Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-08-13

ll0Sl ana 1QbuiG. ml. huAASA
thereu pon essayed to rise from his
seat as though to resist what Mr..
Brooks had said, when he (Mr.
Brooks) struck MIR. Sumner with
rapid and repeated blows about the
head with a gutta-percha cane, and
continued his blows in spite OF Mr..
Summers efforts to ward them OH
and seize the cane, until Mr. Sum-
ner fell. As MIR. Brooks was sus-
pending his blows (which he did
the instant Mr.. Sumner fell) Mr..
Crittendon came up and interposed,
saying, Don't kill,' etc. MIR.
Brooks thereupon left the spot and
remained with his friends in the
Senate chamber until Mr.. Sumner g
friends, several of whom were pres.
ent (Mr. Morgan of New York, and
Mr.. Foster of Connecticut, among
them lifting him up, bore him into
one of the ante-rooms of the Sen-
ate. >"
In Rhodes History of the United
States we are told that Brooks came
from a good South Carolina family,
was we'll educated and had been a
member of the house of representa-
tives for three years, where bis con-
duct had been that of a gentleman,
and he had been called admiringly
by all with whom he was associated
courteous, accomplished, warm
hearted, hotblooded, dear as a
friend and fearful as an enemy.
Sumner assailed Senator Butler
in his absence with sucn vile vitu-
peration that Lewis Cass, a North
ern man of the highest standing,
the Nestor of the Senate, declared
it to be "the most unAmerican and
unpatriotic (speech) that ever graf
ed on the ears of members of this
high body. hope never to hear
the like again, here or elsewhere.
See Dargaa's School History OF
South Carolina. A Hartford pro-
fessor, many years after the event,
in discussing Bacon's essay on Re
venge," told his class that Mr..
Summers vituperation was intoler-
able" s-.,s.s.,.-.st d2.r9l
The British Quarterly Review
characterized this speech as an ex'
ample and proof of the deteriora.
tion of American tastes," and said
that Sumner used this vile language
because he was adapting himself to
his audience, that he was too much
Of a scholar of good sense
and good taste to have used it foI
any other purpose, and that he
must be heartily ashamed of it. +"
John Bigelow, who was born Mo-
25, 1917, at Bristol, N. Y, and 80
years thereafter died, said that the
blood that Brooks drew from Sum
ner was the first blood of the war.
From THE Worlds Famous Ora,
tions take the following: Pres,
ton S. Brooks in his defence of his
attack on Sumner
Born in 1919; died in 1857; elect
ed to Congress from South Carolina
in 1853, serving until 1855, when
after the failure to expel him, he
resigned and appealed to his con-
stituents, who reelected him in the
same year almost without opposi-
tion. Served until his death, Janu'
airy 81, 1857. Delivered in the
House of Representatives on July
IA, 1856"
Some time since a Senator from
Massachusetts allowed himself, III
an elaborately prepared speech, to
offer a gross insult to my State and
TO a venerable friend who is my
States representative and who was
absent at the time. Not conten,
with that, he published to the
world, and circulated extensively
this uncalled for libel on my State
and on my blood. Whatever in
suits my State insults me. Hel
history and character have com.
manded my plous veneration, and
in her defence hope ] shall always
be prepared, humbly and modestly,
to perform the duty of a son.
should have forfeited my own self
respect, and perhaps the good
opinion of my countrymen, if l had
failed to resent such an injury by
calling the offender in question to a
personal account. 1t was person
al affair, and in taking redress into
my own hands / meant no disre
spect to the Senate of the United
States or to this House.
But if I had committed a breach
of privilege, it was the privilege OF
the Senate, and not of this House