Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-05-24

doubt intended so to he understood. 1t
had been received on Saturday, the We
ry day after the yeas and nays had been
taken in Houston's case. Now, Mr.. A.
insisted that the House had brought all
this upon themselves. They had, by
their own act, virtually invoked in
suit and outrage from every rufian in
the land. The decision which the
House had come to in the case of Hous-
ton amounted to call, an invitation to
all the band Of ruflians and assassins that
could be collected, and which was pro-
PEELED by secret power that was almost
irresistible. Yes, that decision was tan
tamount to proclaiming to them all
''come here ye assassins! assault whom
you viii strike down whom you like!
you shall have free ingrcss and egress to
our Hall, and, if you knock any Of us
down and break our bones, we will call
you before the Speakers chair, and
there like school boys, you shall .eceive
gentle rePrimand, and if you repeat
the outrage, then you shall be repriman-
ded again." The individual who had
written this letter would feel himself not
degraded, but, on the contrary, highly
elevated and honored to be sent for by
the Sergeant at Arms. 1t would be the
very pinnacle of hts glory. But if the
majority felt, in reference to such at
tncks, as he did, they would be convince
cd that, to prevent their recurrence they
must punish such deeds in way to make
their punishment felt
With such band, said Mr.. A. as that
by which we are surrounded, rely upon
it nothing short Of incarceration, will
have any effect. But suppose the hon
orable gentleman from Ohio had COM
piled with that letter, and had consented
70 60 to mortal combat with this band Of
prowling assassins, what honor could he
have obtained? Mr. a. said no had all
his life been accustomed to speak his
sentiments freely. He should continue
to do so at every hazard, and sooner
than have them restrained, he would
consent that the poignard should be
plunged in his heart that his blood should
be poured down the cutters, and Tapped
by the dogs in the street. These were
times which called upon the Representa-
,ives of the American People to speak
their sentiments freely. Gro speak, but
not to act, for It was not in their power to
act in that HIouse.) For his part, he
was for tinkering no longer But sup
pose the gentleman from Ohio had gone
ont and had been shot, would it have
been more aggravated case than that
Of Houston? il would only have been
a murder, and none of the honorable
gentlemen admitted that the House had
The power to punish murderers. What
punishment then would have been prOvi-
ded for this poor, miserable South Caro-
linian? He was n citizen of the United
States, and the other, whose case had
been acted upon, il he understood the
matter, was not, but was a citizen Of the
Cherokee Nation beyond the limits of
the Arkansas Territory. But here was
a free citizen of the United States, who
had done only what was common in his
country. Suppose the case should be
pursued, and ajudged to be breach Of
privilege, what could rhe House do with
Davis? Could they inhict greater pun.
ishment upon him than they had Just in
ficted on the man, in regard to whom a
majority Of the House had said that they
would not exclude from tie privileged
seats Of that Hall, "A man who had knock
ed down member Of that Hous e, beat
en- him, broken his bones-but, on the
contrary, had declared, by their deci.
sion, that he should be permitted to stalk
round the Hall with pistols in his belt,
and his dirk in his bosom'
Mr. Boon here interposed, and inqm-
red of the Chair whether Mr.. Houston
was now on trial' The Speaker pro-
nomced the gentleman from Tennessee
to be in order
Mr. A. resumed. He said that man
who had committed such an offence had
been solemnIy permitted by vote Of
the House, to prowl about its lobbies un-
molested, although il was in proof that
he had, within a few feet Of the Spea-
kers's ear, declared he would right the
wrong in that House, or in the court Of
Heaven, and although it had been with
the utmost difficulty that he had been
restrained from carrying his threat into
execution within the precincts of this ga
cred temple Of liberty, and had added
profanity to his threat; yet the House
had declared him to be fit companion
for themselves, and by their vote had
said to such man, "Haib fellow, well
met"
Here the CHAR reminded the gen.
tleman from Tennessee that It was not in
order to reflect upon any decision of the
House.
Mr. A. then said that he believed that
such man was prepared to commit any
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