Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 3

‘ [469] be promptly resented.’¹ He had taken his position there to attack Sumner if he walked, or to observe him if he drove,— intending in the latter case, as soon as he saw Sumner, to pass through the grounds, then up the flight of steps and through the Capitol, to meet the senator in the open space back of the Capitol where the carriages stopped, or before he reached the Senate chamber. Edmundson, as he states, dissuaded him from this course, objecting that the necessary exertion and fatigue it involved just before a conflict would disable him from coping with Sumner, who was supposed to have superior physical strength. It is interesting to note how nicely these ‘chivalrous gentlemen’ counted the odds, and took care that the advantage should be wholly with them before they exposed their persons. Brooks, of course, accepted this counsel, and the two walked to the Capitol, separating in the rotunda as on the day before,— Edmundson going to the House, and Brooks to the Senate. The two mornings had passed, and the liers-in-wait had lost their prey. The House, after hearing eulogies on two deceased members, adjourned at 12.30, a half-hour session only, and Edmundson then went to the Senate, which, after a eulogy by Senator Geyer on one of the deceased members of the House, adjourned at 12.45, fifteen minutes after the adjournment of the House. Edmundson is again ‘casually’ with his friend, and gives him advice how to proceed. While Geyer was speaking, Brooks was standing on the side of the main aisle opposite to the side on which was Sumner's seat, No. 9, and was within a few feet from the seat. On the adjournment most of the senators retired,— a few remaining in their seats, or sitting or moving about elsewhere. Brooks then took the seat of Senator Pratt, just in front of where he had been standing, seat No. 12 on the plan, and a few steps only from Sumner's seat.² Wilson, whose seat (No. 10) was the back one on the aisle, and next to Sumner's, remained a few minutes after the adjournment to finish a letter, and as he passed out saw Brooks sitting in Pratt's seat, and their eyes meeting, they bowed to each other. Wilson's departure left no further obstacle in Brooks's way except the presence of a lady, and he asked an officer of the Senate to manage to get her out,—a request which the officer, not complying with, thought