He then describes meeting Mr. Sumner in the doorway of the reception-room, “leaning on two persons whom I did not recognize. His face was covered with blood.” He adds:-- “I am not particularly fond of scenes of any sort. I have no associations or relations of any kind with Mr. Sumner; I have not spoken to him for two years.” Hon. Robert Toombs, of Georgia, said:-- “As for rendering Mr. Sumner any assistance, I did not do it. As to what was said, some gentleman present condemned it in Mr. Brooks. I stated to him, or to some of my own friends, probably, _that I approved it. That is my opinion._” Hon. Benjamin P. Wade, of Ohio, followed. “If the principle now announced here is to prevail, let us come armed for the combat; and although you are four to one, I am here to meet you. God knows a man can die in no better cause than in vindicating the rights of debate on this floor; and I have only to ask, that, if the principle is to be approved by the majority, and to become part and parcel of the law of Congress, it may be distinctly understood.” Hon. Henry Wilson followed, saying:-- “Mr. Sumner was stricken down on this floor by a brutal, murderous, and cowardly assault.” At this point he was interrupted by Hon. A. P. Butler, of South Carolina, according to the unamended report of the newspapers, by the exclamation from his seat,-- “You are a liar!” In the _Globe_ it is said:-- “Mr. Butler, in his seat, impulsively uttered words which Senators around advised him were not parliamentary, and he subsequently, at the instance of Senators, requested that the words might be withdrawn.” Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, of Connecticut, followed. “As I understood the honorable Senator from Georgia to remark that he approved of striking forcibly down in this Chamber a member of the Senate, I think it incumbent on me, recently a member of this body, and not having participated in its debates, to say a word.” Mr. Foster then proceeded to vindicate liberty of speech. * * * * * Shortly afterwards, in another speech, Senator Butler said of Mr. Sumner:-- “Though his friends have invested him with the dress of Achilles and offered him his armor, he has shown that he is only able to fight with the weapons of Thersites, _and deserved what that brawler received from the hands of the gallant Ulysses_.”[146]