Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-06-19
The Sumner Outrage" as a Political
STALKING Horse

ing of it in just terms of apprehension. Al
the same time that we characterized the as
sault as one that could serve no possible
good, and as one tina. could not be justified
by sound aud enlightened public opinion,
Ne did not fail to record our unqualified dis
appreciation of the foul, Incorporate and
grossly insulting language which provoked
it. Ii Mr.. Brooks is answerable at the bar
Of public opinion for violently attempting to
suppress the Freedom of Speech" Mr.
SUMNER is equally answerable for that want
Of decoruni and seif-rcspect by which he
was impelled to carry the privileges of Sen
atorial debate to the extreme Of licentious-
ness. 1t is one thing to use the right OF
speech" and another, to abasc it. Nor can
the wrong committed by Mr.. SUMNER in his
share of this disgraceful transaction be wiped
out by the SUBSEQUENT wrong Of his antago-
nist Both parties should be held to the full
measure of their accountability. That feel
ing, therefore, which we see manifested in
certain quarters TO exculpate Mr.. SUMNER,
and fasten the whole blame upon Mr. Brooks,
is neither impartial nor just. But in addi-
ton to this unfair treatment of the matter,
as between the parties themselves, there is
another phase connected with it that wears
most "Hqly Io0k." We mean the attempt to
throw it tito the political stock jobbing mar
ket for the manufacture OF Presidential votes.
1t is one of those paltry shifts that dema-
gogues teW resort to, sometimes, when hard
pushed Cor more respectable aud available
means. That there has been a studied pur-
pose to make the Gaming of Mr.. SUMYER
serve party purpose, has been too evident
to be mistaken, from the first moment that
the event occurred. Hence it became nee
essary to make Mr.. SUMMERS situation, after
the chastisement was inflicted, as critical a
one as possible.
The nearer to deaths door his friends could
place him, without being actually obliged to
put in requisition the services of the sexton,
the better for their object. How well they
have performed their duty to the public in
this respect, the readers of public journals
will be at no loss TO determine. We dislike
to charge mr. SUMNER with being party to an
expedient so wicked and barefaced nor, in
deed, do we believe he has been, any farther
than to yield to the earnest solicitations OF
his political friends to remain almost dead
NAM just as long as circumstances and the
weather. would permit. II would be an es-
pecial accommodation to them, and could
not seriously affect him. They had "an
axe to grind7 just now, and he must be good
enough to turn the grind-stone.
When we see such disposition manifested
for such purpose, no false notions of deli
cacy shall deter us from exposing the trick
so shamelcssly attempted to be put upon the
people.
Without further comment, therefore, we
copy the following testimony of Mr. SON.
NER's physician, as given before the House
Committee of Investigation, and ask for it a
fair and candid perlsal. After reading it, no
one will fail 10 draw his own conclusion
Quesiion-By Mr. Cobb-whst is your opin-
ion Of these wounds, Just as they areY
Aas'0eT. look upon them simply as aesh
woundsl
Question. What would you say of the nature
Of these woundsg
Aastoer. They are nothing but flesh wounds.
Question. What is your opinion in reference
to the condition Of Mr.. Sumner? How long
need he be confined on account of these
woundsl
Apsicer. His wounds do not necessarily con-
fine him moment. He would have come to
the Senate on FRIDAY, if had recommended il.
Question. Could he have come ont with
safety?
Ans,esr. He could have come W it'll safety, as
far as the wounds were concerned.
Question. And. as a matter Of course, from
that time to the present.
AaSreT Yes, sir he stated that he would
be ready to appear before the committee TO-
day.
QueStiOn-By Mr.. Campbell--At what time
did he make that statement?
ARSrer. On Sunday evening he told me to
state to Mr. Campbell. who had addressed him
a letter through me, which delivered, that he
would be ready to attend the committee on Non
day His friends advised him not to appear
until the next day. and, therefore he told me
10 inform Dir. Campbell that he would not APP
pear on Tuesday.
Question. State in this connection. whether
there were any other persons with bim-I mean
any physioians who advised that perhaps it
might not be safe for hir, To 20 out
ARslcer. | have seen medical man with
him but myself. There has been none there.
There are great many friends present, and
they make Dir. Sumner ont great deal worse
than he Is. They say he has fever. have
never discovered any. have been his constant
7
at any moment higher than eightytwo. / yes
terday corrected an article in the InteYigencsr
stating that he had a fever, and the correction
appears in tO-day's paper. He has no fever To
my knowledge. / have visited him twice
dsy. His brother said he ought not TO come
out. and cited great many cases that had como
under his observation in Paris. whore death
had taken place in six weeks from blows
the head. His brother is not a medical man.
Senator Summer, Of course. took the advice Of
his brother and friends, and j of course, al
lowed them 10 do as they thought proper Per-
haps ought to state my reason for obiectinQ to
his coming out on Friday. There was good
deal of excitement at that time, and thought
that if Mr.. Sumner did not go into the Senate
for day or two, the excitement might wear
off,
Question. By Mr. Cobb-It was not then oil
ao. -ount of his physical condition
Nst5er Not ut all He was very anxious to
90 re said that he had not lost single day 3
Session !. 'ince the meeting of Congress. 1 OBJ
iec,ed TO h, going for the reason that have
stateJ and -, Vt because thought his condition
would not adm. OF 10.
Question. BY NJ. Pennington-Do you, mean
TO say. as medea, nan, that you would have
recommended, or wo, VI nave been wiling u 70
allow Mr. Sumner TO go'I the senate on friuay
in his condition ?
Ans,rer. l think he ous 'hf not to have gone
on account of the excitement
Question. | do not speak oil that DO you
mean to say, "a his physical y, thai YOU were
not unwilling that he should out on account
of his wounds and the conseque uees n'which
from excitement and other causes, those WOUNDS
might end
Ans,oer. I think this that DIR. Snfnnei
might have taken a carriage and 'riven - la
az Baltimore on the next day without any n
jury
Question. Was it possible for him 10 have
worn a hat :
Insurer. think he could have worn hat.