New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-24

the Free Sses stand by hm eor viii they desert hini
ke towards and an thst a poythern man. who Il
above fear in the discharge of his duty, deserves 70 be
beaten Ike hound 1t = idle 70 wait iW wnat the
S.ps,e may do-the Senate will do nothng-t never
DOES anything such occasions the people must take
tie matter INTO tker Own hands.
F,on The Con--e-a! Asrertser ef ye'ir-Sdy
Yesterday. while the Hon. Charles Sumner, United
States Senator from Massachusetts, writing 81 bis
desk IN the Senate Chamber after the adjournment Of
the Senate be was violently assaulted by Messrs
Preston :. Brooks snd Lawrence NJ keitt members of
the House Of Representatives from South Carolina
According to the teegraphic reports Mr. p ). Brooks
having armed hnse with q heavy gutta percns cane
approached Mr Sumner. and abruptly saying that his
steech was libel on South Carolina, and on relative
OF bis Senator Batter Of that State struck him violent
" on the head with his cane. Embarrassed by his po-
stiop and the sudcepness OF the brutal aSssu, Mr.
Sumner had no means OF defense and his assaian re-
peanc the blows the Senator from Massachusetts, fell
upon the floor almost insensbe. The accounts repre-
sent that Mr.. BoOkswho, If these accounts are true,
must be the pink of cowardice and bruaty-persisted
in striking Mr. Sumner with his heavy cane after be
was prosrate and insensbe; and that Mr. heitt, NJ
companion for such man, stood by al 70 secure Mr.
Brooks nom Interference in his dsgsceui and unman-
ly proceeding. .,-
wounded and his injuries such that though no
fatal termination is anticipated, his physican has or
dered his confinement 10 bed, and prohibited him
from seeing his friends for the present IL Is SAID that
sever. senators and other gentlemen were in the
Senate Chamber, but were tardy with Their inter'e-
ence. Probably they were taken by SURPRISE ior u
not credible that there could be two other men oeSe
the South Csrolins Members OF Congress who would
be- narties to- or conniye at such base and cowsrdy
proceeding Mr. Murray and Mr.. Morgan, OF the
New-York delegation, were the inst 10 come 10 MI:
Summers Assistance from an ante'rOon tne ioruel Vi
whom seized and held Mr.. Brooks, ana the auet
ra.,d Mr. Sumner from the floor and removed him
into the Vice Presidents room. The telegraph adds
that on the complaint of Mr. William l. Leader, BROOKS
was held to bail by Justice HOlGngshead in the sum
of $500, 10 appear before him for examination this
afternoon.
A cot,mporary heads an editorial tupon this speci-
men of COW ardice brutality and attempted tyranny
and despotisn, with the pertinent question, "nat
ne1ti What, indeed Matters have come to pretty
pass on the foor of CongreSs-the Parliament OF the
nited Sates-a Senator cannot free utter his senti-
menta we care not how extreme they may be- without
immine Mt danger to himself personally nom such rui-
6enly assaults This is the most direct blow to tree
dom of speech yet made in this country II Is utterly
without excuse or justification. Ii while Mr. sumner
was speaking, and supposing him TO have oeea guiy
of unproycked personalities, some senator, snaImg
under his inyectives had in a moment OF excitement
nersonallv assaulted him. the act might have had some
shadow Of excuse or pslation. But here " was otn
erwse. Mr. Brooks was not present when the speech
WAS delivered was he member OF that orsnch OF
the National Legislature to which the speech was at
dressed Whatever excitement was occasioned by its
oval delivery had subsided. In truth there was no
proyocation whatever for Mr.. Brooks outrage upon
the Senator and the only Interpretation that can oe
mt upon II is that Messrs. Brooks and keit had de-
iberaely adopted the monstrous creed that any man
who dared To utter sentiments ". lch they deemed
wrong or unjust should be brutay assalled IN order 70
deter Others from like freedom of thought ana sPeesn:
Ifths il to be tolerated, We may wei ask, nat
mkt -
We ace the word chvalry used in connection with
this disgraceiul affair But if there be the tantest
shadow of shade of chyalry IN the business we are
AT oss TO discover il, and must have altogether mis-
-. lAnh haXa a vi
tsched 70 il the idea of valor, herolsm, galantry
Which of these did Mr. Brooks display Is there any
thing chivarous in two men attacking one In two
men armed with canes, attacking one totany unHmeo !
In two men armed with and free to choose their
own attitude and position, and having their limbs at
perfect liberty, attacking one man unarmed, in sit
ting posture and his limbs under the constant of I'm
in movable piece of furniture In two men, with these
adv antsges deliberately choosing their opportunity
lurking in wait for their victim, and spnnging upor
him Unexpectedly, when Il was physical mpoSslbll
" for him either TO avoid return the blow To fal
upon and cruelty maltreat man, not only without Civ
ing him chance to defend himself but after you have
satired yourselves that he il porvely you
| this chralryi We beg to call 1t by another name.
II is cowardce and than cowardce; for par
takes of the reacherous and endsh malice of the as
ssssin That il the plain truth of the matter Messrs.
Brooks and keitt and you may make the worst OF IT,
Such conduct merits the Oathng and scOrn OF every
honorable LIBERAL chivarous citizen and It has ours.
Now the question is will the National Legislature
ase prompt means ~ nd Itself OF such cO~ardy ouy-
i'm and ruffiansml of men who not only disgrace any
State or any individual of whom they arroganty con-
titute themselves the champions but would fan crush
free sentme nj and free speech by brutal violence, and
are at heart the yerieet despOts and tyrants NOT
very long ago, member of Congress assaued news
nan.r editor because he had said something which the
m,mher had decided ought not 10 have been said.
But the House of Representatives was silent. sun
more recently member Of Congress SLOT anu killed. al
broad noon -dsy, IN public breakfast ROOM so uh.
armed waiter at the breakfast table and the ouse Oh
la.ffn
tske coeLizance Of the brutality, and summary to
dismiss the pepetrator OF il from ASSOCIATION with them
And hat is the result Even a respectable MEN,
Der o the higher branch Of the National Legislature,
who happens 10 have said something dstasteful 10
member Of the lower branch ia not safe from personal
violence in his seat IN the Senate ChamDer' beht
upon carving still further the rutanlsm that IN other
members The House has refused 10 rebuke, these men
skuk into the tnse Chamber, crouch IN seat near
the gentleman whose frank speaking oi his sentiments
has rpleased them, and at the moment he u az un-
sur picOus and al unprepsred rush upon nun ana Win
a heavy cane beat him TO unconscousnese, virtually
.ayirg 10 the world that at the Capitol on the hoor OF
Congress even free speech Il not permitted, and our
boa.ted liberty If q sham. The people wat TO know
whether even AZ this point the House OF Representa-
tiyes vii sseert Its dignity
From Th. National Ia<g.9enee.
PAISFCL OccURRESCE.-It II our unpleasant duty
10 rotice an occurrence Of q very painful character
which took place Yesterday in the CAPITOL being, We
are sorry 10 say personal conflict bet Teen two Men,
bers of Congress. growing out Of what was regarded
a. a personal proyocation. In noticing this painful
occurrence We have confined ourselves 20 the b7efes
account Of IT, leaving 10 the disclosures whcn VII no
douht he elected TO-DAY a correct statement Of x.
Iron. The Jhor, (EIecutve oTgsnJ
....O... .0..-.O... o.. ~. ..V----
y,,. Ta< Bo,toa Pot tDem.l
Irrits.ed bv NJ Summers attack on his absent un-
Gle Serstor Butler of South Carolina, young Mr..
Brooks according TO the telegraph went into the Ssn
ate chamber ard assaulted the orator in his 7eat Ihe
act wss III advised and unfortunate, az Il VII please
nobody 20 much as the Black Republicans
From The ProttS,ae, tR. Il JogyaqL
Our telegrsphic dispatches give an sccoun; oi
NV ou.reye which Indicates one step more n the