here. He will be here in due time to speak for himself, and to act for himself, too. I know what will happen. The Senator from Massachusetts will go to him, whisper a secret apology in his ear, and ask him to accept that as satisfaction for a public outrage on his character! I know how the Senator from Massachusetts is in the habit of doing those things. I have some experience of his skill in that respect.' Mr. MASON, of Virginia, said:

"Mr. President, the necessities of our political position bring us into relations and associations upon this floor, which, in obedience to a common Government, we are forced to admit. They bring us into relations and associations which, beyond the walls of this Chamber, we are enabled to avoid-associations here, whose presence elsewhere is dishonour, and the touch of whose hand would be a disgrace.

"The necessity of political position alone brings me into relations with men upon this floor whom elsewhere I cannot acknowledge as possessing manhood in any form. I am constrained to hear here depravity, vice in its most odious form uncoiled in this presence, exhibiting its loathsome deformities in accusation and vilification against the quarter of the country from which I come; and I must listen to it because it is a necessity of my position, under a common Government, to recognise as an equal, politically, one whom to see elsewhere is to shun and despise. I did not intend to be betrayed into this debate; but I submit to the necessity of my position. I am here now, united with an honoured band of patriots, from the North equally with the South, to try if we can preserve and perpetuate those institutions which others are prepared to betray, and are seeking to destroy; and I will submit to the necessity of that position at least until the work is accomplished."

The outrage which followed is thus described in the Boston papers :

FROM THE "BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER," MAY 24.

"Our own correspondent at Washington was one of the few persons who were present in the Senate Chamber, eye-witnesses of the assault upon Mr. SumHis telegraphic despatch to us was, we believe, the first received in Boston, announcing the occurrence. We give below a letter from him received by mail last evening, written immediately after the affair.

ner.

66 6

Washington, May 22. 1856. "The Senate adjourned early to-day, in consequence of the announcement of the death of Hon. Mr. Miller, of Missouri. After the adjournment, as is the custom of many Senators, Mr. Sumner remained at his desk writing. There were also present Mr. Crittenden, of Kentucky, and several other Senators, who had not left the Chamber, some of the subordinate officers of the Senate, and a number of other persons, including your correspondent.

"While Mr. Sumner was thus seated writing, Mr. Preston S. Brooks, of South Carolina, entered the Chamber, accompanied by Mr. Keitt, of the same State-both members of the House of Representatives. These approached Mr. Sumner's seat, when the former raised a cane some three-quarters of an inch or an inch in diameter, and struck Mr. Sumner a severe blow over the head with it. Mr. Sumner sprang from his seat, but staggered under the effect of the blow, reeling about and falling partially over the desk. Notwithstanding his helpless condition, the chivalric

South Carolinian repeated his blows with great force and rapidity.

"Senator Crittenden, of Kentucky-than whom the South has no braver or more chivalric son did not hesitate to pronounce the assault a shameful outrage -a remark which suggested a significant glance from Keitt to Brooks-to which the latter replied by saying, "Well, one will do !" I know not what else was the meaning of this expression, except that the parties were tempted to try their prowess upon the aged Crittenden, but concluded not to venture it.

"Mr. Sumner, who lay upon the floor in a state of partial stupor, in consequence of the blows inflicted upon his head, was raised by his friends, and carried into the anteroom of the Chamber, where medical service was promptly procured. Although his head is badly contused and severely cut, it is hoped that the wounds are not dangerous, although at the same time it is difficult to judge with certainty. The entire assault, of course, occupied but a minute or

two.

Your correspondent was standing just inside the corner door of the Chambersome twenty feet from the parties-when the assault was commenced, but by the time himself and the friend with whom he was conversing could reach the spot, the thing was The mad rage of the assailant may be judged. from the fact that he broke his cane into fragments.'"

over.

FROM THE "NEW YORK EVENING POST," MAY 23.

"Washington, May 22.

"There were at least a dozen persons standing near at the time of the assault, which was so unexpected that, as they say, they did not think of interfering. Close by stood, as I am informed, the Senate's Sergeantat-Arms, a large, strong man, and yet he did nothing. Mr. Crittenden came forward from another part of the Hall, and denounced the attack, to the perpetrator, with the manly indignation characteristic of the chivalrous veteran of Kentucky, as a 'shameless transaction.' But the reply was, I am told, 'You'd better not interfere, we will lick one at a time.' Keitt stood by with a cane, ready to save Brooks from injury; many persons having the impression that he was armed, though no fire-arms were displayed, either by him or Brooks.

"Mr. Sumner's legs, at the time when he was attacked, were under the desk, so far that he could only rise by wrenching it from the floor. The stunning, sudden force of the blow knocked his head forward. His assailant then, seizing him by the shoulder, held him with his left hand while with the other he kept laying the blows upon his head."

"MR. SUMNER'S STATEMENT.

"The following is the statement of Mr. Sumner,

under oath:

"I attended the the 22nd of May.

Senate as usual on Thursday, After some formal business, a message was received from the House of Representatives, announcing the death of a member of that body from Missouri. This was followed by a brief tribute to the deceased from Mr. Geyer, of Missouri, when, according to usage and out of respect to the deceased, the Senate adjourned at once. Instead of leaving the Senate Chamber with the rest of the Senators, on the adjournment, I continued in my seat, occupied with my pen, and while thus intent, in order to be in season for the mail, which was soon to close, I was approached by several persons who desired to converse with me, but I answered them promptly and briefly, excusing myself for the reason that I was much engaged. When the last of these persons left me I drew my arm-chair close to my desk, and with my legs under the desk continued writing. My attention at this time was so entirely drawn from all other subjects that, though there must have been many persons in the Senate, I saw nobody. While thus intent, with my head bent over my writing, I was addressed by a person who approached the front of my desk; I was so entirely absorbed that I was not aware of his presence until I heard my name pronounced. As I looked up with pen in hand, I saw a tall man, whose countenance was not familiar, standing directly over me, and at the same moment caught these words: 'I have read your speech twice over carefully; it is a libel on South Carolina, and Mr. Butler, who is a relative of mine.' While these