Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-06-04
Eesault unon Nr Simmer.


The Hon. Charles Sumner one Of the SEN
ators from Massachusetts, was recently as
saulted and beaten very severely in the Sen
ate at Washington 10y the Hon. Preston S.
Brooks member Of the House from South
Carolina.
Mr.. Sumner has been conspicuous as one
of the leading agitators of the abofitionists
in the Senate, and in a speech delivered by
him short time since took occasion to at
tack in his absence Judge Butler one of the
Senators from South Carolina, and also to
denounee that state upon the slavery question.
Upon the perasal of his speech, Mr.. Brooks
entered the Senate chamber after its adjourn
ment, and approached Mr.. Sumner who was
seated at his desk writing. He then charged
him with having libelled South Carolina, and
his grey headed relative Mr. Butler, and in
formed him that he had come to punish him.
Suiting the action to the word, be struck him
over the head frequently with gutta-percha
cane which was finally broken into several
pieces Mr.. Sumner fell to the floor insensi-
bic, when he was rescued by his friends, and
taken to his lodgings. His wounds about the
head are said to be very severe flesh wounds,
and he is as yet unable to be out.
The affair caused great excitement among
those who happened to be present at the time
and subsequently, committees were appointed
both in the Senate and the House to investi-
gate the whole matter Mr.. Brooks has also
been held to bail in the sum of $1,000 to an
swer &C., at the next court in the District of
Columbia.
The Senate committee have already made
report IN the case, and have arrived at the
conclusion that they cannot arrest a member
of the House of Representatives for breach
of its privileges, nor can it try and punish
him, that authority devolving upon the House
of which he is a member. They therefore
resolved to-make complaint to the House of
the assault committed, and to also transmit to
it the testimony taken. This is in strict ac-
cordance with Parliamentary law The re-
port was adopted with but one dissenting
voice, and it now remains for the House to
act. 1t is generally supposed that Mr.. Brooks
VIII pe eAptlleu, DuU II SO, ne Will De sustain
ed at home as we observe that numerous meet
ings have already been held in the South ap-
plauding him for his conduct. On the other
hand much excitement has arisen in Massa-
chusetts, and an opportunity been afforded
the aboltionists to call meetings to denounce
Brooks and promote agitation upon the sla-
very question.
We are not the advocates of club law, nor
do we desire to see the freedom of speech
abridged in the least, much less to Justify the
course pursued by Mr. Brooks 1t is only to
be regarded as the natural result of the vio-
lent language employed by the fanatics and
ogitdtors who for years have been endeavor-
ing to create sectional difficulties, and array
one portion of the Union against another =
The denunciation of individuals, and of states
SO freely practiced by the Black Republicans,
and their uneeasing efforts to divide the Union
by the creation of a geographical party, can
not but result in creating feeling of i'll blood
and bringing about state of things against
which We were admonished by the warning
voice of WASHINGTON