Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-26
1PEKcm = nROoKs.


Mr.. Giddings-I wish to know what the ques-
ton of privilege is.
Mr.. Brooks will state it.
Mr.. DUNN ask, by the unanimous consent of
the House, that the gentleman from South Caro-
lima be heard.
Mr.. Giddings-For one, L shall give no such
consent. / object to anything but order from
that gentleman.
The Speaker The gentleman from South Car
DINA states that he rises to privileged question
Mr.. Dumb trust the House will entertain
motion fora suspension of the rules-
Mr.. Nichols-Delicacy may have prevented the
proper he should be heard now. protest in the
name of truth and justice against keeping him
silent il he desires to speak
Mr.. Eustis-lt would be gross violation of
courtesy and decency to deprive him of the priv
ilege
Sir. Florence-The gentleman from South Car
olina had risen and was stating his question
without objection. 1t was not in order for MIR.
Giddings to object to his proceeding.
The Speaker-It was competent for the gentle
men from Ohio to raise question of order.
Mr.. Giddings-We have voted and done our
duty, and ought not to listen to q speech out Of
order. ss aF98f ri 4sas.
Mr.. Giddings to withdraw his objection. Mr..
Brooks, he said, ought to be heard, as he was
vitality interested. fffftf ar s4i
Mr.. Comins likewise appealed to Mr.. Giddings
to withdraw his objection. ta.4t5.a1 7ssate,
MIR. Giddings yielded only on the ground to sat-
isfy his friends.
Members now crowded round Mr.. Brooks, and
intensely interested spectators in the galleries
leaned over TO hear him.
Mr.. Brooks said MIR. Sumner uttered SANDER
on his State and venerable relative, who was at
sent. Not content with this he published a libel
on his State and blood. Whoever insuIted South
Carolina insulted him, and he stood ready at all
times, humbly and modestly her son to per-
form his duty. He should have forfeited his SELF
respect, and the good opinion of his countrymen.
if he had permitted the offence to pass unpuu-
ished. 1t was personal affair, and in taking re-
dress into his own hands he meant disrespecs
to the Senate or the House, hor did he mean dir
respect to Massachusetts,. He was aware Of his
personal responsibility. lie incurred it, and was
prepared to meet it. lie knew be was am enable
to the laws which offered the same protection to
every citizen, whether Member of Congress or
in the private walks of life. He did not believe
he could be punished by Court Of law and by
the House mt the same time. If he had commit
ted breach of privilege, be was answerable to
the Senate, which had no right to present him to
the House for punishment. The question not
only involved him and his friends, but the whole
House. If the consequences were confined to
himself he would be prepared to meet them here
or elsewhere. Others must not suffer for him.
He had felt more for his friends, Messrs Edmund
son and Keitt, than himself. They are blameless.
Each has proved "a friend who ssticketh closer
than a brorher.'' When, he. remarked, the people
Of the great North speak of ME as bad man
they will do me the justice to say, that blow
from me at this time would be followed by a rev
olution, and they know it, applause seemingly
confined the galleries. but no act of mine shall
favor revolution. l am not willing TO see the Con-
stituton wounded thi ougb me. He would say to
the House, t1at the AK upfted over him may fall
them. lie had only to say he could not retain
his seat consistently with his self respect and
rights under the Constitution. During this very
session, member from Pennsylvania charged 4
colleague with an attempt at bribery. Where were
the proceedings in that case? BY passing it in
silence. the House has declared bribery is excus-
able; but simple assault and battery is not. He
spoke of Massachusetts being in a state Of
rebellion against the laws and Constitution Of the
United States while sitting in judgment on him
and demanding his expulsion without a hearing.
He had never been called to order, nor had he
offended any officer. Yet vote has been taken
to-day transmitting him to posterity as unworthy
of seat here, because of disorderlv behavior;
and in this connection he spoke of MIR. Pennns-
ton rs the prosecutor, the ''thumb paper" the
:" Falstalfan member" de-. for which he was call
ed to order. Mr.. Brooks said that Mr.. Penninu-
ton charged that the assault murderous, and
that with hludgeon had attempted to Kill MIR.
Sumner. My friend from Massachusetts over there
has pretty good sized stick. | would thank him
to raise it and submit it to the inspection of tho
gentleman from New Jersey. Mr.. De Witt, the
gentleman alluded TO, held up his stick for u mo-
ment. Laughter.] Now, that stick is double the
size OF the one used by me.
Mr.. Trafton here rose and asked that the dis
order in the galleries be qusted, or that they be
cleared. Kisses from the galleries ~ ii =
Nka Al H.
tinued he would give that order.
MFR. Jones, enn. why, did not hear any
up there just now. sr 81.
Mr.. Brooks, Cooking up)-lf have friends in
the galleries desire them to be quiet. He then
continued If desired to kill the Senator from
Massachusetts, why did not do it2 You all ad-
nit that had 1T in my power. Let me tell the
gentleman from New Jersey, that expressly to
prevent taking life | used an ordinary cane pre-
sented by friend in Baltimore. went to the
Senate deliberately. Ihesitated whether should
use horsewhip cowhide, but knowing that
the strength of the Senator from Massachusetts
was superior to mine, thought he might wrest
it from me. II he had, might have done what
should have regretted for the remainder of my
life. W5 a. er.'a
\ Voice He would have killed him! se, 4
Mr.. BROOKS, resuming, said--Ten DAYS ago,
forseeing what the action Of the House would be,
my resignation was put into the hands of the
Governor OF South Carolina. Mr. Brooks replied
to several members VIII, had said hard things of
him, including MIR. Comins, quoting the remark
that 8 Massachusetts would take her own time for
the remedy," but he would never plead the Statute
Of Limitations against the wrath OF that State.
lie quoted from Mr.. Woodruff $ speech, so strong
ly cOndemnatory of his conduct, saying he thought
gentleman uttering such sentiments ssa foeman
worthy of his STEEL and related in the language
of his friend Col. Savage, how Mr.. Woodruff de.
clined meeting Mr.. Brooks in the manner recog-
nized by gentlemen. The narration caused laugh
ter. lie said to Mr.. Woodruff: TO, little wretch;
there is room enough in this world for you and
me. In his judgment, the cock that crows and
will not fight is despised even by hens and pulets.
[Laughter.] Alluding to thc remark of James
Watson Webb which bad been quoted, that the
act of assault deserved death on the spot, be said
If those who endorsed that sentiment wished to
play the game Of cbivalry. let them, with their
whole Republican crew, come and take the life
which they say is forfeited. II bis opponents
were satisfied with the present state of the case,
he was, He returned bis thanks to his friends,
especially to good Northern Democrats and gem
tlemep who had the manliness to stand BY him
not forgetting John Scott Harrison. Some gen.
tlemen he believed, had voted against him con-
trary to their wishes, but were operated upon by
outside pressure, and be spoke in COMMUNICATION
OF those who gave their votes without INDUCING
Speaker, announce to you and TO tho House,
am no longer u member Of the XXXIst Congress.
Confusion, Kisses and applause followed, during
which Mr. Brooks retired. - Gsa1.
Mr.. CARUTHERS said if he had been present.,
he would have voted against expulsion, believing
that no ofensc to the House had been committed
Il was q long time before order was thorouchlv