Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-23
parted with the shield of the constitution to

preserve my selfruspect and constitutional rights,
together with 4 aseat in. this body, must re-
nounce the last rather than the former.
/ Ihavc no desire, sir, 10 continue an argument
which my friends have exhausted. The deter
mina,iun of The majority is fixed, and ii is vain
to resist it. will make no appeal 10 Il packed
jury, bu, protest against its Inconsistencies aud
its usurpaliuns. During this session the charge
was openly made by y member from the State
Of PENNSYLVANIA, on this floor. that another,
[Mr. Pearce, who is his colleague, had been
'guity of an attempt to bribe. and 10 proceed
ings were Instituted in the case. Do the MAORI
" Of this House propose 10 instruct The Ame'i-
can people, from their high position, that bribery
is rXcuS:hle, aud simple assault nno battery Il
crime! That is the lesson, and you are The
teachers. At tic first session of the last Con-
rrcss a member leaprd from his seat, and. while
Inc Speaker WAS in his clair, he passed over
several tables towards his antagonist, who drew
Il weapon in defence. neither gentleman was sub
isred 10. The rrnsurc of this House. As was
appropriately remarked Ly my friend from North
Carolina, (AIr. CIinsnan.) lie as>aulling mem
bcr-aiid it is not for inc 10 say Il word against
him, for personally like hm-Ias now the
most lucrative office in the gift Of thi, House,
and was elected by the unanimous vote of tie
very men who are now cOn>plrng to nllrt pun
ishmrnt upon nlr.
And in whose behalf i, t!iis extraordinary
stretch OF constitutional power invoked? Sir, |
do not intend 10 violate any rule Of this House,
or of parliamentary courtesy, but it cannot bc
denied iha, he is, par csce,ence, the representa-
live Of Il sovereignty which is at this instant iv
omen. statutory rebrliiOn--not to Il simple rule
of single house. bnt to the constitution and
laws of The United States ni America. Massa-
rhusclls sits in judgment upon me without Il
hearing. and presents me for 4 breach Of rrIvi-
lrgc! Sir, is il E0t strange that It did not occur
to that sage Legislature HAT lis demands upon
the Congress uf Tic United States, relative 10 II
member, was It greater breach of privilege in
Them than that complained of in the member
himself? What right, sir, has the Legislature
uf Massachusetts, 10 make any demand upon
This House! She has not the right OF even in
>trucing the most insignificant member from
the S;alr, and has by her resolutions but given
additional proof that she neither colnprehends
the theory Uf our Government nor is loyal TO
liz authority.
lave said, sir, that if | have committed a
breach of privilege, it was the privilege of the
Senate. il | have in any particular violated the
privileges or proprrles of this House, am un-
conscious Of it. aud challegc every member To
specify Il single disordclly or improper act. IN
NV intercourse with lis nembcrS have cndeavor-
I'd to observe Il civil and respectful department.
rendered prompt and implicit obedience 10 lis
constituted authorities, and can truly ny that
which many wiU have recorded their rn:cs
ar;iust me ca,nul--aEd that Is. that never once.
j., the three wears lnat have held seat On Iii
floor, have | been declared out OF order. II
before the transaction tnr wnch majority have
declared me 10 be deserving expulsion, have
Offended any officer or member, or been unkind
even to M employee, regret and am ignorant
of it.
And yet, sir, The vote which has just been tak-
en- transmits me 10 pnscriiv is Il man unworthy,
il, The Judgment Of i majority of my peers of
seat in Ills hail Aud tor what! I he mcm-
Der from New Jersey, (Mr. Pennngion)-tlie
prosecuting mruIhcr--lhc tnumb-parrr nclnbcr
-Elaughtrr -lhr Fal,iail;an 'Dembcr, who, like
his prototype, MAS bora about four O'Clock IL
the morning, and if he has not the bald head, Is
graccd with lie corpnrai rolunaliy great laugh
teri Of his predecessor upon lis advent into this
suGiunary w,r!d-lIe says 1t Wis for making Il
"murderuus" assault with Il ''bludycon;" aid
he, iursuut|l, would have this House aud iie
country believe, with an intent to kill. Now,
sir. see that IL very respectable and cXrelien;
gentleman from Massachusetts has in his hand Il
cane of the ordinary size for gentleman OF his
are, and beg him TO raise il for the inspection
of the member from New Jersey, Mr. De Wilt
elevated ts >:ane Now, sir, | ask THAI memleE-
zft0 answer ss II grnIatmal-I beg his pardon.
that is Il word which he cannot cGmpre;icnd-
but as man on the witness stand Is not that
cane double the weight and tIi:kne $ Of he one
used by nc, and which you have imradcnlir and
falsely called 'b!udgeon !'
Mr.. TEAFTos, Gn,errup,ing) [ have noticed
several Interruptions in the galleries during This
discussion. ard wish 10 move that the Surge
ant-at-Arm be directed to clear the galleries
[Ili>scs in the galleries.
MIR. WHEELER. object.
Tie SPEAKER. The motion is not in order
The Chai: announced some time since, that il
there was any further disturbance. the Sergeant
at.Arlns wcn'd have orders TO clear The galleries
Mr., BRooKs. again'appe;,I 10 my friends in
tie galleries TO be quiet.
Tie SrEAKER. Order must be preserved
Mr. Books, (rc>umiug,) II desired 10 kill
the Senator, why did nos ! do ii? You all I'D
nit laal had him in my power. Let me tell
the member from New Jersey that i, WAS OK.
pressly to avoid taking life that used an ordi-
rary cane. presented 10 me by Il freud in Bali-
more, nearly three months before lis application
10 the +" bare head" Of the Massachusetts Sc:E,-
;6r went TO work very deliberately, as am
charged-and Ibis is admi,tcd-and spccu'a!ed
somewhat as 10 whether should employ horse
whip or cowhidr bat knowing that the SeuEl-
tor was my superior in strength j: occurred TO
me that he might wrcst it from my hand, and
thcn-for never attempt anything do not per-
forn-I might have been compelled to do that
which would have regretted Tic balance OF my
natura! life.
Tie question has been asked in certain news
papers, why did not invite the Senator 10 per-
'sonul comb.t in the mode usually adopted. Well.
sir, rs desire the whole truth 10 be known about
the matter will for once notice Il newspaper
article on The floor of the Huuse, and answer
here.
Mv'answcr is, that knew that the Senator
would not accept II message and having formed
the unalterable determination 10 punish him,
believe that the offence Gf :! sending hostile
message" superadded to The Indictment for as-
sault and battery, would subject me to legal
penalties more severe than would be imposed for
simple assault and battery.
That is my answer.
For this art, which the Senate, with The soil
iary exception of distinguished gentleman
from Georgia, Mr. Toombs, have pronounced
me guilty of breach of its privileges-ior this
act am complained of by that body TO this
House. Your committee have declared, and Ibis
House has now concurred in the opinion, that
ruy offence is to the Senate and that no rule or
order Of this body have | violated.