Senator Butler, in reply to Mr. Sumner, June 12, 1856, remarked on his
absence from his seat as follows.
“If I give credence to the testimony of Dr. Boyle, I see no
reason why he should not be present. For anything that appears
in that testimony, if he had been an officer of the Army, and
had not appeared the next day on the battle-field, he would
have deserved to be cashiered.”[152]
This fling was so agreeable to the Senator that he repeated it, with a
variation, on the second day of his speech.
“After all that has been said and done, on a _post bellum_
examination, what is it? A fight in the Senate Chamber,
resulting in two flesh wounds, which ought not to have detained
him from the Senate. Being rather a handsome man, perhaps he
would not like to expose himself by making his appearance for
some time; but if he had been in the Army, there was no reason
why he should not go to the field the next day; and he would
deserve to be cashiered, if he did not go.”[153]
After such remarks in open Senate, it was easy for the press in
sympathy with Slavery to assert that Mr. Sumner had received no injury,
and that his reported disability was a pretence for the benefit of his
political party.
At the time of the assault Mr. Sumner was in perfect health, without
any weakness or disturbing incident. Having confidence in the
native force of his constitution, he looked forward to a very early
restoration, thinking that the injuries he had received would yield
easily to Nature. His disappointment affords another instance of
the extent to which patients are deceived with regard to their true
condition, which in his case was revealed tardily. He had hoped to
resume his seat in a few days. Months and years passed, leaving him an
invalid.
On the healing of the flesh wounds, he found himself still a sufferer
from a pressure on the brain, with weakness in the spinal column. The
latter became more positive with time. First a guest of F. P. Blair,
Esq., at Silver Spring, near Washington, he was able early in July to
reach Philadelphia, where he found rest at the house of Rev. William H.
Furness. Here he came under the medical care of Dr. Caspar Wister. From
Philadelphia he went to Cape May, where he was welcomed by the family
of James T. Furness, Esq., at their cottage. Here he was very feeble,
so that his kind hosts were alarmed with regard to him. From Cape May
he went to Cresson, an elevated place in Pennsylvania, where he stayed
with Dr. R. M. Jackson. Once more in Philadelphia at the beginning
of September, he was welcomed by his hosts of Cape May, with whom he
remained until his return to Boston at the beginning of November. This
return was postponed by the advice of his physician, who was unwilling
that he should expose himself to the excitement of such an event.
In Boston he was treated by Dr. Marshall S. Perry, in consultation with
the venerable physician, Dr. James Jackson. Here he remained several
months, most of the time in the house, on his bed. He did not reach
Washington until just before the close of the session of Congress, but
in season to determine by his vote the fate of the tariff of 1857.[154]
On the 4th of March he was sworn as Senator for the second term, and
on the 7th of March sailed for Havre in the Steamer Fulton. Still
confident in his recuperative force, and underrating his injuries, his
object was simply rest and recreation, rather than medical treatment.
After some time in Paris, he travelled in France, Switzerland,
England, and Scotland, including a stay in London. While in Edinburgh
he became acquainted with George Combe, the eminent phrenologist and
physiologist, who, taking a strong interest in his case, wrote to Sir
James Clark, the Queen’s physician, for his opinion upon it. The two
united in advising against an early return to public duties; but Mr.
Sumner felt constrained to try himself at Washington. Accordingly he
resumed his seat at the beginning of the session, in December, 1857,
only to find himself within the circumscriptions of an invalid. Without
pretending to take part in business, he sought to be at hand to vote
on important questions. At last he was admonished by a succession
of relapses that he must make a more serious effort for recovery.
On the 22d May, 1858, just two years from his original injuries, he
sailed in the steamer Vanderbilt for Havre. His first purpose was to
visit Switzerland, and there commence pedestrian exercise in the open
air, beginning with a short distance and extending it daily, as the
athlete, beginning with the calf, at last carried the ox; but this idea
proceeded on a radical misconception of his case, which required repose
rather than exercise. A medical friend to whom he communicated this
plan warned him against it, saying, curtly, “Then you’ll be a dead man!”
At Paris he first enjoyed the advice of Dr. George Hayward, the eminent
surgeon of Boston, but soon afterward came under the care of that
remarkable physiologist and specialist, Dr. Brown-Séquard, who, after
a most careful diagnosis, reported that the blows on the head had
taken effect, by _contre-coups_, in the spine, producing disturbance
in the spinal cord. To Mr. Sumner’s instant inquiry as to the remedy,
the Doctor replied, “Fire.” The resolution of the former was taken
at once, and he asked, “When can you apply it?” “To-morrow, if you
please,” said the Doctor. “Why not this afternoon?” said the patient;
and that afternoon it was done by the _moxa_, which was followed by
other applications, being seven in number, always without chloroform,
which Mr. Sumner declined to take. This was in June. During this
painful treatment he found solace in the study of engravings, to which
he devoted himself, according to the limitations of his health, with
daily assiduity.
Some time in August he left Paris for the baths of Aix, in Savoy,
famous from antiquity, where he underwent still another treatment by
hot and cold _douches_. Then traversing Switzerland, he entered Germany
by Venice and Trieste, visiting Vienna, Berlin, and Munich. Reaching
Paris in November, he was arrested in his proposed return to the
Senate by a medical conference, in which Dr. Brown-Séquard, Dr. George
Hayward, and the eminent French practitioner, Dr. Trousseau, took part,
all uniting against it. Leaving the excitements of Paris, he passed
the ensuing winter at Montpellier, in the South of France. Here he led
a retired life, being cupped on the spine daily, and passing as many
as eighteen hours out of the twenty-four on the bed or sofa, finding
recreation in reading, and, so far as he could, in the public lectures
at the college on history and literature. Taking advantage of his
improved condition in the spring, he made a hurried visit to Italy, and
then reported himself to Dr. Brown-Séquard at Paris, who pronounced him
well. To the various treatments already mentioned he added sea-baths
at Havre during the following August. At the opening of Congress in
December, 1859, he was in his seat, with a certain consciousness of
restored health, although admonished to enter upon work slowly.
Contemporary reports in newspapers and letters illustrate the condition
of Mr. Sumner at the time, and something of his frame of mind.
A correspondent of the Boston _Telegraph and Chronicle_, under date of
February 20, 1857, shows his occupations at the time he was struck down.
“It was my good fortune to be a frequent caller upon Mr. Sumner
during his residence here. I always found him studiously
devoted to the duties of his office. He was one of the most
active, hard-working men in Congress. Down to the 22d day
of May, 1856, when he was so brutally assailed by the agent
of the Slave Oligarchy, he had never been out of his seat a
single day. It was in this spirit of fidelity that he always
discharged his duties. If I may be pardoned in the exhibition
of a little selfishness, I will acknowledge that it was in
part the discovery of the fact that Mr. Sumner kept a better
run of all the public business before Congress than most other
members, that induced me, as a member of the press, to make
more frequent calls upon him than perhaps I should otherwise
have done. He was particularly well posted on all questions
of foreign affairs, from the reception of Kossuth down to the
important part that he took in the Sound Dues of Denmark;
he was always enlightened on all propositions of general
legislation, touching the judiciary, commerce, patents, the
tariff, and everything concerning the great interests of
Massachusetts.
“At the time he was disabled, the Journal of the Senate will
show a large number of special propositions introduced by
him, among which was the proposition he has brought forward
annually for the revision and consolidation of the Statutes
of the United States, which must yet prevail; also for cheap
ocean postage, another annual proposition; also for post-office
orders, as a mode of transfer of money in small sums for
the accommodation of the poor,--an idea recently adopted by
the House Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads; several
propositions of amendment of Patent Law, particularly one to
take off the heavy fees on foreign patents, in order to pave
the way for a similar reduction abroad; a bill altering the
Commercial Law, so as to relieve ship-owners of liability in
the case of fire under certain circumstances; a bill amending
the Law of Copyright; a bill providing for the regulation
of passengers coming into the United States; also a whole
group of bills for the improvement of the rivers and harbors
of Massachusetts, for the building of a Court-House and
Post-Office at Boston, &c., &c.
“None, except those who have had experience in Washington, and
have had an inside view of the practical life of a Congressman,
can form a correct idea of the vast amount of labor performed
by them which does not appear before the public. Mr. Sumner’s
correspondence was one of the largest in the Senate,--not
confined to Massachusetts, but coming from every part of the
country. He neglected nothing.”
While Mr. Sumner was at Cresson, Mrs. Swisshelm, who saw him there,
wrote a long letter on his condition, addressed to the _New York
Tribune_, under date of August 23, 1856, which contained the following.
“He has all the impatience of ordinary men in illness, or in
the prospect of restraint, and assures everybody that he is
doing very well, feels very well, is quite strong, and will
surely be able to go to Washington in two weeks. Mr. Burlingame
assures me, with tears in his eyes, that this is what he always
said. Ever since his injury he has been going to be quite well
in two weeks; but when he rises from his chair, he takes hold
of the table. His gait, at a first glance, appears that of a
man of ninety years of age; but, watching him awhile, I felt
that it was the very kind of step one takes when creeping
through a darkened chamber under the influence of a paroxysm
of nervous headache; but he says, with a kind of lofty,
incredulous scorn, that his head does not ache! Sometimes he
feels a _pressure_ on the top of his head, and it appears
to hurt him when he walks; but he will be ready to go to
Washington in two weeks.
…
“Mr. Burlingame came on Friday evening, about six o’clock, in
company with a gentleman and lady from Philadelphia. He had
not before seen Mr. Sumner since the Brooks challenge, and we
all sat together until after eleven o’clock,--there was so
much to be told, and said, and explained. Without any personal
resemblance, these two appeared together like father and son;
but I could give no idea of their interview, even so much of
it as the sacredness of private conversation would permit to
be made public, in less than a column, and Mr. Sumner crowds
everything from my thoughts just now. When his friends left, he
had no disposition to retire, and when he did, slept but one
hour.
…
“Those mistaken friends of his who would fain see Brooks killed
or maimed would greatly distress him, if any such killing or
maiming were done by their agency. He shudders at the thought
that Burlingame might have shot him, and appears to feel
about as much resentment against him as I should feel toward
a tile which had fallen upon my head. I could not discern the
slightest symptom of chagrin or mortification,--no sense of the
dishonor which so many attach to the blow unrevenged.
“I asked him if he would have defended himself, if it had been
possible?
“‘Most certainly,’ was the prompt reply, ‘to the best of my
ability, and the last extremity.’
“To Dr. Jackson’s suggestion, that the same principle which
permitted him to defend himself, when attacked, should induce
him to punish the offence, he promptly explained the difference
between self-defence and revenge. He appears to have no idea,
however remote, of personal enmity in the matter,--but if
he was only able to deliver one more speech! His brain is
throbbing with pent thunderbolts,--and if he could only get
into the citadel of his foes, and hurl them hissing into their
faces! Kansas, Kansas and her wrongs, if he could but fight her
battles! He does not appear as if he knew how to be afraid, or
could learn, if he tried for a lifetime. There is a lion look
about him, and a courage which could not stoop to assault so
frail a thing as a human body.”
A correspondent of the _Springfield Republican_, after describing a
visit to Mr. Sumner, reports, under date of February 8, 1857:--
“I ventured after a time to speak to him of the outrage from
whose effects came this sad weakness, and to express a wonder
which I have always felt that serious commotions did not follow
it. ‘Oh, no,’ he said. ‘It was little, in comparison with daily
occurrences. The poorest slave is in danger of worse outrages
every moment of his life.’”
A correspondent of the _Boston Traveller_ reports, under date of
February 20, 1858:--
“Much interest is felt, I find, among our friends in
Massachusetts and elsewhere, to know the nature of Mr. Sumner’s
feelings toward the person who inflicted upon him so great a
calamity, taking from him nearly two years of active life, and
putting in jeopardy both his life and reason. Sharing this
feeling, I have endeavored to learn the Senator’s sentiments
on the subject. Yet I have never heard him utter one word from
which I could even found a conjecture of them, though the
matter has been referred to by myself, and by others in my
hearing, in the course of conversation. Moreover, I have heard
his private secretary, who was his nurse and watcher during
the long, sultry days and nights of his illness in Washington,
remark that he had never heard the Senator speak of the assault
or the assailant, or in any way express any feeling on the
subject. But I presume, however, that the feelings of Mr.
Sumner are justly excited against the cruel Slave Power, which
originally instigated and has since sanctioned the assault.”
Mr. Sumner was constantly wrestling with his disability, and impatient
under the necessary constraint. He longed to be at work. Here friends
exerted an adverse pressure.