Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-11

oxcItsmeut in the country. He had not been here
many years, and yet had seen much stronger cases
than this of fights when The House WINS in session.
Ile recapitulated these personal encounters, remark
inn that the House did not take aeti0non hlyot ih"W.
His object was To show that the occurrenc: now nn'
der consideration was sought to be nhgii!i"d WIN n
view 10 make political capital. \ certain party think.
iny their sands of life ae running low want TO get up
a great excitement. There WIS nothing to justify it.
He though, the argument OF the minority OF the com
mittee took the proper ground. and commended that no
breach Of privilege had been committed by Mr..
Brooks. Were he to speak of Mr.. Summers speech
u is character deserved he would have to adopt n
collection Of Course and offensive expressions.
No man has Il right to intuls e in vi:upera.iou. rs
Franklin says, without subjectIiig himself 10 he called
T. account. Men Of courage are rarely abusive, but
those who ialsify are generally towards. lie believed
that Mr.. Sumner was closely identified with the Gar.
risnm and Phillips school, and WAS for disuniun. II
that Senator wanted to degrade the country and the
Senate he might well indulge in such things.
In conclusion, Mr.. CiingInan said that there was
nothing in the assault to justify the INDIGNATION ~ the
country. 1t was not n matter for the House 10 inter
tere with anl uugh. 10 be lett tn n lud!cia! Tribunal
Mr.. bingham submitted to the House that while
Mr.. CliugInuu lccturcd members rs to ~propr'-;y OF
conduct he INDUCED in the most gross and outrageous
personal abuse which could la!l from the lips "i any
man. Who constituted Mr.. Clingman the censor OF
the distinguished gentleman from Massachusettsi-
Freedom of speech and security Of person underile
every representative system vi government. aud on
the maintenance of this great principle depends the
| liz. oi n State. Without its observance there could
be no free State and 10 free people. This case in
vnlyed more than MI assault and battery. IL involved
II guilty violation of representative privilege ani CON
tempt, and Il crime against the great principle OF free
speech. No civil tribunal has cognizance of this
House.
Justice Story, when speaking of the privileges OF
tho two Houses. says Thee rights ARE the right.
and privileges of their constituents Yet gentlemen
here represent this rs m ordinary case IF assault aid
battery. Mr.. Brooks violated the spir!, Of that con-
.r,fu la, Ia InI u,-,rD o., - pnnr that f,,n IA IN nm
which protects Il Senator in freedom Of speech and
dcbnt, the Senator being beaten and left dripping III
blood, for having denounced tyranny and slavery, the
sum OF MI villamies-which makes merchandise If
mvraiit y-lIc WAS iel!cd and made 10 bleed. 4 bludge.
on WAS used-tic weapon OF II barbarous aye. The
instrument Was III per;"c; Keeping with TIE act.
Mr.. Brooks expressed his qualification that Mr..
Bingham hal disclaimed personal unkindness, and
asked him whether he understood hun as saying thar
he lMr. Brooks) was guilty Of the moral ~terpitude Q;
PERJURY.
Mr. B.nghnm-Ihat consideration never entered
into my mind.
Mr.. Brooks replied that the explanation was alto
re her satisfactory.
Mr.. Or said that Mr.. Bingham, after indulging in
u beautiful plroxysrr, asserted that Dir. Sumner WAS
stricken down in consequence OF his pleading in be-
half OF the injured people of Kansas. Il WAS attempt
-! TO produce such an impression On the public mind,
| but il was not true in point Of fact. Mr.. Sumner was
punished for n libel on South Carolina and a Islander
on Senator Butler, the absent relative of Mr.. Brooks,
vino SD Informed Mt. Sumner. trhhkIhD WIS r!gbt
when he said freedom of speech YVES freedom Of the
culscl. THIS was no more against u Senator than
| against a newspaper editor, whose foul slandcrs against
private individuals arc often punished by blows, there
being no remedy r; law. Il vas rot true that Mr..
Summer was struck down with n b~ludgeon. The les.
tiInony showed that it Was an ordinary walking cane
ollie wiiness ~tcstiiylng that II was on. ilciI III thick
ness above, aul hve.ei9htAs of al inch below. Fair
play is Il Jewel. The design Of the misrepresentation
IS IT, operate on the Presidential election. Whoever
heard before of a personal difficulty being masaitied
such rs this has becnI Mr.. Orr alluded to a gentleman
voting to-day 10 print one hundred thousand copies
Of the report Oh the Sumner assault as Ill electiuneer.
iug document.
Mr.. Hickman lrising amid the confusionl Il did
not vote for il rs all electinnecriug document, for |
owe no allegiance TO the Republican party and am
opposed 10 it. -.
Mr.. Orr.-lf the gentleman is not, his public posi-.
ton has been much misunderstood throughout the
country. 1t is part of a system 10 intiame the public
mind, and if the gentleman from Pennsylvania did
not vote for The proposition, he cast a vote. the effect
Of which was 10 injure the party 10 which the gentle
man profrsscs 10 belong.
Mr.. Hickman desired To reply, but objection in va
riOus quarters were mnde.
Mr.. Orr quoted the testimony Of DR.. Boyle 10 show
that the phyaical condition "f Sumner Ind been me.
represented COR political effect, aud CONCLUDED by ar.
guing that the case pending was not d question OF
privilege.
The House then adjourned.