Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-23
THE BROOKS AFFAIR IN CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, July IA. 1856.

day. Though Brooks has not been expelled,
the House by its vote of 121 Yeas in favor of
expulsion, to % against it, has, as Brooks tru-
ly said, after the vote. transmitted him to pos
terity as man unworthy to hold seat on
that floor. Mr.. Campbell endeavored to post
pone the whole subject until Wednesday, ow-
ing to i'll health, but the House opposed
to it. The previous question was called,
and the motion to recommit was lost. Cobb's
amendment was defeated by Yea and Nay
vote of 66 to 145. Then came the question TO
expel. which, requiring two third vote, was
not carried, but received the majority above
given.
On the call for the previous question Mr..
Edmundson of Virginia, one of the censured
party, addressed the House, and contended
that what Brooks told him about his intentions
were confidential, and he could not have di-
vulged them without betraying confidence !;
that he supposed the meeting between Brooks
and Sumner would be equal, and therefore
fair. That no injustice would have been done
to Sumner-if he (Eimundson) had been pres
ent. He made a strong appeal to the sympa-
thies of the House.
which was very clear and able review of the
whole transaction. Opportunity was given to
Brooks and Kett to speak in their own de-
fensc, but they declined until after the House,
by its majority vote, decided Brooks to be un-
worthy of seat in that body. Then he rose
to privileged question and was entering upon
an elaborate speech when Mr.. Giddings objec-
ted, giving as a reason that the last vote of
the House had declared the member from
South Carolina to he unworthy of seat here,
and therefore he ought no. to be allowed to do
anything improper.
Mr.. Dunn of Indiana hoped the objection
would be withdrawn, followed by the same
request from the whole South. Mr.. Comins
of Massachusetts, earnestly appealed to Mr..
Giddings to withdraw his objection, and others
from the North were inprudent enough to do
the same thing, and then at last, under the
press Of personal solicitations. Mr.. Giddings
Withdrew his objection against his own will
| and threw the responsibility upon his friends
to whom he yielded.
Mr.. BROOKS said Mr.. Sumner uttered a
SANDER on his State and venerable relative,
who was absent. Not content with this, he
published libel on his State and blood
Whoever insuted South Carolina insulted
him, and he stood ready at all times, humbly
and modestly as her son to perform his duty.
He should have forfeited his self-respect, and
the good opin:o of his countrymen, if he had
permitted the offence to pass unpunished. 1t
was personal affair, and in taking redress in
20 his own hands he meant disrespaet to the
Senate or the House, nor did he mean disrcs
pect to Massachusetts,. He was aware of his
personal responsibility. He incurred it, and
was prepared to meet it. He know he was a
mcnable to the laws which offered the same
protection to every citizen, whether Mem
bcr of Congress or in the private walks of life.
He did not believe he could be punished by
Court of law and by the majority of the House
at the same time. If lie had committed
breach of privilege, he 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 con-
fined to himself he would be prepared TO meet
them here or elsewhere. Others must not
suffer for him. He had felt more for his
himself. They are blameess. Each has pro-
we'd a friend who sssticketh sscloser than a
brother" When, he remarked, the people of
the great North speak of me as a bad man
they will do me the justice to say, that blow
from me at this time would be followed by
revolution, and they know it applause seem
ingly confined to the gale-ies,) but no act Of
mine shall favor revolution. / am not willing
to see the Constitution wounded through me-
He would say to the House that the axe uplif-
ted over him might fall on them. He had on
ly to say he could not retain his seat consis-
tcntly with his self-respect and rights under
the Constitution. During this very session,
member from Pennsylvania charged a coll
league with an attempt at bribery. Where
were the proceedings in that case By pas
sing it in silence, the House has declared bri-
berry is excusable; but simply assault and bat
terry IS not. He spoke of Massachus etts as
being in rebellion against the laws and Consti-
tuition of the United States while sitting in
judgment on him and demanding his expul-
sion without 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 unworthy of seat here
because of disorderly behavior; and in this
connection he spoke of Mr.. Pennington as the
prosecutor, as the ssthumb-paper, the "Falls-
taffian MEMBER" &C., for which the Speaker
called him to order. Mr.. Brooks said that |
Mr.. Pennington charged that the assault was |
murderous, and that with bludgeon 1 had at |
tempted to kill Mr.. Summer. Ny friend from
over there has a pretty good