The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-27
ARRAY IN THE u. S. SENATE-MR
SUMNER SEVERELY GAINED,

Immediately after the adjournment of the
| Senate on Wednesday last, and while still
in the Senate Chamber Mr.. Sumner was
| approached by Mr.. Brooks, one of the men,
bers of the House, from South Carolina,
who accused him of ibelling his State and
slandering his gray headed relative, Senator
Butler. He struck Sumner with cane,
telling him to the floor, and repeated the
blows until he was deprived of the power of
speech. No one interfered until the Gaming
was effected. Sumner was then carried to
his room. Some eye-witnesses say that
Brooks struck Sumner as many as fifty
blows on his head. Brooks was arrested
and carried before Justice Hollingshead
and held to bail in $500 to appear the fol-
lowing day and answer.
The Washington papers state that Mr..
Sumner has two severe, but not dangerous,
wounds on the head. Brooks cane was
shattered in many pieces, demonstrating the
| violence of the assault. When the attack
was made there were probably fifteen or
twenty persons present, including Messrs.
Crittenden, Foster, Toombs, Fitzpatrick
Murray, Morgan and other members of
Congress, Governor German, together with
several officers of the Senate and strangers
The attack was so sudden and unexpected
that Mr.. Sumner had no opportunity to
place himself in defensive attitude. The
first blow stunned him, and the stick, which
was Of gutta percha, was broken into many
pieces by the time the assault was terminated.
Messrs. Crittenden, Toombs, Murray and
others interfered as soon as they could,
and probably prevented further damage
Mr. Sumner sank unconscious to the floor,
where he lay till raised by his friends. His
head was bathed in blood, and his physicians
say he has the severest fesh-wound they
ever saw on mans head. The following
is an extract from the speech of Mr.. Sumner,
containing the illusions to Senator Butler.
He also calls Senator B. a fanatic"
1.-THE Senator from South Carolina has
himself chivalrous knight with sentiments
of honor and courage. Of course he has
chosen a mistress to whom he has made his
VOWS, and who, though ugly to others, is
always lovely to him; though polluted in the
sight of the world, is chaste in his sight
mean the harlot, Slavery. For her his
tongue is always prOfuse in words. Let
her be impeached in character, or any pro-
position made to shut her out from the ex-
tension of her wantonness, and no extrava-
gance or hardihood of assertion is then too
great for this Senator. The frenzy of Don
Quixotte in behalf of his wench Dulcinea
del Toboso is all surpassed. The asserted
rights of slavery, which shock equality of
all kinds, are croaked by fantastic claim
of equality. If the slave States cannot en-
JOY what, in mockery of the great fathers
of the Republic, he msnames equality I'M
der the CONSTITUTIONAL other words, the
full power in the National Territories to
compel fellow men to unpaid toll. to sepa-
rate husband and wife, and to sell little
children at the auction block-then, sir,
the chivalric Senator will conduct the State
| of South Carolina out of the Union! Heroic
Knight! Exalted Senator! A second Moses
come for second Exodus
Senator Butler was absent, on visit to
his home in South Carolina, at the time
Sumner made the attack on him in his
speech.
The news of Summers Gaming created
intense excitement in the Massachusetts
Legislature Committee was forth
with appointed to consider and report what
action should be taken on the subject by
that body. Apublic meeting of the citizens
of Boston has also been called to consider
the matter