Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-05-31
THE SUMNER OUTRAGE: EXPLANATION
OF SENATOR'S.
W WAsHiSGroN, May 81.

SESArE-Mr. Trumbull gave notice Of his
intention to introduce u bill to prevent civil
war IN Kansas.
The bill to provide FOR the general intro
duction OF a uniform national code Vi marine
signals passed.
Mr.. SiiGe!l called the attention Of TIE Sen
ate TO the telegraph despatch giving MIR.
Summers statement before the House Com
mittee, published this morning.
Mr. Slidell said that the statement de-
ciares that--"other persons there were
about me Offering me friendly assistance, but
l did not recognize any Of them. Others
there were at Il distance looking on and Of
lerng no assistance, Of whom / recognized
only Mr.. Douglas, of Illinois Mr.. room5s,
of Georgia. and thought also my assailant
standing between them. | was helped from
the iioor and conducted into the lobby Of the
Senate, where / Was placed upon Il sofa. OF
those who helped me here, have no recol-
lection. As / entered tie lobby, ! recog-
nized Mr.. slideli, Of Louisiana who re-
treated. bat recognized no one else, until
felt y friendly grasp ot the hand which
seemed 10 come from Mr.. Campbell. of
Ohio"
Mr.. Slidell eaid it seemed to lin proper to
explain his swn position relative TO this
matter as the published statement might
cause a false impression Gu the public mind.
When the Senate adjourned that day, lie en-
tered the aute-room, where be was engaged
in conversation with Messrs. Douglas, Fitz-
patrick and ). Clancy Jones, and while
there seated, was informed that Mr. Sumner
had been badly beaten by Mr.. Brooks. lie
came into the chamber, but there were so
many persons crowded around Mr.. Sumner
that he did not see him at all, and he soon
returned TO the ante-room, to finish hls con-
versaton. Having remained there for some
time, he was passing through the reception
room 10 go home, when he met Mr.. Sumner
III the door leaning on two persons whom he
dld not know. His face was covered with
blood, aud rs he, (Mr Si6elD was not on
such terms OF intercourse with him as 70
make 1t necessary to express any sympathy,
not having spoken TO Mr.. Sumner for two
years, he turned aside and went out by
| another door. He had not the slightest idea,
before the occurrence took place. that Mr..
Brooks, or anybody else, had any intention OF
attacking Mr.. sumner, and was entirely free
from any participation or counsel in the mat.
! ter.
Mr.. Douglas corroborated the statement OF
| Mr.. Sldell. When lie heard Mr.. Sumner had
been attacked, his first idea was 10 come in
and endcavor 20 restore quiet but upon re-
| fiecting that his motives in Interfering might
/ be misconslrued, he did not enter the Senate
Chamber until the allray was over. The crowd
around Mr.. Sumner was then SO large, that
for some time he could not see him. lie saw
Messrs. Toonlbs, Pearce, Criltenden and
Evans, all seated in or near their usual seats
but he was not near Mr.. Brooks, us stated in
The report This was total misapprehensiol
on Nh. Summers part.
MIR. Douglas added that he had no know
edge or suspicion that any assault was con
templated, or WOULD me made here or else
where. He did not approach Mr.. Brooks
nor speak TO him, and was not within fifty
feet Of the Senator from Georgia, (Mr
Toombs.) How snch an idea could have go
into Mr.. summers head, it was impossible io
him to conceive. The published statement
! might carry the imptsssaOu 70 shs oS1otr,