Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-06-04
THIRTY-FouRTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, June ;

NASHlN6ION1 June q.
SRNATE.-Mr, Bright being absent, Mr..
Stuart presided. He laid before the Senate a
message from the President, in relation to
Central America, which has already been pub
lshed.
A resolution was adopted, that when the
Senate adjourns OH Thursday next, it be to
the following Monday.
The presiding officer laid before the Senate,
a letter from ?. S. Brooks to Mr.. Bright; in it
he disclaims any intention of offending against
the privileges of the Senate by his assault on
Mr.. Sumner, but says he felt bound to ct as
tise Mr.. Sumner, for the insults to his State
and his relative, and, having sought him in
vain elsewhere, he deemed it proper to infct
that punishment in the Senate. He did not
think he was committing any breach of privi-
lege. -
The letter was read, laid on the table, and
ordered to be printed.
The Senate then adjourned to Thursday.
HoUsE.-Mr. Campbell of Ohio, from the
Select Committee on the assault on Mr.. Sum
ner by Mr.. Brooks, made report, concluding
as follows:
Whereas The Senate of the United States have trans
mitted to this House message complaining that Preston
s. Brooks, Representative from South Carolina com.
mitted the person of Charles Sumner Senator from
the State Of Massachusetts while seated his desk in the
Senate Chamber after the adjournment of the I'D day
May last violent assault, which disabled him from
tending to his duties in The Senate and declaring that
said assault breach of the privileges of that House.
The Senate have further declared that nasmuch as the
said Preston s. Brooks is member Of this House. they
cannot try punish him for breach of their privileges
that they cannot PR coed further in the than make
complaint to this House, and that the power arrest
try, and punish, devolves solely on this body, and
HhsredS, Upon full investigation it appears to this
House. that the said Preston s. Brooks has been guilty Of
the assault complained of by the Senate with the most
aggravated circumstances Of vioence that the same
breach of the privileges not only Of the Senate but Of
the coordinate branch of the legislative department o,
the government in direct violation of the Constitution
the United States which declares that Senators and Rep
resentatives for any speech debate in either House
shall not be questioned in any other pace and whereas
this House is of the opinion that it has the power and
ought to punish the said Preston g. Brooks for the said
assault not only breach of the privileges the Sen
ator assaed and of the Senate House. as declared
by the Constitution, but as act of dsordery BEHAVIOR
and
Whereas, It further appears from such investigation,
thatH. A. Edmundsop Representative from the State
Of Virginia, and Keitt, representative South
Carolina some time previous the assault informed
that was the purpose Of the said Brooks TO commit vio-
ence the person Of said Sumner for words used by
MN in debate as senator in the Senate of the United
States and took no means to discourage prevent the
same, but on the contrary anticipating the commission
such violence, were present OCCASIONS to
witness the friends of the assaant; therefore
ReSoLUed, That p s. Brooks be- and is, hereby forth
with expelled from this House, as representative from
the State of South Carolina.
heS0Oed That TINS House hereby declare its disappro
baton of the said act Of Henry A. Edmundson and Law
renee NJ. Keitt, in regard to said assault.
Signed by Messrs. Campbell of Ohio, Spin
ner, and Pennington.
Mr.. Howell Cobb, representing the minori-
ty of the committee, presented minority re-
port arguing that no breach of privilege, I'M
der the Constitution, had been committed, land
that the House had no power to 60 beyond the
Constitution III deciding thata breach of priv
ilege had been committed.
Both reports were laid upon the table, and
ordered to be printed. Adjourned.