Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-07
FORMER DIPLOMATS WERE
KNOWN DANGEROUS MEN
STATESMEN OF EARLY DAYS WHO
CAME TO BLOWS
Sumner-B Brooks ARRAY Noteworthy
nstance-california Represen-
tatlve Killed
Man

the national capital In which congress-
men were the leading figures was the
topic of talk In which a number of
gentlemen of Washington participated
one evening, when an old inhabttant
broke in with the remark that he con-
sidered the attack upon Senator Sum-
ner of Massachusetts by Representa-
tive Preston S. Brooks of South Caro-
lima as about the greatest incident or
the character that was being discussed
that ever happened in any hall of leg
islation.
LET me think" said the old man.
at was more than fifty years ago when
this unhappy circumstance occurred.
To be more exact, it took place In the
latter part of the month of May, 1856.
That would make It. fifty-two years
ago next month. ] remember the event
very well, for I was in the senate
chamber soon after Brooks made his
assault and saw pieces of the broken
gutta percha cane with which he struck
the senator lying on the floor near Mr..
Summers desk.
Stirred by Summers Speech
"a day or two before that Mr.. Sum-
ner made speech In the senate on the
Kansas question, in the course of
which he handled Mr. Butler a sena-
tor from South Carolina, and an uncle
of Mr.. Brooks. without gloves. Mr..
Butler was at his home in South Caro-
lima when Sumner made that memoir
able speech. The great Massachusetts
Abolitionist used invective after invec-
tive in his remarks. in that cold, sar-
castle way of which he was master,
and, in the politest way possible ac-
cused the South Carolina senator of
falsehood. In referring to speech of
C..wz- v.NNN HIF n n
there was no possible deviation from
truth which he did not make. and that
he showed an incapacity for accuracy
whether in stating the constitution or
in stating the law, and made several
other assertions that were very uncon-
plimentary toward the South Carolina
senator.
Brooks, Buffers nephew. was angry
from the top Of his head to the soles
of his feet, and confided to some of his
friends, particularly to Representative
Edmundson of Virginia and the fiery
Keith of South Carolina that he in
tended to 'chastise' Mr.. Sumner at the
very first opportunity, and these gem
tlemen were present when the attack
was made.
"The senate had just adjourned when
the attack was made, but not all the
senators had left the chamber Brooks
came in and walked directly up in
front of Sumner. There were one or
two ladies on the floor. and he waited
until they left. Then he walked UP in
front of the Massachusetts man and
said to him in a calm and rather low
tone of voice that he had read his
speech carefully, and. he considered 1t
a slander on his uncle, and that he
came there for the purpose of punish
ing him. Then he struck Sumner sew
IL 1T No nd nd
striking him until the stick was broken
in several pieces.
Brooks was very quick in his move
ments, but as soon as possible Senator
Crittenden' of Kentucky, who was
among those yet remaining on the
floor, caught him around the body, but
Brooks had completed his work, and
he said to others who had gathered
about that he was satisfied He had.
as he declared, not intended to hurt
Sumner very much, but only to whip
him.
"Of course, there was intense excite
ment, and 1t extended all over the CIV
lized world. In many quarters great
Indignation was expressed, and par
ticularly in England, where Mr.. Sum-
ner because of his well known cham
pionship of the abolition of slavery,
was a great favorite. Brooks was ar
rested and taken before Justice Hol-
linghead, one of the most prominent
of the Washington justices of the peace
at that period. Hollinghead required
him to give bond for his appearance
the next day. Congress also took ac-
ton, that is, the senate reported the
facts to the house. but I do not
recollect that anything came out of 1t.
A resolution to expel Mr.. Brooks failed
because of the lack of a necessary two
thirds vote, and furthermore, the
house did not consider there had been
committed any violation of the priv
iliges of congress.
"The district courts did take some
action, however. A short time after
the assault Mr.. Brooks was taken be-
fore Judge Crawford, who fined him in
the sum of $500.
"The intense excitement did not die
out for some time. Mr.. Summers coll
league in the senate, who was Henry
Wilson, afterward vice president dur
ing the second administration of Gen.
Grant, made a speech in which he
characterized the attack upon Sumner
as barbarous and rffianly and used
other language of a character that in
duced Mr.. Broks to challenge him to
fight a duel. Wilson. however, was
averse to the code and declined.
"Anson Burlingame, also of Massa-
chusetts, made a speech in the house
OF representatives III WHICH ne clleu lile
killing of Abel by Cain and said Brooks
smote Sumner as Cain smote his
brother. This lead Brooks to challenge
Burlingame, who said he would meet
Brooks and negotiate things on the
Canada side of Niagara Falls. Brooks
was ready to fight and willing to go,
but several friends, who were willing
that he should fight did not think he
should go so far north for the purpose
and he was prevailed upon not to go.
AS I understand ii. he was persuaded
against his own will to follow the adj
vice of his friends, and the end of this
phase of the matter was that both of
these gentlemen were put under heavy
bonds not to fight duel.
Many Sensational Incidents
"This period of the year 1856 was full
of sensational Incidents" continued the
old inhabitant. at was in the same
month that Brooks caned Sumner that
Representative Herbert of California
shot and killed a waiter at Willard's
hotel whose name was Keating. There
had been some sharp talk between
Heating and the congressman while
the latter was breakfasting, and a con-
versation which was carried on In
rather low tones at last broke forth
in a violent and undignified Certainly
on the part of the congressman quar-
rel Then there came a scuffie- and
Herbert shot the waiter. He was, of
course, arrested and tried. He had two
trials, in fact, for the jury at first dis
agreed. but on the second trial he was
acquitted / think a witness testified
that Keating was sholding Herbert un-
der the dining room table and was