Washington sentinel., 1856-05-29


NsH# ---------------- t1E
In THE SENATE, on Tuesday, May 81, 1856, Mr.
TRuMBULL gave notice of his intention TO intro.
in Kansas.
A bill 10 provide for the introduction of uni.
form national code of marine signals was passed
Mr.. SLIpELL called the attention Of the Senate
10 a telegraphc dispatch giving Mr.. Summers
statement before the House committee, published
in the morning Baltimore papers.
He said Mr.. Summers statement declares
"Other persons were about me-, at a distance
looking on and Offering no assistance, Of whom ]
recognised only Mr.. Douglas, of Illinois, Mr.
Toombs, OF Georgia, and, ! thought also, my as
sailant, standing between them. I was helped
from the floor and conducted into the lobby Of the
Senate, where was placed upon sofa. Ofihose
who helped me there have no recollection. As
I entered the lobby recognised Mr.. Slidell, OF
Louisiana, who retreated, but recognised no one
else until felt friendly grasp Of the hand, which
seemed to come from Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio"
Mr.. SLDELL stated that il seemed TO him proper
to explain his own position in relation TO this
matter, as the statement published might cause a
false impression in the public mind. When the
Senate adjourned on that day, he entered the ante
room where he engaged in conversation with
Messrs Douglas, Fitzpatrick, and J. Clancy Jones !;
and while there seated he informed that Mr.
Sumner had been badly beaten by Mr.. Brooks
He came into the chamber, but there were so
many persons crowded around Mr. Sumner that
he did not see him at all, and he soon returned to
the ante-room TO finish his conversation.
Having remained there for some time he was
passing through the reception room 10 go home,
when he met Mr.. Sumner in the door, leaning on
two persons whom he did not know His face
was covered with blood; and as Mr. Slidell was
not on such terms of intercourse as 10 make II
necessary 10 express any sympathy, not having
spoaen 10 Mr. Sumner for Two years he turned
aside and went out by another door. He had not
the slightest idea before the occurrence took place
that Mr. Brooksor anybody else had any intention of
attacking Mr.. Sumner, and was entirely free from
any participation or counsel in the matter.
Mr.. DOUGLAS corroborated the statement of Mr.
Sldell. When he heard that Mr.. Sumner had
been attacked, his first idea wa. to come in and
endeavor 10 restore quiet; but upon rejecting
that his motives in interfering might be mis-
construed, he did not enter the Senate chamber
Sumner was then large that for some time
he could not see him. He saw Messrs. Toombs,
Pearce, Criltenden, and Evans all seated in OF
near their usual seats; but he was not near Mr.
Brooks, as stated in the report. This was a tota
misapprehension on Mr. Summers part Mr.
Douglas added that he had no knowledge or sus.
picion that any assault was contemplated or would
be made, either here or elsewhere.
He did not approach Mr.. Brooks nor speak 10
him, and was not within fifty feet of the Senator
from Georgia. How such an idea could have go,
into Mr.. Summers head il was impossible fol
him 10 conceive. The published statemen n,
might carry the impression over The country thai
he was aiding and abetling the assault, and was
In fact, participant in IL but that was an en-
| tirely erroneous idea, as he did not even know
"A Mr Sn Ia r. ,,xl
| the assault was committed.
Mr. TooMBs remarked that he was in his sea
at The time, and how Mr.. Sumner could hay,
supposed that he him near Mr. Brooks. he
could not tell. IL might be that in the confusion
Mr.. Sumner mistook Gov. German for him. In
expressing his opinions about the affair AT the
Time, some gentlemen condemned il, but he told
Mr.. Brooks that he approved Of H.
Mr. BUTLER had just arrived in the CITY, and said
that he should have assumed all the responsi
biliy which had been taken by his gallant rela
i've lie denied in the most emphatic manne
| the statement of Mr.. Sumner that what he ha,
said IN hIs speech strictly in resp ponse 10 wha
Mr.. Boiler had said on former occasions He un
derstood that the Stale of Massachusetts had
passed resolutions in reference 10 the afiray and
when those resolutions should be presented 10
the Senate he would speak on the subject as il
descrved-not single one of the remarks, which
bad been quoted in application TO him, was re-
sponse 10 anything he had said upon the Kansas
question. His friends in South Carolina, and
some of his friends here, thought that he had
been remarkably moderate iu the character of nj,
remarks. He had scrupulously avoided saving
anything to violate the courteses of the Senatorial
debates, and spoke neither Of the Senator from
Massachusetts, 10 him, or about him.
Mr.. WADE said that il was impossible for him 10
SIT still and hear such principles avowed as had
been on this occasion. As TO The facts in refer
ence 10 the assault, he knew nothing about the m
and had nothing 10 say on that point He wa
here IN pretty lean minority, not more than one
fifth Of the Senate entertaining opinions similar tc
his but when he heard it stated upon this floor
that an assassin like, cowardy attack had been
made upon man unarmed and haviog no power
TO defend mself and that he had been stricken
down and almost murdered, and then heard a
Senator avow that he approved such conduct, IL
became n matter OF some interest and some i'm
porfance 10 all The members OF the body, and the
minority especially A brave man could not de-
fend himself against such attacks as this, and he
might be overpowered by numbers; but over
powered or not live or die (said he) I will vindi
cate the rights ofIbcrty OF debate and the freedom
OF discussion, so long as live. If the principl,
svowed here IS 10 prevail, let us come armed fo
the combat. Although you are four 10 one. am
here 10 meet you! A man can die in no bette
cause than In vindicating the rights OF debat,
upon this floor IL these principles are 10 be an
proved by the majority, End become part anC
parcel Of the law Of Congress, let il be under
stood.
MIR. WILSON thought that the explanation OF the
Senator from Louisiana was not inconsistent with
anything stated by his colleague He had no ides
that Mr.. Sumner intended 20 place Mr.. Slidcil in
a false position. The Senator from Illinois ha.
also made his explanation, and see nothing in
thnt inconsistent with the statement Of Mr.. Sum
ner. He was struck down upon this floor by
brutal, murderous and cowardly assault.
Mr.. BUTLER, lin his seat.-You are liar!
Mr.. STUART called the Senator 10 order. III,
also urged that there was no question before IN.
Senate, and u was evident that the debate wa,
becoming acrimonious, and he hoped IL might b.
postponed until the matter could be considere,
with more calmness.
Mr. BUTLER spoiogized for word which fel
from him in a moment OF excitement.
Mr. WILSON proceeded 10 say that his colleague
had stated the facts 10 the best of his recollection
and Il was not 10 be expected that after such
severe blows, which had rendered him uncon
scious, he could be perfectly accurate in ever,
minute particular. He did not believe that he
had intended TO do injustice TO anybody. Wher
he should have recovered and be able to take hi,
place ia the Senate, he would be ready TO NEE
the Senator from South Carolina, or any othe
Senator, in debate upon these matters; and an,
assumption of superiority by the Senator from