Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-06-16
THE BARBARISM OF SLAVERY.
Another Illustration.

The city of Washington was thrown into a
state of intense excitement on Saturday. by a
cowardly outrage perpetrated the night previ-
Gus on Hon Charles Sumner with supposed
al asS III 'hiis pprTafte iSd jh ;S 81 Y
street, (back of Wizards by man, claiming
to be one of four from Virginia He asked i'm
pertinent questions about his late speech. Mr..
Sumner replied that it was no place for such a
conversation and ordered him out He refused
to go, but after several orders went, saving he
should report to his friends that he had been
ordered out, but that, by God, he would not 60.
He threatened Mr. Sumner in the most violent
and bloody terms. After that three others
came, but were refused admittance and as Mr..
Burngame and Mr.. Summers secretary had bv
this time been called in, they left threatening
violence. -Four such calls were made during
the night, and another Saturday morning, but
Mr.. Sumner being still attended no violence
was done. There is no doubt that it was the
intention of the assailants to assassinate him
upon the spot if he could have been found
alone.
The friends of Mr.. Sumner remlined with
him through the night, and Messrs Wilson and
Burlngame accompanied MIN to the senate the
next day.
The intelligence of the outrage coming to the
ears of Mayor Berrett, that gentleman called
upon Mr.. Sumner at the Senate Chamber on
Saturday forenoon, and asked statement of
what had occurred. Mr. Sumner gave de-
tailed account, when the Mayor expressed re-
greet that he had not been sought for immedi-
ately, that he might have arrested the offenders
and protected Mr.. Summers house. lie invited
Mr.. Sumner tie give an affidavit of the facts, or
lodge complaint, which Mr.. Sumner declined
doing, saying that neither he nor his friends
had any inducement from the past to make any
appeal to Washington magistrates.
Mayor Berrett replied that during the term
of his mayoralty there had been no ground of
complaint and that he would not hold his of
flee one minute if he could not preserve the
peace and protect every person in his rights
He left Mr. Sumner avowing determination
to sift the matter to the bottom. Policemen
were placed near Mr.. Summers honse, and
others dispatched to arrest Captain Henry, the
party charged.
Shortly after Mr. Summers return at eight
O'Clock, the Mayor came again and announced
the finding of Captain Henry, who is an exam
liner in the Patent Office. Henry had given
himself up on seeing the notice in an evening
paper The Mayor asked Mr. Sumner if he
wished Henry put under bonds, or would be
content with an apology. Mr. Sumner answered
that he made no complaint and preferred leav-
ing the matter with the Mayor to do what the
peace and character of Washington required.
Personally, he regarded an apology as bond.
The Mayor soon returned, accompanied by
Henry, and found Summers room filed with
friends Henry said he came to apologize for
his conduct on Friday evening; that he had
been dining with friends and discussing his re-
cent speech, that he was intoxicated at the time
and was not sensible of having used the Ian
guage charged. Mr. Sumner accepted his apol-
ogy.
The friends of Mr. Sumner were greatly in
censed, and as the facts became known in the
city the public excitement was intense. Most
of the Massachusetts delegation and many 9TH
ers visited him at his lodgings at once in the
morning, offering their services, and Messrs
Wilson and Burlingame escorted him to the
Senate. There have not been any apprehen-
sions of an assault by Congressman, but by pri-
waite individuals acting as their tools The Re-
publicans declare, however, that any attempt to
harm him shall be met with serious and deadly
work, and are determined that he shall not be
taken unawares or alone again.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York Times writes
81 do not hear of any purpose to remove
Capt. Henry from his position as Examiner of
Patents, in consequence of his gross insult TO
Senator Sumner. 1t seems scarcely possible
that such an affair can be suffered to pass with
out notice. His apology to Mr. Sumner is all
that could be asked on personal grounds; but
it is not creditable for the General Government
to continue in office person capable of such
misconduct"