Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-06-05
Infamnns Outrage,

Infamous Outrage,
Community has been taken by surprise at
reading the details Of gross attack made BY
Brooks, Of South Carolina, member of the
lower house, upon the Hon. Charles Sumner,
Senator from Massachusetts, on the 22d of May,
whilst sitting in The Senate Chamber alone, and
not expecting cOwardly assault behind his
back. The outrage is more apparent when it
is remembered that Sumner is physically weak
and makes no pretensiOn TO bully, but is a
peac, man in principle and practice.
Brooks had taken exceptions to portion oil
Mr.. Summers speech which he had delivered in
the Senate few days before on the Kansas
quest on, in which he (Sumner) spoke of South
Carolina and Mr.. Butler, Senator thereirom,
at that time at home on visit, and he had a.
waited at the Porter's Lodge at two different
times to attack Mr. Sumner, but had failed
On the 22d he entered the Senate Chamber
Just as that body adjourned, and seeing sever
al ladies' present, seated himself on the oppo,
site side to Mr.. Sumner. Soon all disappeared
but one. He then requested a friend TO gel
her out; when he Immediately approached Mr.
Sumner, and said;-
"Mr. Sumner, Ihsve read your speech will
much care, and with as much impartiality as
am capable Of and feel it my duty to say t(
yOu that you have published libel on my
State, and uttered a slander upon relative
who is aged and absent and am come to pun
ish YOU"
lie then struck Mr.. Sumner with his cane
and MIR. Sumner fell. Mr.. Brooks then con
tnued to repeat his blows until Mr.. Sumne
was deprived of the power of speech. Nj
Sumner was taken up and carried 10 his room
When the attack was made, Mr.. Sumner calle
or.help, but no one interfered until Mr.. Brook
f,losed the assault.
Some eye witnesses say that Mr.. Brook
struck Mr.. Sumner as many as fifty times owe
the head. Mr.. Sumner was sitting in his arr
chair when the assault was made, and had n
opportunity to defend himself
DR.. Bunting, of Montreal, states in the Joarn
al, that he was in the gallery of the Senat
Chamber, at the time of the assault upon MI
Sumner. He says he saw Brooks approac
Mr.. Sumner, but on his side, and addresse
some words to him in low tone, and at th
moment Mr.. Sumner raised his head, turnin
it one side to listen, he poured down upon hin
blow after blow with the greatest rapidity'-
Mr.. S. struggled several times to raise from b
seat, but was evidently so much hemmed I
as to be utterly incapable of rising until
had by great effort torn his desk from its ia
Jennings, and then he pitched forward inSenS
ble on the floor. While the assault was pr
crossing, Keitt stood with one hand fiourisl
ing large cane, and with he other holding
pistol behind him, partly under his coat b
which DR. Bunting saw quite distinctly, pr
iecting from between the flaps of his coat. d
B. saws he was from his position in the gale
above the actors in this scene, and enabled
!. see Brooks very clearly during the attack.
;, Douglass stood within FIVE feet OF Mr.. sumn
= with his hands in his pockets. DR.. B. assist
> 10 dress Mr.. Summers wounds.
!, We had heard of Border Ra6fans" in ii
sas and the frontiers beating men to jelly
!, attempting to vote, but it remained for Broo
:. of South Carolina, to outrval all demonst
tions of this kind. by attacking in the Sen
- Chamber Massachusetts, distinguished son,
.r beating him until insensible for having exc
y. sed the right Of speech. Surely the cause
ct, the South and her interests are in the W
NJ when her sons take up bludgeons and after
ad to stihe freedom of discussion and the rgh
a debate. But short time since Horace III
of ly was brutaIly attacked and beaten by
aH of these Southern Tom Hyers. Now Sem
m. struck down and another insult added to
ck- wrongs already heaped upon the North. "
red better things could be expected of the pre-
;,r administration. South Carolina is tit 5
ary to furnish the puglst to enter the Senate
-. arena. The lowest in the scale of educs
4 - and knowledge, as the last census develc
hat could it be otherwise than that it should
has the foremost among her sister states in :
olks force"
~ Complaint against Mr.. Brooks was
!. :. on oath of VIM. Y. Leader, who sppeaFe
,ivil. fore Justice Holihgshead Mr.. Brooks
ha, held to bail in $500 for his appearance 0
e. following day, What an enormous sum