New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-02
: M. Brooks Assault upon MI. Sumner.

AT the opening Of the session in both houses of
Congress yesterday the attention OF the TWO poaes
was called to the rencounter which LOOK pace On
Thursday afternoon between Hon. Preston =: brooks
of South Carolina, and Charles Sumner, OF Gassachu
sets In the Senate the occurrence was briefly de-
tailed by Mr.. Wilson, after which mr.. seward oiered
resolution to raise acnmmittee OF I'VE 70 lhYestsate
fhe facts and report thereon well as to report the
opinion Of the committee. The resolution was
aopted without objection and the Senate proceeded
to elect as the committee Messrs Cass Geyer Pearce
Dodge, and Allen. =,
subject before that body by the introduction OF pre-
amble in which the alleged facts are briefly stated
and resolutions raising committee OF investigation
similar to that appointed in the Senate Mr. Camp
bells preabe and resolutions were passed with but
little discussion because Of the application OF the
previous question, The Speaker appointed the fol
lowing committee b, ssas
of New Jersey Howell Cobb of Georgia, A. B. Green
wood ofl Arkansas, and +. g. Spinner Of New York.
IN each house the proceedings were based upon the
assumption that Mr. Brooks made the assault on MI
Summer whilst in his seat and engaged an ms pubic
business. In the House these facts were assumed IN
the preamble OF Mr. Campbell, and in the Senate they
were distinctly assumed by Nh. Wilson in his opening
remarks. II ishardly doubtful that the proceedings
in the two houses were the result Of concert and
Id fair inference, therefore, that the u
the case is rested on the facts assumed, that MI
Sumner at the time Of the assault was not onyin ms
seat but engaged in his public duties as Senator.
Al these seemed to be the only material facts about
which there may be controversy we feel at liberty 10
state briefly what we think will be found to be the
truthas to the occurrence.
The Senate had adjourned and most of the senators
and persons in the galleries had left the chamber,
when Mr.. Brooks approached near to Mr.. Sumner,
who still occupied his seat, and said:
% & Mr. Sumner, have read yonr speech with care
and with as much impartality as am capable and
feel ii my duty to tell you that you have lbeled my
state and slandered q kinsman who is aged and
absent and must punish you for it,
Mr. Brooks then struck MIR. Sumner a violet blow
across the head with a gntta percha cane At first,
Mr. Summer manifested disposition to defend himself,
Init was finally prostrated by the repeated blows of
his assalant when several Of the bystanders inter
fare and removed Mr. S., in senseless condition. to
one Of tile adjoining rooms. Surprising these to be
substantially the facts, it may be remarked that me
offence Of Mr.. Sumner consisted IN MS having
attacked, in Q late speech, IN . most Wanton ana
astroeious manner, not only the STATE OF Sohth
Carolina, Of which Mr. Brooks is kepresentatiye
but Senator Bitler, who is a near relative OF mr
Brooks an aged gentleman, and n0W and az tine Lime
Of The attack, absent at home, As the attack was
made by Mr. Brooks when the Senate was mol IN
session. and when the chamber is open TO all persons
we presume that tile place where 1t WAS made can
have no bearing on the legal question which may pe
involved Whether Mr.. Simmer was at the Time en-
gagged III his public duties, and if he was, Wlethei
that is neterial circumstance In the case are CUES
tioIs on which the committees raised will report the
facts and their opinions and until such reports We
deem it premature to indulge in further remarks.
Washington Union, 24tt