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"Mr. Sumner was stricken down on this floor by a brutal, murderous, and cowardly assault."

One sentence that nearly caused a second affair of honor: Butler shouted 'You are a liar!' from his seat, and Brooks sent Wilson a duel challenge. Wilson's reply: 'I thought so then: I think so now: I have no qualification whatever to make' — while refusing the duel outright.

Read it in the original — Sumner Complete Works vol. 5 (Project Gutenberg) ↗

"But surely the bitter tirade of personality, the wanton vituperation of high personal character, the absolute vulgarity of language, poured forth for two days by Charles Sumner ought not to be countenanced by those who would respect the dignity of the senate or the honor of the country. [...] The affair was disgraceful and we lament and condemn it; and not even the slander of an absent and aged relative or libel on his native state, affords sufficient apology to the assaulter."

New England's leading Democratic paper in the both-sides register: condemns the assault in one clause while ratifying its premise in the next — conceding Sumner committed 'slander' and 'libel' even while denying Brooks 'sufficient apology.' Drew a contemporary rebuke from the Pittsburgh Gazette. Fragments joined with [...].

Read it in the original — Furman Secession Era Editorials transcription ↗