Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-23
SAGE Of President P. of August 4, 1854, which

sage of President P. Of August 4, 1854, which
stated the reasons which forbade him to sign
the "river and harbor bill'' Of that session,
does not conflict in any respect with any opin-
ions expressed by the President subsequent.
ly; but, on the contrary sustains them all.
The President then said that there were an.
preparations in that bill for objects so "na-
tional in their character" that, eff they stood
Alone" he could approve them. But what
appropriations were they? Not that for the
mouth of the Mississippi river! President
Pierce still holds, We doubt not, that there
are objects $50 national in their character"
50 necessary for the purposes of common de-
fence and common welfare, that he would ap-
prove appropriations of money by Congress
for their benefit
The President and Mr.. Benjamin are at
issue 50 far as concerns the effort to convict
the former of inconsistency of opinion upon a
matter of fact. Mr.. B. says that the appro-
priation for the mouth of the Mississippi is an
appropriation for " nationaP' work. The
President thinks and says the contrary. He
says that the work is "local" as contradis-
tinguished from national" Mr.. Benjamin
says it is " national'' in the same connection.
We think the President is correct, and 50 will
the masses Of the Democratic party who have
no interests to subserve other than the COM
mon good" and who have no local constituent.
cies to crafty. The country will applaud
the craftsmanship, patriotism, ability, and
the iron will the President is evincing in the
present crisis, when so many embarrassing
questions are upon him for decision.
The Assault in the Senate Chamber Yes.
terdsy We have taken occasion to procure
an account of the affair that occurred in the
Senate Chamber yesterday afternoon from an
eyewitness, in whose judgment and in the in
tegrity of whose representation we rely. We
present it to our readers, as follows
Yesterday, after he had sought Mr.. Sumner
elsewhere without finding him, Mr.. Brooks
went to the Senate chamber, 1.-THE Senate
having adjourned) and Mr.. s. being there,
Mr.. Brooks sat near Mr. Sumner until few
ladies, who were on the floor, had retired.
He then went up to Mr.. s., who was at his
desk writing, and said
Il have read your speech carefully and with
as much disposition to do You justice as 1
could command; and 1 have deliberately
come to the conclusion that you were guilty
OF gross libel upon my State, and of a wan.
ton insult to my absent and grey haired rela
tive, Judge Butler, and feel myself under
obligations to infict on you a punishment for
this libel and insult -
Mr.. Sumner thereupon essayed to rise from
his seat, as though to resist what Mr.. Brooks
had said, when he Mr. Brooks) struck Mr.. S.
with rapid and repeated blows about the head
with gutta percha cane, and continued his
blows in spite Of Mr. Sumner efforts to ward
them off and seize the cane, until Mr. fell.
AS Mr.. Brooks was suspending his blows,
(Which he did the instant Mr. Sumner felIO
Mr.. Crittenden came up and interposed,
saying, "DOn't kill, &C." Mr.. Brooks there
upon left the spot and remained with his
friends in the Senate chamber, until Mr.
Summers friends, several Of whom were pres.
ent, (Mr. Morgan of New York, and Mr.. Fos-
ter of Connecticut, among them,) lifting him
up, bore him into one of the ante rooms Of
the Senate.