The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-04
THE LATE CASE OF ASSAULT IN THE SENATE
Et&# CHAMBER.

THE LATE CASE OF ASSAULT IN THE SENATE
t@ CHAMBER.
In The House Of Representatives Monday, Mr. Camp
bell of Ohio from the select committee appointed to
xesigae the facts connected with the assault by member
the House upon SENATOR the ed OF May last made
the subjoined report 1t accompanied by of
testimony the substance Of which mboded in the report
itself:
%go MAJORITY.
The select committee appointed under the resolution of
the House. passed the 23d day of May 1885, TO nvest
gate the subject Of the assault alleged to have been made
il the senate chamber by the Hon. Preston Brooks and
other members Of the House. upon the Hon Charles Sum
ner senator from the State of Massachusetts, and to
whom the House referred the proceedings of the Senate
announcing that theya coordinate branch of Congress
"make complaint the House Of Representatives of the
assault committed by of its members-the Hon. Pres
ton s. Brooks--upon the Hon. Charles Sumner senator
from the State Of Massachusetts, having taken such test
mony accessible TO them beg leave to make thea dol
lowing report, with the accompanying testimony
The committee upon full investigation of the subject
in the following conclusions which the Senate
unanimously to have declared
L. That the Hon. Preston s. Brooks, member Of the
House Of Representatives from the State of South Caro-
lima did, the ed day of the present month"; after the
adjournment Of the Senate, and while Mr. Sumner
seated his desk in the Senate chamber assault him
with considerable violence striking him blows
and about the head with walking stick, which
his head and disabled him. for the time being from attend
Ing To his duties in the Senate"
!. That this assault breach of the privileges OF
the Senate
That the Senate for breach of Il, privileges can
member Of the House OF Representatives and
tbority devovts upon the House of which he is mem.
Der and therefore, shat II Is not within the jurisdiction
Of IL. ssns and can only Be punished BY The House of
The committee therefore report back the complaint Of
the Senate with the Journal Of their proceedings
testimony taken in the premises pursuant to the resolution
z The testimony discloses the following facts:
On Monday snd Tuesday the 18th and goth days Of
May 1885, Mr. Sumner delivered speech In the Senate
reply 10 senator from South Carolina MR. Butler and
ether senator's authenticated copy which "a APP
PENDED 70 the accompanying testimony and forms part
ltappcas that early as Tuesday before the speech
was concluded Mr. Brooks took exception to the rena rs
the senator aud that on "Wednesday morning after the
delivery OF tho speech he declared TO Mr. Edmundson OF
the House. by whom he casually met In the Capitol
grounds short tme before the meeting Of the two houses
that no had determined punish Mr. Sumner unless he
made an ample apology for the language he had uttered
his speech and expressed desire that Mr. Edmundson
shoald be present witness 10 the transaction; that
lhoy lhereupou took the walk leading from
FenDNlvauia the Capitol and there remained
soae heen minutes awaiting the approach Of Mr. Sumner
and Nc not making his appearance they then proceeded
tie Capitol.
On Thursday morning he was again casually met by
Ar amurdson at the western entrance Of the Capitol
grounds o. re 'nsylvanis avenue point which commands
usW Of an the approaches the Capitol from that por-
Ton Of The city in which Mr.. Sumner resides Here Mr.
Brooks Informed Mr. Edmundson that be the look
out To- Mr. sumner and again declared his purpose
cent the language Of Mr.. Summers speech aud after
naming for short period, Mr. Sumner not approaching
the Two again proceeded to the Capitol.
After the reading Of the journal Of the House Thurs
day the death Of the Hon Mr. Miller Of Missouri was an
nounce addresses delivered the customary resolutions
adopted, and thereupon the House adjourned.
When the message received by the Senate from the
House announcing the death Of Mr.. Miller tribute of re-
spcct paid TO the deceased by Senator Geycr in an ad
drrss, and that body ,horeupon also adjourned Most Of
the senators LEFT the Senate chamber few only remaining
Nr Sumner continued in his engaged in writing Mr.
Brooks approached, and addressing few words him.
Immediately commenced the attack BY nicting blows up
on bis bare bead whilst be was in sitting posture with
large and heavy Stunned and blinded by the first
blow and confined by his chair and desk Mr. umner made
several nseoual efforts 10 rise and nnly succeeded br
wrsnching his desk from It's astcpngs The blows were
repeated oy Mr Brooks with great rapidiy and extreme
violence whc MT sumner, almost unconscious made fur
Their efforts OF scfdeence until he fr 20 the floor under
tbs attack bleeding and powerless
wounds were severe and calculated to epdanger the
life OF the senator, who remained for several days In
critical condition II appears that tho blows we're inflicted
with cane the material Of which wos about the specific
gravity sfhickory vhalebone inch in diameter Al
the larger end and tapeng the diameter Of about Eve
egh,hs Of inch al the smaller end II u not too much
70 that the weapon used OF deadly character
that the blows Unfortunately dealt at the hazard
OF the life of the assaulted.
The committees have extended TO the parties implicated
tne fullest facilities for taking exculpatory testimony
lhere no proof TO show has II been In any way in
ums'eo wa, MT irooss At any time in any manner d.
rectly or indirectly, notified Mr. Sumner of his intention
10 make the assault There u no evidence that Mr. Sur
ner ever carried weapons either for The purpose Of attack
or aesnce on ,ne contrary u appears that he did
uopatc personal violence until the instant he received
the first blow, and that he was not armed or
prepared in any respect for sefdefcnce
There no evidence beyond the character of the attack
tending to show intention the part of Mr. Rrooa ~
XII the senator bis expressions being that he did mot
tend to kill but to punish him but the COMMITTEES cannot
hut regard the assault most fragrant violation NOT
only 0 the privileges Of the Senate and Of the opso
coordinate branches OF the legislative department Of The
government and the personal rights and privileges Of the