The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-30

| which he was proud. and neither then MOI
afterward referring to anything In his pub
lilo lfe except his subservience to tina,
institution. This bit OF satire was tame
by the side OF epithets bestowed by members
OF Congress on one another at almost every
session. Neither does II appear that Brooks
! heard or knew OF or cared for this description
Of Butler SO as to make It tho cause OF offence.
Brooks's feeling on the first day. therefore.
must be ascribed solely to his general antipa-
thy to the matter and style OF this and other
speeches OF Sumner similar to that which two
years before had prompted threats OF expulsion
and social ostracism and instiRations to vio-
lencc when he had replied to Mason ana But
ler. Then ss now there was purpose to ST.
fence voice which could not be met in debate.
and Mr.. Pierce seems justified in regarding
the setting up OF particular injury to person
or State as nero cover for the real motive.
| Summers references to Butler on the second
| day we're brief. and they were not heard by
| Brooks. who was at no time present on that
occasion. Sumner alluded to Buffers "omni-
presence In debate" The having taken part in
| II thirty-fve times) his "e1travagance." and
deviation from truth" his "incapacity Of
accuracy" and his proneness to blunder.
This was all: and even the terms deviation
| from truth" were qualified by ascribing the
| habit to passion. which saved him from the
| suspicion ofintentional alteration" Sumner
| went SO far as even at this time to recognize
| Buffers generous impulses and he made
no imputation on Buffers private life or ref
erence to any characteristic OF his which did
not appear In debate. Butler admitted
| about as much OF himself as Sumner had
charged against him. when. In speech on
June 10. he confessed his habitual "impa-
votko nd han ~ In, cd ana
There was something absurd In his taking
offence. or any one on his behalf taking it. at
what Sumner had said. considering how freely
he treated his opponents In the Senate. calling
Wilson "a liar in open session q few days
later. 1t should also be kept In view that
Summers speech on the second day contained
no elaborate criticism on South Carolina, but
only single passage exemplifying her devo-
tion to slavery ian historic fact claimed to her
credit by her public men, and asserting that
her whole history was OF less value to civiliza-
ton than the example OF Kansas and that Ter
ritory's struggle against oppression. Brooks
had been member Of Congress two years be-
fore. but he had then made no sign Of dis
pleasure at Summers much ampler ex-
posure OF his State and Of his kins-
man who assumed the defence Of South
Carolina and her institutions. That he should
now profess to regard merely incidental
reference to the same topics as Just provo
cation to violence shows that any such alleged
grievance was a pretense set up because It
could be awaited Of thereafter In defence or
mitigation should proceedings he taken
against him in Congress or the courts. Mr..
Pierce. OF course. does not assume to say what
went on In Brookss mind during Tuesday.
May 20. tho second day OF Summers speech.
or how far the plan carried out two days
later was then developed. II was aftsrward
asserted on his behalf that no was stung by
rumors on the streets and conversations
in drawnR-rooms in which women joined
where Southern mon were reproaohed for SUBJ
mission to insults to their State: but these
repronches do not seem to have been speci-
ally addressed to him. and it Is pro-
nounced unlikely that he heard anything
moro In public places than the loose
talk Of the violent Southern men that some
ono ought to punish Sumner for his anti
slavery speech and silence him for the future.
The author Of this book deems 1t probable
that keitt and others put the business on him.
selecting him because he better than they
could parry Congressional and judicial pro-
ceeGings by the plea that he was performing
kinsmnn's duty in ayenging kinsman's
wronea To what extent there was an under
standing among the intense pro-slavery mem
bers as to the assault has never been revealed
Ing that quite number were privy to Il. AZ
terward. Of course. when the pro- slavery party
was confronted with the proceedings in Con-
gress and the indignation Of the free States. it
became important to conceal the fact Of the
conspiracy, II conspiracy there were.
Brooks subsequently stated that he made
careful search for Summer on both Wednesday
and Thursday MAY 21-22. 1859. but. on the
former day. he failed to find him. On Thurs
day at noon he met Edmundson. one OF his fel-
low members from Virginia. at the entrance Of
the Capitol grounds. looking for Sumner. but
in vain. as the Senator had driven earhor to
the Capitol. Brooks told Edmundson that "he
could not overlook the insult that he had
scarcely slept the night before thinking OF it.
and that 1t ought to be promptly resented"
Proceeding to the Senate Chamber. they wait
cd Tor the adjournment Of that body. which |
took place at IL AS. Most Of the Senators then |
retired. only a few remaining In their seats or |
moving about elsewhere. The departure OF !
Senator Wilson Of Massach usetts. who occu-
pied sent next TO Sumner. left no OBJ |
stacle in Brooks's way except tho PRES
once OF q lady. and he asked AN officer |
OF the Senate to manage to get her out re-
quest with which the officer did not comply. |
Going out into the vestbule Brooks proposed
to Edmundson. on account Of the lady'a pres
ence. TO send for Summer TO come outside OF |
the chamber; but Edmundson advised az ainst
this on the ground that the Senator. being
much engaged. would only request him to
come In. Meanwhile, from the time OF the
adjournment. Sumner had remained at his
desk. writing busily for the next mail. prob
ably addressing copies Of his speech. and OK
cusing himself to several persons who came
to his seat. When the last applicant for his
attention had left he drew his chair close to
his desk and continued writing. with his
mind 30 withdrawn to other objects that
he was unaware Of tho presence OF any
one in the Chamber. His legs were
far under the desk. and were so close
to its bottom that he could not RISE unless he
bethought himself to push his chair back on
his rollers. movement not likely to occur to
one acting under surprise and excitement
The desk was immoysble. its feet fastened to
a plate Of iron by screws. and the plate itself
firmly screwed to the floor. He was thus pin
Toned 80 as to be at the mercy Of an assailant
coming stealthy upon him.