The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-06
CONGRESS.

A very tame report was made in the
Senate, by the Investigating COMMITTEES Of
that branch, on the Sumner affair, declaring
in substance that all the Senate could do
was to complain to the House. In the
House, on Monday, Mr.. Campbell from
the Committee made report concluding as
follows:
whercas-The Senate Of the United
States have transmitted TO this House a
message complaining that Preston 5. Brooks,
q Representative from South Carolina,
committed upon the psrson OF Charles Sum-
ner, a Senator from die State OF Massachu-
sets, while seated ~ his desk in the Senate
Chamb IT. after the adjournment on the 22d
day of May last, violent assault, which
disabled him from attending 10 his duties in
the Scnat,, and declaring that said assault
was breach of the privileges OF that
House. The Senate have further declared
that, inasmuch "a the said Preston :. Brooks
, il a member Of this House, they cannot try
TO punish hun for a breach of their priyile-
ges that they cannot proceed further in
the case than to make complaint to this
House; and that the power to arrest, try
and punish, devolycs solely ON this body
and
Whcrcas-Upon full investigation, it APP
pears TO this House that the said Preston ,.
Brooks has baen guilty Of the assault COM
plain.l Of By the S,nlte, with the most
aggravated circumstances of violence; that
the sane was n breach OF the privileges OF
not only ths S,nlt,. but the co-ordinItes
branch OF the Legislative Department oil
Government, in direct violation of tho Con-
stitution Of the United States, which de-
clarcs that Senator's and Representatives
for any speech Of debate, in either House
shall not be questioned in any other place
aud
Whereas this house is of the opinion
that il has the power, and ought 10 punish
the sid Preston ;. Brooks, for the said rs
sault, not only as breach of the privilege
of the Senator asailed, and Of the Senat,
and louse, as declared BY the Constitution
but as an act OF disorderly bchayior-anC
Whercas-lt further appears from sucl
Investigations. that II. A. Edmundson, 1
Representative from the State OF Virginia
and l.. VI. Keitt, a reprcsentiyc from Soutl
Carolina, somtime previous 10 the assault
were informed that 10 was the intention o
the said Brooks 10. commit violence upoI
the person of tho said Suancr, for word
used BY him m debate, as Senator in th'
Seuate OF the United States, and took n,
means to discourage thcsame, but, on tn
CONTRARY, anticipating the commission Of
such violence, were present ON one or NOR
occasions, To witness the sane, as friend
ofthe as ailant-thercfore.
Rcsolvcd-rhat =. $. Brooks BE-, and i
hereby forthwith expelled from this House
ASA Representative from tho State OF SoutI
Carolina.
Re~olyei-Thas this House hereby decla'
its disapprobation of the said act OF Her
~ A. Edmundson and Iawrcnce VI. keitt
in regard to said assault.
This report was signed by Messrs. Camp
bell. of Ohio, Spinner, and Pennington.
Mr.. Howell Cobb, representing the minoi
ity Of the COMMITTEES. presented minorit
report, arguing that no breach Of privilege
under the Constitution, had been committed
and that the Househa no power to 90 b
yond the Consultation, in deciding that
breach of privilege hadbesn committed.
Both reports were laid upon the table, an
ordered to be printed.
On Thursday of last week, tho Presiden
sent message to Congress notifying the tw
branches Of the dismissal Of Mr.. Crompto'
and on the ams day, in tho House. Mr.
Glow, representing the majority of the con-
mittsc on territories made report proPo'
ins 70 admit Kansas into the union with tn
Topeka constitution. Consideration va
postponed till the 18th Of June.
A large number Of the members have gon
to Cincinnati to attend the convention, an
littls or no business viii Be done until I'll
conventions Are over.