The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-05-27
Assault on Senator Sumner.

WASHINGTON, May %.
Immediately after the adjournment of Con-
gress to-day, while Mr.. Sumner was still in
the Senate Chamber, Mr.. Brooks, of South
Carolina, entered and approached Mr.. Sum-
ner, accusing him of libelling South Carolina,
and his grey headed relative, Mr.. Butler. He
then struck MFR. Sumner with his cane, and
Mr.. Sumner fell. Mr. Brooks then continued
to repeat his blows until Mr.. Sumner was de-
prived of the power of speech. Mr.. Sumner
was taken up and carried to his room. 1t has
not been ascertained whether his injuries are
serious or not. When the attack was made,
Mr.. Sumner called for help, but no one inter-
fered until Mr.. Brooks closed the assault.
Some eye witnesses say that Mr.. Brooks
struck Mr.. Sumner as many as fifty times
over the head. Mr.. Sumner was sitting in
his arm chair when the assault was made, and
had no opportunity to defend himself The opin-
ions on the subject are contradictory, many
applaud the act, while others denounce it as a
cowardly attempt to beat down freedom OF
speech. 1t will undoubtedly cause a great
debate in the Senate to- morrow. Mr.. Brooks
was arrested.
The complaint against Mr. Brooks was
made on oath of VIM. Y. Leader, who appear
ed before Justice Hollingshead. Mr.. Brooks
was held to bail in $500 for his appearance
tomorrow afternoon. Mr.. Sumner has two
severe but not dangerous wounds on his head.
Mr.. Brooks cane was shattered in many
pieces. -f
WASHINGTON, May %.
When the attack was made upon Mr. Sum-
ner there were probably from Is to 20 persons
present, including Crttenden, Foster, Toombs,
Fitzpatrick, Murray, Morgan and other mem
bers of Congress, Gov. German and several of
fcers Of the Senate and strangers.
The attack was SO sudden and unexpected
that Mr. Sumner had no opportunity to place
himself in defensive attitude. The first blow
stunned him, and the stick which was gutta-
percha was broken into many pieces by the
time the assault terminated.
Messrs. Crittenden, Toombs, Murray and
others interfered as soon as they could and
probably prevented further injury.
Great excitement was caused by the occur
rance. rs
Mr.. Sumner sank to the floor where he lay
till he was raised by his friends.
Mr.. Summers wounds bled profusely. His
physicians say they are the most serious flesh
wounds they ever saw on mans head and
deny his friends admission to him.
| The assailant Preston S. Brooks is a repre-
sentative in the House, from the fourth Con-
gressional district of South Carolina.
-~ i WASHINGTON, May 90.
The invention before magistrate relative
to Mr. Brooks assault on Mr.. Sumner will
have sufficiently recovered to be present.
| The proceeding in the Senate on this subject
were BRIEF dignife1, and calm.
In the House the galleries were densley
crowded. An impression is prevailing that
many members were prepared for any emer.
gency, and that serious consequences might
accordingly result. There was only limited
debate on the question of privilege. None in
volving the general merits of the case, mol
was there any exhibition of angry feeling
The minority, however, complained that they
had no opportunity for discussion.
BosToN, May %.
In the House of Representatives, this morn.
ing, Mr.. Temple American )otfered resolution
that a Joint special committee be appointed tx
consider what action should be taken in refer
ence to the assault upon Senator Summer.
was unanimously adopted and the COMMITTEES
appointed on the part of the House, and tn,
resolution was sent to the Senate for concur
renee A public meeting of the citizens ha
been called for this evening to consider tn
matter.
New HAVEN, May %.
No choice has yet been had for u S. Sena
tor. In the last ballot Toucey had 1O1, Dix
on 90, and scattering 27
NEW ORLEANS MAY %.
Coffee sales of the woek 1880 bags; the stock on han
is Ga, 900 bags; prime lO4c Flour sitter but not quo
ably higher; sales at Sc l2Ac. Mess Pork frm with
large business doing at s16 75c9Sl7. Lard in fierce
1oc.