Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-05-31
cowardly Assault, on Senator sumuer.

WASHINGTON, Friday, May {

WASHINGTON, Friday, May 90.
Immediately after the adjournment of Con-
gress. to-day, PREsToS S. BRooKs, of South
Carolina, member Of The Lower House, ca
tered the Senate Chamber, and approaching the
seat Of Mr.. SUMNER, struck him a powerful
blow with cane, at the same time accusing him
of libeling South Carolina and his gray-headed
relative, Senator BurLER. Mr., SUMNER fell
from the effects of the blow, and DRooKs con-
tinued beating him. Mr. SUMNER soon recoy-
cred sufficiently to call for help, but no one in
terposed, and BRooKs repeated the blows until
Mr. SUMNER was deprived ofihe power ofspeech.
.Some cye-witnesses state that BRooKs struck
him as many as fifteen or twenty times. Mr..
SUMNER was sitting in an armchair when the
assault was made, and had no opportunity TO de-
iend himself. Afler his assailant dessied, he
was carried 10 his room, but the extent of his
injuries is not yet asceriained.
Various opinions on the subject are expfess-
ed, many applauding and some denouncing the
assault as cowardly attempt to beat down free
dom Of speech.
Mr.. BRooKs has been complained Of by Mr..
WM. Y. LEADER, on whose oath Justice HoL-
LrSosHEAD required BRooKs 10 give bail in the
sum Of $500, as security for his appearance to-
morrow afternoon.
Mr. SUMNER has SEVERAL severe but not dam
gerous wounds on his head. The cane used
by BRooKs was shattered 10 pieces BY the blows.
When the attack was made there were, prob
ably. fifteen or twenty persons present, including
Messrs. CRirTENDEs, Foster, TooMBs, Firz-
rArRicK, MoRoAS, and other members Of Con-
gress, together with Governor GoRMAs, sever
al officers Of the Senate and some sirangers.-
The attack was SO sudden and so unexpected
that Mt SUMNER had no opportunity whatever
to place himself in a defensive attitude. The
first blow given him by Mr.. BRooKs stunned
him, and the thick gulta-percha stick which
was used by Mr. BRooKs, was broken into many
pieces by the time the assault terminated
Messrs. CRiTTsspES, TooMBs. MvRRAY, and
others, interfered as soon as they could, and
probably prevented further damage. The great
est excitement prevailed Mr.. SuMSER sank
perfectly unconscious TO the floor, where he lay
bloody and dreadfully bruised, ill raised by his
friepds. Mr.. SUNSETS physicians say his
wounds are the most severe flesh ones that they
ever saw on mans head, and deny bis friends
admission 10 him.
Correspondence Of the New York Evening Post.
Brooks struck him with heavy cane, upon
which Sumner spfang from his seat to defend
himself, with such violence that the heavy desk
before him was wrenched from the floor, 10
which il was screwed. He was, however, SO
much staggered as to be rendered powerless, and
the blows were repeated till he was senseless.
Tie two cuts upon his head are each about two
inches in length, and are very deep. DR. Boyle
who was present, has sowed up and dressed the
worpds, and i, is hoped they will moi prove
dangerous.
There were at least dozen persons standing
near at the time ofihe assault, which was so un-
expected that, as they say, iney did not 'hink
Of interfering. Close by stood, as am inform
ed, the Senate's sergani-at-arms, large, strong
man, and yet he did nothing. Mr.. Critienden
came forward from another part Of the hall, and
denounced the attack, 10 the perpetrator, with
the manly indignation Characteristic Of the chiv-
alrous veteran Of Kentucky, as "shameless
transaction" But the reply was, am told,
"You'd better moi interfere, we will lick one
at time" Keitt stood BY with cane, ready
to save Brooks from injury many persons hav-
ing tho impression that he was armed, though
no FIRE arms were displayed, either BY him OF
Brooks.
II is believed that Simmer would have cer-
iainly been killed but for the interference Of
Messrs Murrsy and Morgan representatives from
New York. The former seized Brooks around
the waist while he was striking Sumner, and,
with Morgan's help, pulled him away. Mr.
Summers legs, at the time when he was attack