The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16
THE WOODRUFF BANNER.

IhE "OODhOFF bASNEh-
and saying that Mr.. Root was willing to turn
the banner over to Mr.. Woodruff. Tho Lieu
tenant-Governor sent for it at once. and It now
hangs in ono Of the rooms of his Brooklyn home.
1t is in an excellent state Of preservation. ex.
cept that two of the knobs have been knocked OF
the rods.
The enthusiasm with which Congressman
John Woodruff was greeted on his return to his
constituents grew out of the assault on Sumner.
Sumner had made q speech in the Senate do
nouncing the attitude OF South Carolina, and e.
pecially rejecting on Senator Butler Of that
State. On May %, 1856. after the adjournment
Of the Senate, Sumner sat at his desk In the
chamber. now occupied by the Supreme Court,
writing letters. He was taken by surprise when
Congressman Brooks, whom he did not know,
came up behind his desk and began an
angry TRADE regarding Summers speech.
Brooks said that the speech was an insult to his
native State and to his kinsman, Senator Butler.
Then Brooks began to beat Sumner over tho
head with a bludgeon or heavy ruler that he
carried. Sumner. who was a powerful man
physically. could easily have disposed Of Brooks
in a fair scrimmage. but his chair was pushed
close to the desk. his legs were under tho desk,
and he was unable to rise for several moments.
Then by a great effort he managed to wrench
the legs of the heavy desk from the
floor to which they were screwed. and with
the blood trickling down his face he rose and
confronted Brooks. He was weakened and
dazed. and Brooks continued to belabor him IN
til he fell to the floor. He was carried into an
anteroom. and from there he was taken to his
hotel, where he was i'll in bed for weeks. His in.
juries were serious, and for two years his scat In
the Senate chamber was vacant while he trav-
elled here and In Europe to consult specialists.
The representatives of the slave power were al
this time largely In the majority in both houses
of Congress. In the Senate the proportion was
about 4 to l. Feeling between the two parties
was at it's bitterest. None of several Senators
who witnessed the assault dared or cared 10 in
~terfere. Before the Senate convened ON the day
after the assault an attempt wD mmdB to IN
duce some member of the majority to move the
appointment OF an Investigating committee. but
in vain. Many Of them openly defended the
assault. Finally. after the Senate met, Senator
Seward made the motion and tho committee
was appointed, but It did nothing. In the lower
house few men were bold enough to denounce the
outrage. Members on both sides of the house
went, armed. The opinions Of the Southern
members on the assault were pretty we'll re.
fected subsequently, by Newspaper articles and
the South commencing what Brooks had done.
John Woodruff and three or four others, however.
Henry Wilson, in his Rise and Fall Of the slave
through the free States found expression a..
with fitting phrase and indignant emphasis
mon characterized and denounced the diabolicsl
were those found who, at much personal hazard.
DENOUNCED both the assault and the assailant-
In the House, John Woodruff OF Connecticut, z
man proverbial for moderation OF temper and
department, said:
"'If honorable gentlemen cannot wholly rid
themselves OF an unwelcome presence. they can,
at least, show their appreciation Of an action
wanting few Of the elements of the most au.
daciSus crime, and Of q spirit equal to deeds that
! will not name. With an endeavor always 70
my place or elsewhere, to freely characterize az
they deserve any lofty assumption Of arrogance
or any mean achievement Of cowardice.
This speech was made after TIE House naa
PEELED. and had contented itself with passing 9
made also ss ss Nj. Wilson and . b. Hnso. Barlia;
Minister to China and, negotiated the Burliu:
game treaty. Mr.. Brooks In his reply TO these
speeches expressed no regret al what ne hna
nounced his resignation from the House. he
was Immediately reelected by his admiring con-
stituents. and was back in his seat soon;
Brooks challenged Mr.; Wilson TO a duel; Tho
challenge was declined. His seconds then np.
necessity OF conforming to the code Of honor.
Mr.. ,Woodruf's reply. which was inscribed upon
the banner afterward. was; w.o, God ana
the laws Of my country
Mr.. Burlingame accepted MIR; Brooksb ma
s isnse' s eHs tSs S aSey T fsisn SeT near !C &issara FaaNs
for the combat, and Brooks objected TO this on
the ground that he would have TO pass through
excitement. Mr., Burlingame was %atterward
severely censured by public opinion In New
England for having accepted the challenge ana
take. The converse OF this sentiment was eN'
pressed in the demonstration accorded 10 w
Woodruff. In which figured tho banner VINCE
has inst come In light.