Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-10-27
Mr.. Dewitt and the sumner A.sauIr.
The Representative from the Ninth District
EIecateth his Cane


Orr narrative of the conduct of Hon. AL
exander Dewitt, in relation to the assault
upon Mr.. Sumner, was correct and complete,
SO far as related to his votes upon the resolu-
tons to censure the accomplices of the chief
assassin but we omitted to mention an incl
dent which occurred during the speech of
Brooks, which exhibits Mr.. Dewitt in no very
favorable light. Before we proceed to speak
of that, however, we shall notice feeble at
tempt, in the Transcript of Friday, to throw
discredit upon our article.
The article in the Transcript is headed,
"Fslse and Puerile "a title which would
pretty accurately describe nearly all the con-
tents of that paper. We give the principal
portion Of this article -
"The Spy, the organ of the grab party has
four columns of the viest abuse of our honor
ed representative, Col. Dewitt 1t has a
long and labored attempt to prove that Col.
Dewitt was untrue to his constituents in vot-
ing not to expel, or censure, Edmundson, and
not to expel Keitt, for their participation in
the Sumner outrage. The whole article in
the Spy is tissue Of gross Misrepresentation.
The Spy could not afford to tell its readers
that Col. Dewitt voted loith majority of the
Republicans and Americans from the free
States.
The Spy could not afford to let its readers
know, that the very committee which first re-
ported for Edmundson's expulsion, when the
report had been submitted and Edmundson
had given an explanation, amended their re-
port exculpating him, and that the votes of
Col. Dewitt aud the other Republican mem
oers, OF which the Spy complains, were based
upon the report OF the committee. The Spy,
In fact, cannot afford to tell any truth about
anything, and the people understand it very
well, The attempt to make anybody believe
that Alex. Dewitt was ever false or hesitating
In his devotion 10 freedom, is the silliest thing
that the Spy ever did,
The :" four columns of the yilest abuse .
consisted of an article less than three columns
IN length, about one half of which consisted
of extracts from official documents Of Con-
gress, and only about one half column of
which had any reference whatever to Mr..
DEWITT. 50 much for the accuracy of the
Traaseript-but accuracy is small matter
with that paper. Truth is to it a great deal
stranger than fiction. Our article consisted of
q detail Of the part taken by Mr.. Edmundson
Of Virginia, in the assault upon Mr.. Sumner
-of brief record of the fact that Mr. Dewitt
voted NAY upon the resolution to oensure
him, and of some very brief comments. We
showed by Edmundson's own statement, be-
fore the committee, under oath, aud before
the House in his speech. these facts, which
neither Col. Dewitt nor his defender will at
tempt to controvert viz -
I" That he, [Edmundson. hoard OF Brooks
deteFminaton to have revenge upon Mr..
Sumner, before the speech of the latter was
hnished that he sccosted Brooks twice and
obtained Information of the intended ASSAULT
mat he femainod by him on both occasions,
and conversed with him in relation 10 the
method Of making the assault; that he recon-
menaed Brooks not to make the attack on
Mr' sumner, when the latter should be on
ms guard, but 70 reserve limeef for a saier
occasion that he saw Brooks waiting n Inc
Senate Tor the adjourn nent Of that body and
pleasantly asked him f" il he was senator -
that he had further consultation vim ~.
friend, and recommended him moi N sond a.
Mr.. sumner TO come TO the door, fthe course