New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-07-16
glls Brooks &c sa.n,,er -.

~ AsA0ssss sastsI a83af7IAtf ssbSEs
On the 9Th inst. The Hon. s. asfooks ~ ssiea
before tie Criminal Court III washington Iii hs H.
sault on Senator Sumner. The Testimony esfatai was
Of no Importance. The remarks of III. Ts9oks Eas
the only Interesting inasser Id connection wiss The
trial. will be seen below they manly and 10 slsa
point.
The evidence being concluded. Nj. Brooks Fose ana
and while the tronged courtroom listened il silanee
proceeded 70 address the court az follows:
May it please gour Honor May i be permitted ID
say a wordS iJldge Crawford. GeFtainiy3 ! ny
pear in person before this honorable court amply ID
receive it, Judgment. would have preferred tllas
the person upon whom the assault was committed
had been present to answer whether not his #paee
which lbeled my State and my blood was printed By
fore its delivery in the Senate. feel confident that
under oath he could not have denied fhis fact which.
with due Difference to your Honor, regard All ma
teal to my defence, inaanHch as libel u contrary ID
la, and to that extent would operate il axtsnuasioa
Of my offence.
would like to have inquired 81 him. in person. s
TO the degree Of bis personal injuries, and have
been informed in what way he could reconcile thas
part OF his statement as to the words used BIZ me
when the assault was made. with the sentence which
Immediately succeeds this language in his testimony
before the Investigating Committee, and which IL d
follows:
g While these words were passing from bis frly1
lips ne commenced succession Of blews with heavy
cane on my bare head, By the srst NJ teAtea t0as
stunned SO as to lose sight
II would have gratfied me had lie Been compelled
to answer under oath as 20 the voEeaee of THE FIRST
blow which aver, was but TAP, end intended sapat
him On his guard.
But SIR fe il conveniently and deItsraalv asssent
and On travel, notwithstanding but sLx days ago this
case was postponed on account OF bis extfefne lids
Position ana ~ te maferiality o hs testimony and
the Judgment OF the Court than to consinne In sas
I pense.
It is not my purpose to aadiee aay evidence In
defence. s'Fss%s
have already accomplished more than tale fg thu
journey of life, and this is the sst tuls tt It has
been my misfortune TO be asraIgnsd hasare ans itii.
cia tribunal az breaker Of any law u my esuitrY.
confess. sir, and without shame, that nv
are disturbed by my novel position, and have but "a
express my profound regret that in dischaEgn duty
imposed upon me by my own sense of right. and The
sentiments of the gallant people 1t Ii ly rrfts and
honor to represent, am constrained to approach sou
as violator and not as d maker of the Iaws.
In extenuationo Of nay offence permit me TO say tIfas
no extraordinary power of invention II requisite to
imagine variety Of personal grievances, which The
good Of society and even public morality require to lie
redressed and yet adequate legal remedy may he
had So also are those cases which Hlaysfall psiSer
the condemnation Of the letter Of the law AID yes
like considerations win restrain its peraltes Ths
villain who EeTverts the best feelings Of the lsster
sex, and rewards unsuspectng devotion wits rain,
may bid defiance to this honorable court. Raf where
sisters dlshoner Is hlatted ont with flls blood ut her
destroyer, an intelligent and wholesome puh.fc Gpfn
ion, embodied in an intelligent and virtaous Jury al
ways has and always will control the Law aud popular
sentiment will applard what the books uiny condemn.
It is the glory Of the law that ii Is founded ia faa.
SON. But that reasoning be just which " not re
gardful Of human feeling2 Sir no one knows better
than yourself that such reproach does net rest pon
our jurisprudence, for the stern letter Of the law
touches with tenderness the husband who says in the
act the usurpeE Of his bed. The child who Kills In
defence of its parent Is excused BY the faw which Is
ever regardful OF the yirEudls impulses uf nagnfe
By party of reasoning. patriotism b regarded by
every nation upon the earth The cardinal political
virtue. Sons are made to reward It. and 70 psretu-
ate the names Of those who are it, exarnplars and
can it be eSpeeted-wilt it be required that l. win
heart to feel and arm TO strike, sha patiently nsar
and ignoblv submit, while my political Ea0thsr ID
covered with insult, and 0blfquy, and dishgns1 T.
while her character il siandeted, and her tepaaan
Gbeled?
Sir, the substance which have been gathssins for
my children may be squandcred my body raay he
consigned TO the common jail, my ts itsef nag be
forfeited but will be true 10 the instincts of my
nature-true to the home Of my maturity, and The
mother that bore me.
The first political lesson which my ripeniRg Eaeai.
ties fully comprehended and appreciated Ags se high
moral and social obligation of eVeTy citizen 10 bqw
himself to the majesty of the iaw. In obedience 10
the precepts of my youth, which are sanctioned hy
the experience and judgment ofinaturer years, st-
nit my case to the discretion Of the court, With estif
confidence that, while you sir, as magistrate per
form your whole duty 10 the country and y0nrself,
you will remember that in every regulated cotntaG-
nifty public opinion distinguishes between esinas and
honorable resentment and t0leraiea The raFags wheh
men sometimes seek In the mngnaninitg of ttleip
judges.
Upon the conclusion Of Mfr. Brooks rernarfs Judge
Crawford proceeded to give the following decision
E Gas this matter will be within short ti1fe the
subject of investigation in another place, a. it II not
necessary to the discharge Of my duty that shBaa
0 remark on the evidence addueed which eqdM Hes
: do without touching some points tlsAt Hli rgsha
bly, be raised elsewhere, tappears fn me 10 hs proper
that the sentence Of the court shoafd IL pronounced
without comment. That sentence ia that the sssad
: ant pay fine of 5000