Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-04
Reuort On the summer Case.

In the House on Monday, Mr.. Campbell. u
Ohio. from the select COMMITTEES ON the assault On
Senator Sumner, made report, concluding a. io''
lows:
Whereas the Senate Of the United States have
transmitted 10 this House . message complaining
that Preston s. Brooks, Representative from the
State Of South Carolina, committed upon the per-
son OF Charles Sumner, Senator from the State
of Massachusetts,, while seated ut his desk in the
Senate Chamber. after the adjournment OF that
body on the 22d of May last, violent assault
which disabled him from attending to his duties In
the Senate; and declaring that said assaut.was
breach Of the privilege of that body. And, where
as, from respect Of the privileges of the House,
the Senate have further declared. that inasmuch
as the said Preston g. Brooks is member Of this
House they cannot arrest, and, q fatnrO, cannot
try or punish him for brrach Of their privileges
that they cannot proceed further in the case than
to make their complaint to this House; and that
power to arrest, try, and punish, devolves solely
on this body; and whereas upon full investiga-
ton it appears to this House that the said Preston
s. Brooks has been guilty of the assault complain
ed of by the Senate, with most aggravated cir
cumstauces oil violence; that the same was breach
of the privileges not only of the Senate but Of the
Sc ator assaed, and of this House, as a co ordi-
nate branch of the Legislative department of the
government in direct violation of the constitution
Of the United States which declares that Senators
and Representatives for any speech or debate ia
either House shall not be questi in any other
place Whereas this House is of the opinion that
it has the power, and ought to punish the said
Preston s. Brooks for the said assault not only as
breach of the privileges of the Senator assaled,
and of the Senate and House, AZ declared by the
constitution, but an act of disordery behavior
and
Whereas, it further appears from such inyesti-
CATION that Henry A. Edmundson, representa-
tive from the State of Virginia, and Lawrence n.
Keitt, representative from South Carolina, some
time previous to said assault, were informed that
it was the purpose of said Mr.. Brooks to commit
violence upon the person of said Charles Sumner,
for words used by him in debate as Senator in
the Senate, and took no measure to discourage or
prevent the same, but, on the contrary, anticpat-
ing the commission of such violation were present
on one or more occasions to witness the same az
friends Of the assailant. Therefore,
Resolpcd, That Preston s. Brooks be, and he il
forthwith expelled from this House as Repre-
sentative from the State of South Carolina.
Resolred, That tAis House hereby declares its
disapprobation of the said act of Henry A. Edmund
son and Lawrence III. Keitt in regard to the sale
assault E
Signed by Mr. Campbell of Ohio, Mr.. Spinner
and Mr.. Pennington.
Hon. Howell Cobb from the minority of sale
committee, submitted minority report arguing
that no breach of privilege, under the Constitu
ton, had been committed, and the House had ne
power to 60 beyond the Constitution in deciding
that breach of privilege had been committed.
Both reports were laid on the table and ordered
to be printed.