Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-06-06

aherwsrd Mr.. Nchoson Geek OF the Senate: al,o
saw Mr. Douglas, though not until time after the
assault WAS over just at the close oi NJ Kc ed
vance hui not expecting ANYTHING OF the SORT IL npos
sibe TO- 10 the With precision was IN earn
cst conversation With Mr. Cntteudcn when heard the
soud o bloss aud then attention directed the
parties, al occurred In abort u.. not more than
ten seconds suppose IL lea twenty minutes after
the adjournment OF the Senate Mr. SUMMERS L. ele
waited occupied the seat many year-; very uniortu
nate seat hid my head open while sitting ia il
by the tall OF AN umbrella from the gallery; the time the
h'st blow struck Mr. b. directly In front OF Mr.
So desk: the width of the desk Is about two ceI
Would be possible FOR person standing on one sid,
ct the desk TO reach the other for the purpose
OF inhcng an injury, except by other weapon than
the arm fsts
A. That would depend very much upon the activity Of
the asssilant the person assaulted could easily get Of
the way the proper couisc would have been to have
knocked the desk do think the position would
be near enough to fight successfully IL the other
disposed To get out OF the difficult tell prccisely
the thickness of the cane DO not think the hobDs
precisely IN the center; think edge might DC
rghth o an inch Ia thickness aud the other perhaps
eighths have OF the ira gmcnts INV pocket wit
ness hero exhibited small fragment of a cane mus,
have seen halt dozen blows struck. and heard four
h'e mote they were vigorously applSd aimed chiefly
the head and shoulders; could well have been other
wise; no other person participate the afray; Jaw
Mr. kc just at the close oi the affair appsestly coming
up in the midst of crowd; NJ. Elmundson did not
until the whole alair over, did sc, either o
these parties in the Senate Chamber prior the assault
The Hon. Robert TOombS, sSOrn-S,w part ofthc en-.
counter tween these par Ties IN the senate Chamber
standing IA the open space the right OF the Nicc-Pres.
dents seat, IN conversation with Gov. GOruan of NJ T.
when my attention attracted by the collision; upou
looking IN the direction ol the nois Mr. Brooks and
VIZ. sumner Mr.. Il. striking Mr.. = with cane and
Mr. = was either in the ui seizug Mr.. defending
himself iron hts blows could the instant tell what
~' MS object from hts m''ions almo-; at the in
slant saw Nc Summers desk falling ovc,, which scpa
tho parties little further from zach other and seemed to
give Mr. B better play with hi. stick aud next lick
alter that occurrence more effective one; it broke
thp N.k md VI. -
continued his blows rapidly with the part stick he
held in lis hand until Mr.. Snmner sank to the door in
rather sitting posture he then ceased and OF the
h,saners, having by this time reached the parties took
Mr.. u. by the aud led him few ieci away from SUN
y You called this rencounter; did Mr. s do anything
beyond self deiencey
A have stated preci-cly what saw; saw Mr. s AZ.
tempt 10 seize the stick ward Oh the blow could not
tell shich; impression is that il that il was to
ward of the blow there nothing more In the tr,n.
action To give the character of rsacounter or collisions
do not know can recollect who present when the
affair commenced; few minutes before had been i'm con-
versaiion With my colleague from Georgia his seat
then with Mr. Brown, = gentleman irom Georgia; then
Gov. Gorman came up, With whom had souIs conver.n
ton; other person who attracted my attention at
the time; stood nearly facing the parties they being lii
tie to my right think must have them an instant
than Mr.. Peace did aerwarl recollectsd .,iu
him walk up the aisle; Mr. lverson and Gov German -er.
there Mr. Crtcnden aud Mr. Pearce also there thew
up when Mr.. Sumner in the main aisle: in tn,
struggle Nr = had come two three seats nearer the
Presidents chair than his he came around and
sank down the edge OF the ase he was resting there
when got there Mr. b. kept up his blows with great r
pdiiy until Mr. sank the floor; he striking
the instant Mr. Cttenden around near TO tn. mar
ties about time; heard Mr. Brooks make the
remark that he did not intend to kill him Nr but that
should talk in that of his State or OF his alb
rcstive something like that; heard no conyersa
ton between the parties; IL singular affair; did
not hear either oi them speak word before struck mo
that not word saii did hear word prior to
z VII | nrstsa he
his feet or in the act of rising; my impression his
c>k had fallen, in the act OF falling. when first
looked around think he standing up; heard FIVE six
eight blows; they struck very rapidly after the
desk fell H. had better chance at him. be was at bet
distance from Mr. = but Mr.. SIS resistance was more
nec tual and he defended himself with less vigor than
he had done before seemed 10 that with the first
lick after the desk fell Mr. Sumner appeared To tlr
around toward the main aisle; think that lick ON his
head hi resistance seemed be Intellectual: there wa-
nothing mO-r than throwing up his hands, don't knox
that there any resistance than ward of tn.
blows; Mr. y was facing me; Mr. H. had his back m.
when hrst them Mr. hett when got up near
the comblals, with Gov German went up Immediately:
by tile TING hct got To the isle the blows had j:
Mr. kriu there WITH think, stick in his hand: he
made some observation; DO recoect what il Wa; |
think they addressed To Mr. Cttcnden Mr. Critten-
den made remark cOnd-muaory OF the tight; think
the expression of Mr.. Brooks in reply heard some
expression in the 81 threat but do not rccocct
what IL think they directed Mr. Critfendcn
though | could not tell whether To him or Sumner
distinctly; the why thought they directed to
Mr.. Crcmden was, because lie had msdc some remark.
that 1t was shame, something OF that sort think
rcocct telling Mr. keitt not Ia strike; thought he wit,
gong Tn strike; lac seemed To be excited; he had stick
In his hand but do know whether it was rai-eI or
not: had the Impression that he gong to use it, OF
rather, wts afraid lie might use it, when made the ob
-crvatiDn Mr. Il. standing i'll the aisle Mr. Crittee,
was there; he made such remark have stated:
Mr. Il. taLdng III the crowd; den NJ keitt made
some excited renark-what do not rccocct; NH, not
sure would say hc intended to strike him: rnn,.
the lr,,fn
strike Mr. Cfittcnde; Mr. = or twelve ,ct ua,,.
irst Mr. kett when this remark WAS made, by Nj
Crit'cnIe; demonstration until that remark was
made; no attempt Of his strike Mr. Sumner nor
heard threat oi lii Mr. = had not that inor,,in
Mr.. kett in the Senate Chamber before: Mr. r.
seemed To strike as hard lac could think tie blows
very decided they very rapid aud 4. hirl ts
hard a. he could hut they hard ticks aud very cicc
tive; they made good deal noise after the stick Wa
broken than before sounded the end Of the stick was
Split Nr H. is OF much size and muscular power; l.
seemed o. be OF good deal OF activity and strength
my opinion l. that Mr. = physically AZ least his eu,
tar - cav judge Mr ) is u man at hrc sLy,yHe of
strong muscular frame aud physical power Mr. should
judge, about sX feet IN height aud Mr. h. about -ix feet
ucL; Any impression is that occurred about half tn
three quarters Of hour after the adjournment Of the
Senate; Judge lverson sitting IN his seat NJ Foster
there. and Mr.. Stuart, Think did not see Judge
Dougl- at the time; him some ,c time after diff
Guilty over then Mr. Douglas, Mr. Fitzpatrick and
Mr. Sdcll and think two three Others coming ir they
came IN Immediately after the occurrence took place;
think they ia after all the had been rem
dered Mr. Sumner that necessary could not be par
cuar in stating the precise instant ia which they came,
into the Senate Chamber; Mr. Sumner ask for hs hat
and several bystsndcrs looked around among the decks
sud shars for it, 10y this time should suppose thirty or
forty people IN the Senate Chamber; / have no
knowledge whatever Of any reconciliation Of this act
heard spok Of IN any way previous to the
nos know nothing about any generalization: have not
seen NJ Brooks since; SIR. Douglas standing in
the aisle the time the difficulty occurred: did not see
him until nterward have idea that he was there de-
not remember that other desk overthrow than
the one It which Nc. SPINNER sitting ms impression
il that there was not though am not about it,
Hon. l.. S Foster sworn--T was sitting at my desk in
the senate Chamber Thursday last after the adjourn.
ment Of the Senate engaged in writing letter. the Senate
adou{ned about o'clock at about X o'clock MY atcii.
ton vas suddenly atisaeted 10y noise partially b-hud
was sitting. turned round round 10 learn the
cause sud Mr. Brooks striking Mr. Sum-er over the
head With cane; ran 20 the parties instantly With
view 10 stop the commission Of violence and got party
between the parties. with ny face towards Nr Brook.
and my hack toward Mr.. Sumter; about the same r,-
slant persons seized hold Of Mr Brooks from be-.
hind standing by his sid and turned him around with
Iii lace tO~ard the front door Of the Chamber this stoned
the blows and instantly turned 10 the condition oi
NJ Sumner, and saw him nearly posrato on the nonr
supported by the Hon. Mr Morgan, a mcpnber Of the
House ~ Representatives Mr. SUMNER seemed nearly ut
81. D. l.. II.