National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-25
REMINISCENCESo SUMNER

REMINISCEECES OF SUMNER.
AAwA1DINTkRESrxNG FACTS ABOUT
h1oOKS ATTACK.
HOW BROOKS WAS EsGED ON TO THE At
1Ack-'LEr'se GO TAKE 4 DRINK"-EEKL-
mo AFTER THE BRUTALITY = TEE
SRooKs-BURLINGAMED DIFFICULTY.
Washington Correspondence Ch,caxo Tribune.1
wAsHINerea, March u ls1s.
Charles Summers death Feuvokes loag
srsin Of Involuntary "reminiscences. He was one
ofthe last of o stalwart line Of agKressors upon
elavery-nen not able to b nice, and ever
Eough-handed, as II they meant business. He
rsceivcd the first blow ever planted BY KID
gaoved Carolina upon Massachusetts, the physi-
cal sequel Of Haynes attack on Webster, and
che blow was to his fame IKE the stroke Of the
kings wand bestowins knigAthood on the 70
cipient.
Mr.. Summers Senatorial career was for some
time disappointing to the Radical abolitionists
OF New England and the West, many of whom
were advocates of
ROUGH PROCEEDINGS
and rough words with the fire-eaters. sena-
Tor wade was the fayorite Of this class, because
ne was known to be combative, high -tempered,
heavy hitter, and clean shot. Sumner had
spoken with boldness such as to warrant the be-
def that he would utter positive challenges
sgsins the slave-power. When Douglas intro
-duced his Kansas-Nebrssks bin, that long -ex-,
pected effort of New England's favorite was
made, and many persons hold that he never ex-
-celled it.
1t was . long speech, and was heard by ma
3ority Of the people in the galleries, and Sena-
tors on the floor, with . sense of admiration and
Outrage, because, at that day, all orthodox In
huences and general counsels were for compro-
mise and good will. An eye-witncss tells me
that not one Of Summers Northern colleagues
had the spirit to say word; but Badger, of
North Carosina-a Wing, Of an impulsive and
kindly heart, who was renowned for his physi-
cal agility, and, when past middle life, could
turn handsprings, like . shoe-black, up and
down the pavement-rushed up to Summer and
gave him his hand warmly, saying:
"Sumner, by George, you have made the
S~os sAfA "Osot ctNCSn CfCl m8uc III Tue Scu-
ate."
Mr.. Seward, who had no great courage, and
would let Douglas perform with his fist while
speaking close up to his face, rather hung his
head. Even Chase, who had more intimacy
with Sumner than any other Senator, made
no demonstration of satisfaction. The rougher
young fre-eaters debated together; but some
of the old Wing Senators were troubled, and
were heard to make the remark TO Northern
men: "God knows we don't want to fight you!
Can nothing be don. by which you will let us
alone!''
At that time
PRESTON s. BROOKS
was one Of the finest specimens Of youth, high
spirit, and physical endowment in either House.
He was 6 feet inches high, very straight, and
generally correct and affable. He was rather
negative man, and adopted current opinion
readily, and was, therefore, easily melted by
more sinister and backward people. Amongst
those the chief were Keitt, Edmundson-theI
most murderous of them all-and Jesse Bright. |
The two former had drawn Brooks, little by |
little, into the habit of drinking; and they |
made the remark: sThat Sumner ought to
get an immediate fogg;ng. Which of US shall
do ta"
Brooks answered: 81 presume ought to do
It, for represent Senator Buffers district"
This was just the conclusion desired by the |
'coadjuton. ! get my information from Mr..
James, then Of Wisconsin, and now of Cal |
tfornia, who has recited all the story to me, and
knows much Of it as any other man does, for he |
was Burlingame's second in the ensuing chal-
lenge to q duel. Mr.. James does not believe
that Senator Butler, who was thought to be
aggrieved by Summers speech, was . relative
of Preston 8. Brooks. Butler was the guar
dian Of the first wife Of Brooks, however.
When Brooke formed the resolution to attack
Sumner, he, Keitt and Edmunson proceeded to
drink hard; and, for the rest of his life, Brooks
was under the influence Of liquor nearly all the
time. He bought gutta-percha cane, hollow,
aud gold-headed-a weapon much decried2 by
the brutal portion of the press as being Q mere
switch, whereas It derived strength from its
hollow form, and the weight Of the material
made it formidable. With this cane, he and
his party lay waiting around the Senate Cham
Der until the adjournment, when Mr.. Sumner
sat his desk, closely wedged between his chair
and the -legs-the size of the old Cham
Der giving very contracted quarters to such
large men. Brooks walked directly up to the
desk, and, with an instant's remark, to the
effect that Mr.. Sumner had outraged his con-
nection, Brooks struck him behind the crown,
ct that part Of the back of the head which 10
less defended by the skull. He struck with
great force, and repeated the blows rapidly,
until Mr.. Sumner, seeking to arise, burst the
desk from the floor to which it was screwed,
and BY this time Brooks had taken him by the
hair, 60 that all bloody and insensible, he fell
forward like dead man, and the cane was
shivered to pieces.
AFrER-woRK.
ASenate page officiousiy asked Brooks If he
wanted the pieces; but that assailant said that
he required only the gold head, which he put
In brutal way:
ssBrLoks, next time kill him." and added an
oath to the suggestion. He then exclaimed:
diets go take drink"
Bright, Douglas, Keitt, Edmundson, and one
or two others, strobe of to q saloon within the
CAPITOL, called the "IIole-in-the- WALL" and
drank. IL scarcely seems probable that Doug
las could have joined such party; but few
persons were aware of Mr.. Summers injuries,
or the Importance of the event in history, and
It was just that time of the day when conyivial
Senators took their liquor.
= Mr.. Sumner, after time, was taken up from
the sofa where he had been laid, very pale and
bewildered, and put into carriage, which took
him to his chambers in the resident portion Of
the city. That night he was visited BY fewper-
sons, and could scarcely converse; and 1t is not
believed that he ever made any revengeful ref
erenccs to the subject. His brother, George
Sumner, came on to Washington, and asked
Mr. James, who was a very large man Of Q fiery
spirit, yet cool in ARRAYS, what he ought to do.
Said James: 'If it were my brother, would
do this: take q short double barreled shot gun,
put it under your cloak, and walk up to the
House of Representatives, and, right In his
chair, as he attacked my brother, would blow