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These senatorial leaders of the slavery crusade in Kansas were the victims of Sumner's bitter invective。 He referred to them as the Don Quixote and Sancho Panza of slavery and； as if to prove that this comparison was not a mere momentary inspiration of playful humor but the elaboration of malignant hate； he developed the parallel to its minute details。 He described Douglas in his speech defending his report as 〃piling one mass of elaborate error on another mass and constraining himself to unfamiliar decencies of speech。〃 But he drew hope from the reflection that the Illinois Senator 〃is but mortal man； against him is immortal principle。 With finite power he wrestles with the Infinite and he must fall。 Against him are stronger battalions than any marshaled by mortal arm； the inborn； ineradicable； invincible sentiments of the human heart； against him is Nature with all her subtle forces； against him is God。 Let him try to subdue these。〃 He compared the Kansas troubles to the barbarous warfare of the Scottish Highlands when blackmail was levied and robberies committed by marauders 〃acting under the inspiration of the Douglas of other days；〃 and compared Douglas' recent speech to 〃the efforts of a distinguished logician to prove that Napoleon Bonaparte never existed。〃
Douglas answered with extreme bitterness。 He declared that Sumner's speech had been got up like a Yankee bedquilt by sewing all the old scraps and patches together。 He pronounced his classic quotations obscene and indecent。
〃Is it his object；〃 he asked； 〃to provoke some of us to kick him as we would a dog in the street？ * * * * * The Senator from Massachusetts；〃 he declared； 〃had his speech written； printed； committed to memory； and practiced every night before the glass； with a negro boy to hold the candle and watch the gestures。〃 He charged Sumner with perjury in taking the senatorial oath to his personal grievance and complained that he had been burned and hung in effigy under the advice of Sumner and his brother agitators because of his unswerving devotion to the Constitution。
〃I wish；〃 he said； 〃the Senate to bear in mind that in the many controversies in which I have been engaged since I have been a member of this body； I never had one in which I was not first assailed。 I have always stood on the defensive。 You arrange it on the opposite side of the house to set your hounds after me and then complain when I cuff them over the head and send them back yelping。 I never made an attack on any Senator； I have only repelled attacks。〃 He warned Sumner that Butler； who was absent during the speech； would return to speak and act for himself。
Sumner briefly replied； defending himself against the charge of disloyalty to the Constitution in his unwillingness to support its fugitive slave clause； by quoting Jackson's famous dictum that each man swears to support the Constitution as he understands it。 He then turned on Douglas with bitter scorn。 He rebuked him for his coarse personalities unbecoming a Senator and a gentleman。
〃Let him remember；〃 he said； 〃that the bowie…knife and bludgeon are not the proper emblems of senatorial debate。 Let him remember that the swagger of Bob Acres and the ferocity of the Malay cannot add dignity to this body。 * * * * I will not go into the details which have flowed out so naturally from his tongue。 I only brand them to his face as false。 I say also to that Senator； and I wish him to bear it in mind； that no person with the upright form of man can be allowed〃 He hesitated in doubt whether to proceed。
〃Say it；〃 exclaimed Douglas。
〃I will say it；〃 replied Sumner。 〃No person with the upright form of man can be allowed； without violation of all decency； to switch out from his tongue the perpetual stench of offensive personality。 Sir； that is not a proper weapon of debate； at least on this floor。 The noisome； squat and nameless animal to which I now refer is not a proper model for an American Senator。 Will the Senator from Illinois take notice？〃
〃I will；〃 answered Douglas； 〃and therefore will not imitate you in that capacity； recognizing the force of the illustration。〃
〃Again；〃 replied Sumner； 〃the Senator has switched his tongue and again he fills the Senate with its offensive odor。〃
Two days after the speech； Preston H。 Brooks； a relative of Butler； who represented a district of South Carolina in the House； entered the Senate Chamber after adjournment and； finding Sumner in his seat writing； approached him and struck him down with a heavy cane。 There was a brief struggle in which Sumner was stunned and severely injured。
When the assault occurred Douglas was in the reception room adjoining the Senate Chamber conversing with friends。 A messenger ran in shouting that someone was beating Mr。 Sumner。 He rose intending to interfere in the fray； but； recalling their unpleasant relations； returned to his seat。 When the violence was ended he went to the Chamber to see the result。 Sumner； dazed； bruised and bleeding； had been helped to his feet and was leaning against a chair。 Douglas cast a momentary glance at the victim of this brutal and cowardly outrage； then passed on without comment。
On the day before the assault； the Missouri ruffians had sacked the town of Lawrence。 On the day following； John Brown's Pottawotamie adventure occurred。 A crisis was at hand imperiously demanding more effective action on the part of Congress。 The country was aroused； alarmed and horrified。 The Conventions were to be held in June and it was necessary that the Democrats bestir themselves and make some disposition of the harassing problem of Kansas。 The existing condition in the hag…ridden Territory was directly chargeable to a measure whose authorship Douglas had boasted。 There was danger that the tragic failure of his masterpiece of state…craft would wreck his party and load his own name with odium which even his rugged vitality could not throw off。 Such uncontrollable passion had been stirred by his pending bill that it seemed prudent to quietly drop it。
On the 24th of June； Toombs introduced a bill providing for the taking of a census； the holding of an election of delegates to a Constitutional Convention； and the orderly organization of a State。 It was referred to Douglas' Committee； which promptly reported back an amended bill so infinitely better than the measures thus far attempted that it seemed comparatively just。 It provided for the appointment of commissioners to prepare lists of all citizens over twenty…one years old resident in the Territory since the 4th of July； who were to vote at the election； also for the holding of a Convention； the drafting of a Constitution and the admission of the State。
There were three objections to the bill。 The commissioners were to be appointed by President Pierce。 The 4th of July； from which residence must date； was a time at which great numbers of Northern settlers would be absent from the Territory on account of the turbulence and disorder which had rendered life there not only uncomfortable but unsafe。 Moreover； no express provision was made for submitting the Constitution to a vote。 However； it was regarded as a concession to the demands of an aroused public； clothed with the power of promptly and authoritatively expressing its disapproval。
But there were those in the Senate who feared the gift…bearing Greeks and thought it well； now that the majority had shown some regard for public opinion； to insist upon an explicit declaration of their purpose to submit the slavery question to the people of the Territory fairly and without juggling tricks。 On the 2d of July； Trumbull offered an amendment declaring it to be the true intent and meaning of the bill organizing the Territory of Kansas to confer upon the inhabitants 〃full power at any time； through its territorial legislature； to exclude slavery from said Territory or to recognize and regulate it therein。〃
This amendment seemed with utmost fairness to declare the meaning of that law precisely as Douglas expounded it。 But the South had already taken the advanced ground that； as the Constitution of the United States expressly established slavery； it was not within the power of Congress or its cr