The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D. G., MAY 90, 1856,

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consult with me, but answered them prompt
ly and briefly, excusing myself for the reason
that l was much engaged; when the last of
these persons left me, / drew my armchair
close to my desk, and, with my legs under the
desk, continued writing Ny attention at this
time was so entirely drawn from all other OBJ
jects, that, though there must have been many
persons in the Senate, / saw nobody. While
thus intent, with my head bent over my writing,
was addressed by a person who approached
the front Of my desk, so entirely unobserved,
that l was not aware of his presence until
heard my name pronounced. AS / looked up
with my pen in my hand, saw tall man,
whose counteRance was not familiar, standing
directly over me, and at the same moment
caught these words: Il have read your speech
twice over carefully-it is libel on South
Carolina and Mr.. Butler, who is a relative of
mine. While these words were still passing
from his lips, he commenced succession of
blows with heavy cane on my bare head; by
the first of which / was stunned so as to lose
sight.
no longer saw my assailant, nor any other
person or object in the room. What l did
afterward was done almost unconsciously, act
ing under the instincts of selfdefence. With
my head already bent down, rose from my
seat, wrenching up my desk, which was screwed
TO the floor, and then pressing forward, while
my assalant continued his blows. l had no
other consciousness until l found myself ten
feet forward in front of my desk, lying on the
floor of the Senate, with my bleeding head
supported on the knee of a gentleman whom /
soon recognised, BY voice and manner, as Mr..
Morgan, of New York. Other persons there
were about me, Offering friendly assistance, but
did not recognise any of them. Others there
were at distance, looking on and offering no
assistance, of whom l recognised only Mr..
Douglas of Illinois, Mr.. Toombs of Georgia,
and, thought, also, my assailant standing be.
tween them. / was helped from the floor, and
conducted into the lobby of the Senate, where
/ was placed upon a sofa. OF those who helped
me there have no recollection.
GAS entered the lobby; / recognised Mr..
Slidell, of Louisiana, but l recognised no one
else until | felt friendly grasp of the hand,
which seemed to come from Mr. Campbell.
of Ohio. l have a vague impression that Mr..
Bright, President of the Senate, spoke to me
while l was on the floor of the Senate, or in
the lobby. l make this statement, in answer
to the interrogatory of the committee, and
offer 1t, as presenting completely all my recol-
lections of the assault and of the attending cir
cumstances, whether Immediately before or i'm
meuiaIeiy AFTER. ueSlre 10 add, that besides
the words which / have given, as uttered by
my assailant, have an indistinct recollection
of the words old man. but these are so envel-
oped in the mists which ensued from the first
blow, that l am not sure whether they were
uttered or not"
On cross-examination, Mr.. Sumner said that
he was entirely without arms of any kind, and
that he had no notice or warning of any kind,
direct nor indirect, of this assault
In answer to another question, Mr.. Sumner
replied, that what he had said of Mr.. Butler
was strictly responsive to Mr.. Buffers speech"