Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-17
ALEXANDRIA, I'd. Co.
.c,,rsn3Y MORNING. APRIL II. 1852.

Tas honorable Niiliaui o'a"'s'!'
81, House of Representatives from the State Of
a y: "a. way.laid, assaulted, and brutality beat
V''' pennsylvania Avenue in Washington ON
en- 49, ~ n,,bt last, BY Samuel Houston, Of Ten
run Ne understand that Mr.. Stauberry's
If very serious nature, and the effort
~" =, Ia either to take his life or make HIM
'''D'' II. ,be rest Of his DAYS. The assailant IS
'''F ls.u known "by report'' throughout the
'''I ,.v ashaying, some years ago, left his coun-
Jun" IS. and frieads, and taken up his abode
With the Indians.
.r,, 0retcxt for the outrage was aspeech which
s.',hs,ry made, ON the Chickasaw Treaty
W. .. IN which he referred to Houston as be-
..oroed in the attempt to defraud the gov
The same statement, but much more
''""' I.nL folI. was made by the Editor OF the
=! p ,,,,uh Houston, we learn, challenged Mr..
s,a1.ny who very properly declined taking any
i The assault was then resolved on;
DO US ,soort sass-which we hope may turn out to
''~ That the contemplated attack was made
" 50 some Members Of Congress. BE that
~ - in the darkness of the night Mr.. Stan
~, va, knocked down with bludseon BY
and beaten, as we have already stated.
"a saturday morning, soon after the reading
1.-The Journal, the Speaker laid before the House
rp,DrsseptatiYes the following letter:
- ha uon ANDREW STEVENSON,
1" 81, Sosaker of The House Of Representatives..
Gas way-Iaid in the street, near to my
T. house. last night, about O'Clock. and
O "'I5 knocked down bv bludgeon, aud Sc
S'"I" h,,;ssd and wounded, by Samuel Hous-
90 IF Tennessee for words spoken IN my
""' - the House OF Representatives, by reason
P,,rb;cI am confned to my bed, and unable TO
u u L',. NV duties in the House. and attend to
interests Of my constituents.
communicate this information to you, and re-
oy,., YOU will lay it before the iouse.
yery respectfully, yours.
WI. STRAWBERRY,
v.,b-r Of the House Of Represent,ti' 5 from Ohio
nause Of several minutes ensued. when MIR.
Vance. of Ohio, rose. aud, after stating that ne
h,J s,,mined the presidents in the case, moved
,he following resolution:
B,solr,d, That the SPEAKER DO issue ms war
,,D, directed to the Serseant-at- Arms attending
the House, commanding MIN to take IN custody,
wherever TO be found. the bodT OF Samuel Hous-
nm and the same m his custody To keep. subject
N ,hs further order and direction OF this House.
We venture to say, that it was the conviction
Of every spectator in the House, that THIS 'esolu-
hon would have been put aud carried unanimous
H. The Constitution not only guarantees the
freedom Of debate, but expressly declares that no
Member Of Congress shall be Questioned else
where for words spoken in debate" Here
was case in which the very letter and spirit
If the Constitution had been broken, aud dar-
mo contempt offered to the rights and privileges
Of the House Of Representatives, 10 our sur
Prise, however, Mr.. Polk, of Tennessee, IN set
O,ech Of some length argued against the resolu-
i'm. denvius the power of the House TO punish
for a contempt Of this nature. A debate then
en,ued, IN which the doctrine Of contempts was
argued Mr. Polk was supported by Mr. sPe'gh'
of Nnrth Carolina and Mr., Patton OF Virginia. ~
The question: was finally taken, and the resolu'
ton agreed to by vote of las to %. In the
course Of the debate, the case Of the assault upon
d, Private Secretary of the late President. IN
d Rounda Of the Capitol, was referred to; ana
Il must nave been manifest to the members now
exceedingly improper was the course OF passing
over silently that outrage upon decency and goou
order
The Speaker issued his warrant immediately,
aal We learn it was served upon Houston the
anne evening.
We trust the House, in this case, will sustain
II dignity, and. It proper, pu.ish to the extent
d Is authority the offender.
~ We have received communication from
Washington relative to the late outrage com
dm that place, whichwe must decline publishing
"eare more charitable than some OF our neigh
"rs Ii is true that It does not look we'll that
Houston should be fayorite Win the President,
and atnend at MS house; and that II did not look
'sl To see Mr., Polk, the organ in the House,