New-York daily tribune., 1856-06-06

| opinion, and gives to it o very Voe''o oH''e*
| Il 10 plain from what Ednundson states tnas IL
does not state all thst passed between nim an
Brooks. Of cour,e, he would not state any'nio'
directly to criniuate HIMSELF yet he tells en, usu
iustify the conclusion that he himself was toe
| author of the scheme for attacking Mr.. SIni.' To-
un.wares and at disadvantage IN the Senate CnaA
ber, and to Justify the House and the country ia
treating him as no less guilty than Brooks himself
Il appears from Edmuudson's statement that the
morning after Mr.. Sumner closed his speech hemes
| Brooks at tie foot of the Capitol steps be was
invited 10 walk with him, when Brooks r,de Q
disclosure to him of bis intention, of which he mad
heard before, to assault Mr.. Sumner, inviting Ed
mundsou to be present. but not to take part IN the
assault unless circumstances should make it neces
sarv. Brooks told him that his intention was to
call Mr.. Sumner to account for the insulting IAN
puage used toward bis State and, II he did not cpoto
pi-e. to punish Tim. What reply Edmundson made
70 this proposition of Brooks to take provisional
psr in the assault be does not fit to state; but,
from the confidential communications which Brooks
continued to make to him, it is evident that ne en-
tered fully into the scheme, and became trl-
low conspiratOr with Brooks against Mr. Sumner
The next morning. on his way to the House,
Edmundson found Brooks sitting in the gate house
Of the Capitol grounds q; the entrance from Penn
sylyania avenue. He supposed" such Is his
phrsseology-in fact, rom his previous commun-
cations with Brooks, both those to which he testi-
fed and those which he keeps to himself he knew
perfectly well what BroOks's object was. Accord
iDgly, he stepped in" with the remark; you
are looking out" thus evin;iDg his perfect Ia
marity with the object which Brooks had In
view Brooks said be was "desirous OF seeing
" Mr. Sumner; that he cOald not overlook the
"insult; that he had scarcely slept any the night
"before, thinking Of it, and that it ought to
"be promptly resented" ard he proceeded
TO make other statements, from which Edmund
son learned that his plan was-as Eduundson,
from his own Introductory observation "you
"are looking out" evidently knew we'll
enough before-to observe from tina. position
whether Mr.. Sumner approached the Capitol on
foot or whether he rode. Ii he should be IN car
riage, Brooks, as he stated, intended TO pass
through the grounds and the Capitol so as to meet
him as he aehted and before he got into the Senate
Chamber. This plan of operations having been
disclosed, Edmundson represents himself as having
at once demonstrated against it. He told BROOKS
that it would be an imprudent course, that ne had
no doubt Sumner was stronger man than ne
(Frooks) and that he ought not to run the FISK Ot
disabling himself by the exertiOn and fatigue OF
passing UP so many flights of steps, which, should
personal conflict take place, might render him un-
sbla IN contt nd with Mr.. Sumner.
This suggestion, according to Edmundson's ac-
count. decided Brooks in an instant. He wanted
not only the advantage of being the attacking
ATTY but other advantages beside, which might
counterbalance Mr.. Summers supposed superior
strength. That supposed superior strength was
also an equally good reason even if Mr. Summer ap'
preached on foot and there were no steps the ascent
Of which might fatigue Brooks, why be should avoid
attacking Mr. Sumner while on his feet AMI IN
position to defend hmself. Edmundson does not
represent himself az having suggested this to
Brooks. but BrCOks's instant abandonment OF his
original scheme shows that he understood it; for
no sooner had EdmundsOn suggested the idea OF
Mr.. Summers superior strength than Brooks In
stantly dropped the scheme he had been thinking
over all night. He appears to have been instan-
taneously convinced that some different plan OF
operations must be adopted, and, abandoning at
once the idea of waiting for Mr.. Summers approach
the two cOnfederates in cowardice and crime
arcended the Capitol steps together. Edmundson
pretends that on this sudden abandonment by
Brooks of his plan of meeting Sumner on his
feet and in a position in which he might have
defended himself, the subject dropped between
them, ard that, they ascended the Capitol steps,
their conversations was sin relation to other mat
ters ~ The only other matter which they talked
about was we have not the least doubt. ssme other
scheme of attack which might avoid The alarming
difficulty, suggested by Edmundson Of Summers
supposed superior strength; and as he (Edmand'
SOM was the first to suggest that danger, 80 We
lave not the slightest doubt, from his own subse-
quent statement that he, too originally suggested
The cOwardly prcject-very natural to man to
whom the idea of superior personal strength was
so alarmipe-Of attacking Mr.. Sumner by surprise
al d when piniOned in his seat.
When these two congenial souls reached the rO-
tunda together BroOks-we may well suppose act
ing upon the suggestion of Edmundson-instead Of
waiting there, with bis wind sound aud his muscles
unfatigued by sudden e1ertion for Mr. Summers
spproacb went at once into the Senate Chamber.
Edmundson went into the House, but as soon as
that body adjourned walked over to the Senate,
where be saw Mr.. Brooks standing in the lobby
on the opposite eide of the main aisle from where
"Mr. Sumner was sitting watching
bis chsnce, a, before arranged between them, for
fOme safe method of attack by which the danger to