Secession Era Editorials Project

The Sumner Assault

Baltimore, Maryland, Sun [American]

(03 June 1856)

Mr. Brooks, of S. C., has been burned in effigy at Cambridge, Mass.. The Connecticut Legislature has adopted resolutions calling for the expulsion of Mr. B. from the House of Representatives. In the Massachusetts House of Representatives on the 26th ult.a resolution was introduced instructing the Adjutant General of the State to furnish each of their Senators and Representatives in Congress two of Colt's six barrel revolvers. If, instead of revolvers, they were furnished with broad national views, and good common sense, unmixed with fanaticism and narrow-minded bigotry, it would be far better for themselves, and redound to the honor of the State of Massachusetts.

>Mr. Brooks, it will be seen by the Congressional report of yesterday, is now as it were formally arraigned before the bar of the House of Representatives for his assault on Senator Sumner, while at the same time he has sent a letter to the Senate making a disclaimer of any intention to offend against its privileges, as, in inflicting punishment upon Mr. Sumner when the body was not in session, he did not suppose he would be committing any breach of privilege. The majority of the House committee recommend Mr. Brooks' immediate expulsion, and express disapprobation of the acts of Henry A. Edmundson, of Va., and Lawrence M. Keitt, of South Carolina, who, having knowledge of the intended assault, "took no measures to discourage or prevent the same."