Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-30
TUESDAY, MAY q, 1856.
lEN. s'rIN

Mr.. Trumbull gave notice of his intention to intro
duce bill to prevent civil war and to restore peace
Kansas.
A bill to provide for the introduction of q uniform
national code of marine signals passed.
Mr.. Slidell called the attention OF the Senate to
telcgraphc despatch giving Mr.. Sumner statement
before the House Committee published III the n"rn'
lng Baltimore papers, long debate ensued anu gave
rise 10 some excitement.
Mr.. SIiIel said Mr.. Summers statement dec!ares
Other persons about ine at distacce, looking
IN and Offering no assistance OF whom l recognized
nnly Mr.. Douglas of Illinois, Mr.. TOnmbs OF Gcor-
yia and thought, also, my sssailant, standing be-
tween them. / was helped from the h"or and con-
Quoted into the lobby ut the Senate, where was
placed upon sofa. OF those who helped me there
have no recollection. As entered the lobby recog-
nzed Mr.. Sldell OF Louisiana who retreaed but re-
cugnized no one else nntil felt friendly grasp "t the
han,l which seemed to come from Mr.. Campbell oi
Ohio"
Mr. Slidcll stated that it seemed TO him proper to
explain his position in relation 10 this matter, as
the statement published might cause false linpre'
sion in the public mind. When he Senate a'lourncd
that dny, he entered the ante ron where lie eIi-
gagged in conversation with Messrs Douglas, Fuzpa.
trick and j. Clancy Jones' and while there seated he
WAS infurmed that MIR Sumner had been badly beat
Ell by Mr.. Brooks. He came into the chamber but
there many persons crowded around Dir.
Sumner that he did not seq hun at nll and he soon
returned to the ante to finish his cunversation
Having remained there tor some time, he was pas
ing through TIA. reception room 10 90 home, when he
Met Mr.. Sumner IN the door, leaning on two persons
whom he did not know. His face was covered with
bluvd; and rs Mr. SiIe was not on such terms OF in
terconrse make it necessary TO express any sym
pathy. not having spoken TO MIR. Sumner for two
years. he turned aside and went out 6y another door
lie hat not the slightest idea before the occurrence
took place that Mr. Brooks or any body else had any
intention of attacking Mr.. Sumner, and was entire.
y free from any participation or counsel III the ma'
ter.
Mr.. Douglas corroboraed the statement Of Mr.
Sdell. When he heard that Mr. Sumner had been
attacked hIs first idea To come i'll aud endeayor
To restore quiet; hut upon rejecting that his motives
in interfering might be mlsconsrueI. he did not eiI'
ter the Senate chamber until the atlray was over
The crowd around MIR. Sumner was then 40 large that
tor some time he could not see him. lie SAW MeSsrs.
Toombs, Pearce Crittcnden aud Evans all seated III
or near their usual seats; but he was not near MIR.
Brooks, stated in the report. This was total
misrepresentation on Mr.. Summers part. Mr.. Doug
las added that he had knowledge or suspicion thar
any assault WAS contemplated Or would oe ulaue,
either here or elsewhere.
He did not approach Mr.. Brooks or speak to him.
and was not within fifty feet OF the Senator from
Georgia. How such an idea could have got into Mr
Sumuers head il impossible tor hun 10 conceive
The published statement might carry the impression
over the country that he aiding and aSetlng the
assault, and was, i'll fact, participant in IL but that
entirely erroneous idea, AS he did NOT even
know that Mr. Sumner was in the Capitol at the time
the assault was committed
Mr.. Toombs remarked that he was in his seat at
The time, aud how Mr.. Sumner could have supposed
that he SAW him near MIR. Brooks, he could not tell
Ii might be thar in the confusion Mr. Summer mi'tOoH
Gov. German for hln. In expressing his oplnOns
about the affair at the time, gentlemen con
delnned it, but he told Mr.. Brooks that he approved
Of it.
Mr.. Butler had Just arrived in the city, and said
that he should have assumed all the responsibility
which had been taken by his gallant relative. he
denied in the most emphatic manner the statement Of
Mr. Sumner, that what he had said in his speech was
strictly in response to what alr Butler had SAID on
former orcAsiuns. he understood that III. Slate oi
Massachusetts had passed resolutions III reference to
to the affray and when those resolutions should h-
presented the Senate, he would speak on the subject
as it deserved-no single one Uf the remarks which
had been quoted III application 10 him. was RESPONSE
to anything he had said upon the Kansas Question:
His friends in South Carolna and some OF his friends
here thought that he had been remarkably moderate
in the character of his remarks. He had scrupuous
" avoided saying anything 10 violate the courtesies
of the Senatorial debares, aud spoke neither u the
Senator from Massachusetts, TO hlu or about him.
Mr. Wade said that it wes impossible for him to
sit still and hear such principles avUwd as had been
on this occasion. As the facts in reference TO thr
assault he knew nothing about them and had nothing
TO say on that point He was here in pretty lean mi
nory not more than one-fifth OF the Senate enter
tanning opinions similar to his; but when he heard II
stated upon this iODr that an assassnlke, cowarny
attack had been made upon a man unarnrd ana nav
ing no power defend himseif, and that ne hao oeen
stricken down and almost murdered, ana tneG near
Senator avUw that he approved Such co"uuc'' II
became matter OF some interest and SONS impor-
tance IN ali The n.mbers uf the body, and the MINOR
ity ESPECIALLY. brave man cou'd NOT dei-no nun
self against such attacks az thls' aho he miSh' oe
oyerpowered by numbers but overpowereo or mol,
live die, lsaid he,l VIII v,nu,ca;e AT @ tne rgn,s o.
Inno m I live Ii the principle avowed here is ~
prevail, let US come armed tor The combat. Al
,houyh YOU are four to one, am here To meet you!
Oh IL
tbe RIGHTS of debate upon this floor Ii these prnc
pes are to be approved by the majority, and become
part and parcel Of tho law of Congress, let II be
underatood
Mr.. Wilson thought the explanation of the Senator
from Louisiana was not Inconsistent with anything
stated by h is colleague. He had no idea that Mr..
Sumner intended to place Mr.. Slidell in false posi-
ton. The Senator from Ilinoi, also made his expla
nation. and see nothing in that inconsistent with
the statement Of Mr.. Sumner. He was struck down
upon this floor by brutal, murderous and cowardly
assault.
Mr. Butler, lin his seat. You are liar.
Mr.. Stuart called the Senator to order. He also
urged that there no question before the Senate
and il was evident that the debate was becoming a..
rimonOus, and he hoped it might be postponed ulli'
ness. " u -.
Mr. Butler apologzed for word which ieii fron'
him in moment OF excitement 10
Mr. Wilson proceeded TO say thai bis cohea4ue no.
stated the facts TO tue Dest %. ni'
was NOT 10 be expected that after such severe oo%s
which had rendered him unconscious, Re o Goa'a Is
perfectly accurate in every Minute =,
snvhotv' Wien he should have recovered and be
sbs :" take his place in the Senate, he would be res-
d. 70 rn.et the Senator from Sorth CGrol'ns or any
other senator in debate upon these mst.er' and any
n,nnt,on of superiority by the SENATOR from Snnth
s,j;p. over HIM ar any other Senator representing
bis views, might pass for what it Was worth.
Mr.. Butler said that in discussing the resolutions Of
the Massachusetts, Legislature, if be ransgressed the
bounds Of proPrlety IT Toad oe oseause ne waa pro,