Secession Era Editorials Project

A Lie upon its Face.

Cleveland, Ohio, Plain Dealer [Democratic]

(29 May 1856)

Senator Sumner has floored himself much worse than Brooks did by the following foolish and false attempt to drag Senator Douglas into personal difficulty with He testified to the encounter, and then, describing what afterwards took place, says:

"Other persons (besides Mr. Morgan, of N. Y.) there were about me, offering me friendly assistance, but I did not recognize any of them. Others there were at a distance, looking on and offering no assistance, of whom I recognized only Mr. Douglas, of Illinois, Mr. Toombs, of Georgia, and I thought also my assailant standing between them. I was helped from the floor and conducted into the lobby of the Senate, where I was placed upon a sofa. Of those who helped me here I have no recollection."

He did not recognize his friends immediately about him, but those at a distance, and not offering any assistance, he did recognize, and particularly Mr. Douglas. Bah! Had not Mr. Douglas been prominent as Democratic Presidential candidate, he would not have been so readily recognized by this fainting Fusionist. "Of those who helped me into the lobby, I have no recollection." Is it not remarkable that Senator Douglas is the only one, save Toombs, he should "recognize" or "recollect" of all those around him, whether friends or foes, or whether standing far or near? There is something so fiendishly malignant in this sentiment, as well as evidently false, that we are almost disposed to believe that Abolitionism has made him mad. His speech was full of malice and studied personal bitterness towards Douglas, but this is absolute frenzy of the most foolish kind. It must destroy the sympathy of all Democrats in his behalf, and while it does not excuse Brooks, it places the two very nearly on the same level..

Mr. Douglas has taken occasion, since this publication; to set himself right in the matter, and we shall publish his remarks as soon as they may reach us.