Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-05-30
nSz~ The q. hal. in the U. S Senate, on TUESDAY,

n.y. Tho q. hal. in the U. S Senate, on IuesoaV'
must tsve be n right spicey. The revised account
49,. Union DOES not give it with quite as much pep
ne the more unpreu editated and literal version
.ho R,l,;roor. Snn. The Sumner affair came up,
,,bor Mr. SIideII alluded 10 a statement made by
Mr. Sumner in reply 10 enquiries made by the nVes-
tgating Committee of the Senate.
Mr.. Slidell said that Mr.. Summers statement de-
1oroo. " Others were about me, at distance, LOOK
inc nm and offering no assistance, OF whom recog-
niZed only Mr. Douglas, of Illinois, MT ioomOs: VI
Georgia. and, thought, also, my assa'Ian SCdnulns
betw cen them was helped from TIE Aoor anu ool'-
dncted INTO the lobby of the Senate, where l was
nIoced unon a sofa Of those who helped me there
have no recollection. AS entered the lobby re-,
ccgDized Mr. SdelI, of Louisiana, who rereateo' ou'
recognized no one else until felt friendly grasp
of the hand, which seemed to come from MT lamp
hell, Of Oho.n
This sa1 len mgbt o e IS
the attack, of which he Was wholly Ignorant. at
the time of the assault, he was IN the ante-room'
where he was engaged in conversation with MessrS'
Douglas, Fitzpatrick, and J. Clancy Jones; and While
there seated he was informed that Mr.. Sumner had
been badly beaten by Mr.. Brooks. He came into
the Chamber, but there were many persons crowd
ed around Mr. Sumner that he did not see him at ALL
and he soon returned to the anteroom to finish his
conversation Shortly after he was passing through
the reception room, to 20 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. Slidel was not such terms of inter-
course as 10 make it necessary to express any SYM
pathy, not having spoken to Mr.. Sumner for two
years. he turned aside and went out by another door
He knew nothing whatever of any intention on the
part of Mr.. Brooks, or anybody else, to attack Mr.
Sumner.
Mr. Douglas corroborated this statement, Mr.
Sumner was altogether mistaken; he, Mr.. Douglas
came into the Chamber after the affair was over
He was not near Mr.. Brooks or Mr.. Toombs. Mr..
ToomDs remarked that he, himself had kept his seat
and taken no part in the matter In expressing his
opinions abor the affair at the time some gentlemen
condemned It. but he told Mr.. Brooks that he ap-
proved of it.
Mr. Butler had Just arrived in the city, and said
that he sho1ld have assumed all the responsibility
which had been taken by his gallant relative. He
denied in the most emphatic manner the statement
of Mr. Summer, that what he had SAID in his speech
was strictly in response to what Mr.. Butler had said
on former occasions. He understood that the State
of Massachusetts had passed resolutions in reference
to the ARRAY, and when those resolutions should be
presented 10 the Senate he would speak on the sub
ect as it deserved-,not single of the remarks,
which had been quoted in application to him,
response to anything he had said the Kansas queS
ton His friends in South Carolina, and some of his
friends here thought that he had been remarkably
moderate in the character of his remarks. He had
scrupulOusly avoided saying anything to violate the
Courtesrs of the Senatorial debates, and spoke nei-
ther of the St nator from Massachusetts,, to him. or
about him.
MIR. Wade went off ike rocket. He was ready
and determined to fight, bleed and die several times
IN defence of the freedom of speech He was horri
fed to hear Mr. Toombs express his approval of what
ne, Mr.. Wade called assassin.Iike, cowardly at.
tack apon en- unarmed man. If this was the rule
he ould come armed, &c, sc.
Mr.. Wilson thought the explanation of the Sena
tor from Louisiana not inconsistent with any
thing stated by his colleague. He had no idea that
Mr.. Sumner int nded to place Mr.. Slide in false
position. The Senator from illinois has also made
his exp lanatiOn, and | see nothing in that inconsis
tent with the statement of Mr.. Sumner He was
struck down upon this floor, by brutal, murderout
and cowardly assault.
Mr. Butler, Tin bis seat You are liar!
Mr. Butler on being called 10 order, apologized tt
the Senate for expression drawn from him in
moment of excitement.
Mr. Foster and Mr. TrumbuIl spoke sometime, o.
rather Mr. Foster did, and Mr.. Trumbull tried t.
get chance 10 speak, but was cut off by the arriva
of the hour for taking up the special order