Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-27
FRIDAY, MAY %, 1856.
SLN IJ,L,

FRIDAY, MAY %, 1856.
| SENATE.
A message was received from the President, re
turning, with his objections, the bill making appro
praton for the Improvement Of the St. Marys river
Michigan.
Mr. Wilson sad-The seat of my colleague is va
cant to-day. For the first time after five years %
public service, that seat is Vacant. Yesterday, ate
the touching tribute of respect to the memory OF q
! deceased member of the House of Representatives,
the Senate adjourned My colleague remained in hi:
seat, engaged in his public duties and while thus en-
gagged, with pen in his hand, sitting in position
which rendered him utterly incapable of protecting
or defending himself, Mr.. Preston s. Brooks, member
| of the House OF Representatives, approached him
unobserved and abruptly addressed him. Looking
up, and before he had time TO utter single word III
| reply, he received stunning blow upon the head
| from cane in the hand of Mr.. Brooks, which made
| him almost senseless aud unconscious. Endeavor
ing, however to protect himself, in rising from his
chair his desk was overthrown; and while in that
powerless position he was beaten upon the head and
shoulders by repeated blows, until he sank upon the
floor Of the Senate, exhausted unconscious and COW
cred with his own blood. He was raised from the
| floor by few friends and taken into the ante-room
and bad his wounds dressed and then carried TO his
| home aud placed upon his bed. He is now unable 10
be with us to-day TO perform the duties which belong
to him as a member of this body. To assail mem
Der of the Senate for words spoken in debate and out
of this chamber is grave offence not only against
the rights Of member, but the constitutional prv-
lrge of this body; but, sir to come into this chamber
and assault member in HE seat until he fall exhaust
ed upon the floor, ia offence requiring the prompt
| action of this body. Sir, submit 10 notion; leave
it to Older Senators, whose character aud position III
this Senate, nnd before the country, enineny hi
them to take the lead in measures TO redress the
wrongs of member of this body, and yindlcate the
| honor and dignity Of the Senate.
Mr.. Seward submitted resolution that commit
tee of FIVE members be appointed by the President
pro tenn, to inquire into tie circumstances attending
| the assault committed the person OF the Hon.
Charles Sumner, member Of the Senate, in the Sc.
nate Chamber yesterday; and that said committee be
instructed TO report the statement Of facts, together
with their opiglcns thereon, to the Senate.
AT suggestion ulaGu by Mr.. Mason, the resolution
was amended so rs TO provide tat the committee be
elected by the Senate, whereupon Messrs. Cas-. AL
len Dodge, Pearce aud Gcycr We're elected said COM
mittee.
Mr.. Stuart gave notice that he should at an carly
day ask leave TO submit an Cipendmeut to the rules
of the Senate declaring it out OF ordsr for any Sena-
tor debate to use language rehectus upon tie con-
duct or motives of any other Senator dscourteousiy,
or improperly rejecting upon the action OF State
other than tie one represented by the Senator speak
ing.
and passed; after which the Senate adjourned until
Monday next.
Mr. Washburne of Maine, from the committee on
Elections reported resolution that james Z. Allen
of Illinois, is not and William K. Archer is entitled
to lie seat now held. by the former. Mr. Stephens
has prepared { minority report.
The consideration o. the subject, was postponed
till the month ot June.
Mr. Campbell of Ohio rising 10 d question OF
u,ii.i!ege offered the following:
Where's, OF the 22d OF May, the Hon. Preston s.
Brooks and Hon. Lawrence VI. keI'l, members oil
this House from South Caroline and other members
either o. principals or accesSorts perEeEat1C Vo-
H., horln Gt,r
Senator Of the United States frem Massachusetts,
while remaining p his scat in the Senate Chamber
and while in the performance Of the duties sppertain
ing 20 his official station; therefore,
Resolved, That Il select committee OF i've members
be appointed by the Speaker to investigate the sub
a-; and report the facts with such resolutions IN re.
f.rgDce hereto in thcir judgment may be proper
and necessary lot tie Indication OF the character OF
this House. and that SAID GOp.tEt."s Eave power To
send for persons and papers and eEipo? :ler. and
sit during the session OF the House
Mr. Smith, of Virginia, suggested to MIR. Campbell
.Le proprety OF striking OUT the preamble. II as
sun.e,i IL FEC. that which could only be ascertaiucd
Us such eaaml"L,a,.; nr. CaInPoeil was Wiling
"Whcrc;,s, it is represented, &c. Ii was, lac aald
r. the House aud all parties that facts should De
u.sac...cd in authentic form, and It could only
he done fully Gn3 fairly through the committee.
Mr.. CiinyInan sale hs 1s- satisfied with the state
ment in the preamble, bat il vase g.T3s 'esehood
he did not mean that Mr.. Campbell had Intentionally
uads IN untrue declaration. The gentleman MIS-
took him. Tta Speaker decided the proposition Ill
order = .,,o
Mr.. Craige was satisfied Mr. Kett was not Concern
in the matter in any way stated.
Mr. Campbell replied, that II Il eRoGd DC Proved
certainly no wrong would be done.
Mr. Keitt said he thought the dignity o. the
House required the investigations His personal re-.
.st-.s with the parties had always been those OF
friendship. ,... A.
Of nreconcer, If aoup outside Q, III, 81. or Of cau
/ Mr. Campbell replied that not ono word had nc
Lee-d lsped by member of any party rs 10 such q
rour,s lac ;?as influenced alone by the dictates OF
his own judshai, --G $chse Oh pune mu,y, nI y,
who perpetlated the outrage, "5G: !" tnew from wha'
h. had iesrd, although he saw Mr.. Sulhie. ing ~
The a,!te.roon adjoining the Sennte chamber WIN
,ns Or his head the bOne and blood howlns over
him. ,..,, ,oxo ,to ~.
! (,,.dn, lMr. Brooks to answer 10 he az,
Mr. I.tcef snjd that several years ago fos.Eiesstr
General Hubbard whs attacked By ticnrge briggs
member Of the House, yet neither he Mr.. Letcher)
nor Mr. Campbell Thought it proper TO bring Tue quo
;.rt 70 the attention of the House.
! The Speaker made personal explanation he had
mol ;,se. party 10 any delihcraton or consultation
in this nHi(er, aiG hcd no knowledge Of the PROPOSE
| ton until IL was read tfDr, ih1 S.eT'-' desk.
Lee Ill., W
obarp.d that member of the Hoase had Gcsau-tsd G
senator willie in the discharge of his official dusles
The Senate could not interfere With member oil the
Euusa sat it belonged to the House, II one OF lis
members hiss =.Gcled the privilege OF the senate 10
make an investigation, it .,2rs the proper tribunal
| for that purpose. The Senate tdihs 20 ordinate
hroncb of Congress and covered by some c6nstltu-
tcnsl privilege it was tho duty OF the CHAR to re,
| ceivs Nj. Eampbelrs proposition as question: o'
Mr.. Brooks e1plaEed--l tssa re entire response
h;Iitv on myself aud state on NY h0uor % aeTte
! man no human being besides myself, knew |heH Vi
w;.e.e lie trupsaction was intended to DC made.
Mr. Mcqueen i4fqrEed Mr.. Campbell mat pro
oass had been Issued GgEiHst hls colleague talr
Brooks,j who was amenabe TO tee Jays q lse c"qh'
Mr. Campbell said he had no purpose 10 pat dny
marty in false position but he merely ~laiiea 10 Ms
certain the facts, there being so many runorS PreFa
! lent.
! Mr.. Hagen appealed to Mr.. Campbell 10 omit the
name Of Mr.. Ae,t iI1m the preamble.
Mr.. Campbell assented.
Several gentlemen wanted him IL .it-e OFT tn
words "other members" bit he replied, saying Le
lad reasoliS for retaining them.
| Mr. Eeit remarked that H. his name had peer
Withdrawn, lie ~1rll say that he did not kno" INT
time nor place where the ~: could be committed
and when il was committed he Sci..::d the chal
If the President of the Senate with gentlemen 'fo!,
HE own Etaie aud he did not the beginning o! u
Therefore 10 Esd not the sightes, prc.concert viii
his colleague. =,
Under The operation o. the previous question, Mr.
Campbell proposition was adopteG-yee-,y3, rays bc
The Speaker appGinted Aessrs Campbell Oh emo
Allison, Cobb of Georgia, Greenwood aud Spinne
the committee.
Mr. Allison was excused at his request.
MIR. Stanton offered resolution directing the ar
J res: of Judge Lecompte and Marshal Donaldson
Kansas to be brought before the bar of this House
to answer fcy contempt aud breach of privilege an
dignity, in issuing anG serving process against Gov
Reeder.
The Speaker decided thst this was a5t question
privilege.
Mr.. Staunton withdrew his resolution.
Various reports were made from standing commit
tees after which the House adjourned.