brooks-not be
cause Of his hostility to southern Institutions
not because OF his peculiar positions on the
Kansas question-but because he had com.
United foul, unproyoked, and malignant
libel upon his native State and upon q near
aged, and absent relative. How long this
Wretched deception can be kept up we are not
prepared to say Many Of its authors appear
10 De heartily ashamed Of it Mr. Summer
himself has got tired Of being housed in
Wash1ngton as an interesting, bleeding mar
tyr, and has left for parts where his excellent
physical condition will not be the subject of
public observation and laughing comment:
and II Il not too much to expect that the dis.
cussion OF the last four days in the House,
Win all It's attendant statements and deyel,
opment, will soon reach the eyes of the great
ma. Of the people, of the North as we'll as of
the South, and the whole of this unfortunate
dlthculty fully comprehsnded and dispassiop-
ately passed upon by the public voice.
Soon after the meeting Of the House YES
terday, II became apparent that a blunder,
possibly serious one, Of some kind had been
committed by such Of the black-republican
leaders as have the prosecution of this case in
charge Mr.. Campbell, Of Ohio made re-
Peated and strenuous efforts to have the ma
Jority report Of the Investigating COMMITTEES
amended. This was resisted by Mr.. Houston
OF Alabama: MI Orr Of South Carolina, Mr..
Letcher OF Virginia, and others, on the ground
that the Investigating Committee ceased TO
exist Win the presentation Of their reports,
and that an amendment offered by one of the
late committee had no more force and effect
than an amendment offered by apy Other
member OF the House. After running de-.
bate, partly relevant, partly irrevelant, and
Ahghtly personal, the previous question was
called and ordered, with the understanding
that the parties implicated should have the
privilege OF addressing the House
Awaiting himself Of this privilege, Mr.. Ed.
mundson, OF Virginia, took the floor. He
spoke for nearly an hour, and was listened to
from the commencement to the close of his re.
MARKS with an eager, earnest attention by an
unusually crowded house 1t was searching.
An impassioDed, and a powerful appeal to his
brother members in their judicial capacity.
DE had, be said, been consulted by Mr. Brooks.
rs one friend would consult another who sud,
Geniy mas himself IN AN unpleasant difficulty.
10 have betrayed the confidence thus reyosed
In him would have been to render bimseIf
odlous and contemptible in the eyes of all hon
oraoIe men II is true, he continued, that he
accompanied Mr.. Brooks at first In his hostile
journey, but IT was to see fair play, and he
would have felt it to have been his duty To
assist Mr. Sumner, in case he had had to CON
tend against unfair Odds, as he would assist
MT brooks IN similar state of affairs. The
strongest point made by Dir. Edmundson was
In the startling disclosure that he was first
used BY the committee as a witness and then
converted into principal The majority of
the committee carefully concealed from Mr..
that he was implicated by them in the
Transaction Not the slightest notice To that
enect was given TO him-not the least chance
afforded him for defence or explanation He
was tried in secret, found guilty in secrect
sentenced In secret, without the formslitv of
an indictment or even requiring his personal
presence.