Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-05
Congress on the Sumner Outrage

Congress on the Sumner Outrage
: In the House of Representatives, on Mon
} day, Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, from the com
: mittee appointed to investigate the circum
stances attending the assault on Senate
Sumner, made report concluding as fol
} lows
Whereas, That Senate of the Unite,
States have transmitted to this House ,
message complaining that Preston S. Brook.
representative from the State of South Ca
rolina, committed upon the person of Chas
Sumner, Senator from the State of Mas
sachusetts, while seated at his desk in the
Senate chamber, after the adjournment oil
that body on the 22d of May last, violent
assault which disabled him from attending to
his duties in the Senate, and declaring said
assault was breach of privileges of that
body: and
Whereas, From the respect of the privi
leges of the House, the Senate has further
declared that naSmuch as P. S. Brooks is n
member of this House, they cannot arrest
and portion cannot try and punish him for
breach of their privileges, that they can
not proceed further in the matter than to
make their complaint to this House. and
that power to arrest,try and punish, devolves
solely on this body; and
Whereas, Upon a we'll Investigation it an
pears TO this House .hu; said Preston s.
Brooks has been guilty of the assault COM
planned of by the Senate, with the most ag-
gravated circumstances of violence, that the
same was breach Of the Senate and of the
privileges not only of the Senate, but of
the Senator assaied and of this House. as n
Coordinate branch of the Legislative depart
ment of the Government, and in direct yio
lation of the Constitution of the u. s.,
which declares that Senators and Repre-
sentatives for speech or debate in either
House shall not be questioned in any other
place; and
Whereas, This House is of opinion that it
has power, and ought to punish said Preston
5. Brooks for said assault, not only breach
OF the privilege of the Senator ASA lied. and
of the privilege of the Senate and House as
declared by the Constitution, but as an
act of disorderly behavior, and
Whereas, 1t further appears from such
investigation that Henry A. Edmunston, re-
preventative from Virginia, and Lawrence |
M. Keitt, representative from South Carroll |
ma, sometime previous to said assault were
informed that 1t was the purpose of said |
Brooks to commit violence upon the person
OF said Sumner, Tor words said BY him as a
Senator in the Senate, and took no mea-
sures to discourage prevent the sume, but
on the contrary anticipating the commission
OF such violence, were present on one or
more occasions to witness the same as
friends OF the assailant. therefore
Resolred, That Preston S. Brooks be, and
IS, forthwith expelled from the House as re
preventative from South Carolina.
Resoired, That this House hereby declare
is disapprobation of the said act of Henry
keitt, in regard to said assault.
Signed by Campbell of O., Skinner, Pen. {
nington and Howell.
Mr. Cobb submitted minority renort
rgung that no breach of privilege under the
constitution had been committed and that
he House had no power to 60 beyond the
even if a breach of privilege
ad been committed. ,
Both reports were laid on the table and or.
cred to be printed Adj'd. =
Lew. Campbell is after Mr.. Brooks and
ell be sure to ferret bin out if anv one ?
an. r