Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-06-04

The Assault upOn MY. S0nneH-Niola
1 tlon ef the Censsitutisn.
The following account of the rafRanly ana
murdercus attack upon M. Sumner, while II tn
discharge Of his duty as Senator, in his seat il
the Chamber, is from the Herald's correspon
dent, and is Is likely to be impartial, or at am
rate as favorable to the assailant as facts vii
warrant
| Mr.. Brooks waited st the Porter's Lodge a
bout an hour yesterday, and as long this morn
ing, hoping to meet Mr.. Sumner, with view te
attack him. Falling in this, he entered the Sen
| ate chamber to-day, Just as that body adjourned
and seeing several ladies present, seated himself
on the opposite side to Mr.. Sumner. Soon all
disappeared but one He then requested a
| friend to get her out, when he Immediately ap-
preached Mr.. Sumner, and said in q quiz tone
of voice:
ssMr. Summer, have read your speech with
great care, and with as much impartiality as
| am capable Of, and feel it my duty to say 20
you that you have published libel on my State,
| and uttered SANDER upon relative, who is
aged ard absent, and lam come to punish you. !"
At the concluding words Mr. Sumner attemp,
ted to spring to his feet, showing fight, but
whilst in the act was struck by Brooks back
handed blow across the head with guttn per-
cha cane near an inch thick, but hollow. and he
continued striking him right and left until the
strick was broken into fragment, and Mr.. Sum-
ner was PROSTATE and bleeding on the floor. No
one took hold of Col B. during the time, so
quick was the operation; but Immediately after
terwards Mr. Crittenden caught him around the
body and arms.
Mr.. Keitt, Of S. c., did not interfere, only TO
keep persons off
Senator Toombs said it was the proper place to
have chastised Nr. Sumner.
When the attack was made there were Is or
90 persons present. including Messrs. Crittenden,
Foster, Toombs, Fitzpatrick, Murray, Morgan,
and other members of Congress, together with
Governor German, and several officers OF the
Senate, and some strangers.
The greatest excitement prevailed Mr.. Sum-
ner sank perfectly unconscious to the foor,
where he lay, bloody and dreadfully bruised, till
raised by his friends. Mr. Sumrer's physicians
saw his wounds are the most severe flesh wounds
that they ever saw on a mans head, and deny
his friends admission to him.
Now the question is not what amount of PROV
ocation was given by Mr.. Sumner, if any, or what
degree of brutality was used by his assailants-
1t is simply, in the language of the N. Y. Evening
Post: Has the freedom of speech in the United
States Senate been put in peril? Has Senator
been questioned by person not member OF that
body and put in bodily peril for words uttered
in debate? If he has, then the constitution has
been violated; the law of Congress, the ler par
liamentaire, which Blackstone calls "the most
essential part of the common law" as it directs,
guides, and ought-to protect ''the very forma'
ton of all laws" has been violated, the dignity
and supremacy of a coordinate branch OF the
government has been invaded; wrong has
been per etrated which, if not properly pun
ished, exposes every department OF the gov
ernment to the intimidating influence of bru-
tality and violence, and must soon compel
even the President himself to surround his per-
son and fortify his residence with a military
guard.
There never was a time when England was
barbarous enough to excuse any violence to a
member of her Parliament, or to permit the
author of such an offence to 60 unpunished.-
The right to ''freedom of speech" is coeval
with the existence of Parliaments and legisla-
tive assemblies; and is protected against every
encroachment whether under color of laws, or
by open and ruffan violence. In England, it
is protected by statute, as one OF the liberties
of the people; and with us, the constitution OF
the United States declares that senators and
representatives, "for any speech in debate in
either house, shall not be questioned in any
other place."