The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-08-25
I also enjoined Upon him on no &C
count to interfere. Mr.. Sumner did

I also enjoined upon him on no &C.
count to interfere. Mr.. Sumner did
not pass by while We were SO seated,
though We remained until half-past
IL O'Clock. My colleague, MI. Keitt,
Joined us a few moments before VIC re-
turned to the House, and so did Sena-
tor Johnson, Of Arkansas. Neither
one Of them were informed of my pur-
pose during the day. During the
night Of Wednesday, and about 10
o'clock, I informed my colleagues,
Mr.. Keitt and Mr.. Orr, Of my pur-
pose. The next morning at II o'clock
I took my position in the Porter's
Lodge to intercept Mr.. Sumner. I
again waited until half-past IL o'clock,
the hour at which both Houses of
Congress meet. While at the Porter's
Lodge, Mr.. Edmundson, on his way to
the Capitol, saw rae, and came Of his
own accord. He and [ went to the
House together. Mr.. Keitt went that
morning to Baltimore. Being twice
disappointed, I determined to keep
My eye on Mr.. Sumner, and knowing
that the Senate would adjourn at an
early hour, I went to the Senate and
stood without the bar until it did sd-
journ. Mr.. Sumner continued within
the hall, though he did not all the
time retain his seat. He had upon his
desk a large number of his speech and
was, when not interrupted, employed
in franking them. Several ladies con-
tinued in the hall, some on the floor
and some in the gallery. I waited
until the last lady left, and then
approached Mr.. Sumner in front and
said: "Mr. Sumner, I have read your
last speech with care and as much i'm
partiality as is possible under the cir
cumstances, and I feel it my duty to
say that you have libeled my State
and slandered my kinsman, who is
aged and absent, and I have come to
punish you for it," AS I uttered the
word "punish" Mr. Sumner offered to
rise, and when about half erect I
struck him a sligIS1 blow with the
smaller end of my cane. He then
arose fully and endeavored to make
battle. I was then compelled to strike
him harder than I had intended.
About the fifth blow he ceased to re-
sist and I moderated my blows. Icon
tinued>t to strike Mr.. S. until he fell,
when I ceased. I did not strike Mr..
Sumner after he had fallen. The cane
used by me was on ordinary walking
stick, made Of gutta-percha, and hol-
low. I used it because it was light
and elastic, and because I fancied it
would not break. The cane had been
presented to me by a friend full three
months past. 1t had athin gold head,
and was not loaded or even heavy.
Mr.. Sumner was never struck with the
larger end of the cane. When Mr..
Crittenden took hold of me and said
something like Don't kill him." I
replied that 1 had no wish to injure
him severely, but only to fog him. I
went to the Senate alone, asked no one
to go or to be with me. Indeed, no
one knew of my intention to assail
Mr.. Sumner in the Senate, nor would
I have done so had it not become
manifest that he would remain in the
seat to a very late hour. The three
gentlemen who knew of my purpose
we're neither present when the attack
wal made. Neither Mr.. Orr nor Mr..
Edmundson were present at any time
of the ARRAY, to my knowledge. Mr..
Keitt came up when it was about half
over.
I deem it proper to add that the as
sault upon Mr.. Sumner was not be-
cause Of his political principles, but
because of his insulting language used
in reference to my State and absent
relative. p. S. Brooks.
House of Representatives, May %,
1856.