The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-23
RESIGNATION OF MIR. BROOKS,

ADvIcss from Washington City under date
OF the l4th inst, stale that the Hon. p. s.
BROOKS resigned his seat in Congress, pend.
Ing resolution to pass vote Of censurc
upon his conduct, and that of Mcssrs. Ep.
MUFDsoN and KElrT. Whatever NAV be
said Of the act itself, that subjected Mr..
BROOKS 10 the chances Of expulsion or cen.
sure from the House Of representatives, it
cannot be denied that since the affair. his
conduct has been such as the most scrupu.
i"us non.combatist could not but approve,
and has been justly calculated TO endcar him
10 The hearts of his constituency, and to Gle.
vale him In the estimation Of all true and high
minded patriots. He has maintained n calm
and digni6cd consistency thtpughout-his
d'spassiona'e and urbanc manner should eli.
cit blush of shame from his calumniators.
and should prove conclusively TO the minds
OF NIL men, that the act tor which he WAS
arrnlSned, did not originate from n roomen-
'ary and lmpetuons impulse, but was the
result OF n solemn conviction. that it was n
duty due TO his relative, to his native State,
4
ana TO his common country. His defence
of himself, when nrraigncd before legal
tribunal fora violation of the laws of his
country, was characterized by courtesy of
tone and demeaBcr, that cannot be too high.
ly commended, and his able exposition of
the motives that influenced his actions, could
not fail to Impress every unprcjudiced mlud
with the conviction that right and Justice
Was Ola his side.
When brought before the House of Rep
rcscntativcs, it was altogether n different
tribunal, and its action would inv olive a more
important matter. His honor was the con-
sideratlon; and tlic decision Of that BODY
would declare whether his conduct merited
an i2nomiuious expulsion, or whether he
was still worthy Of his position as the Rep.
rcsentativc Of nm enlightened constirucncy.
When vote was taken on the motion for
expulsion 1t stood-yeas l2l, nays 95. AS
II required tw o.lhirds to expel a member,
the motion was los, but il seems that there
was second resolution pending, that would
pass vote of ccnsure upon him, and also
upon Messrs. EDMUNDsoN and kEtTr. Ratb.
er than witness the triumph Of his enemies,
or have Lis name stigmalizcd by censurc
from the body Of which he was n member.
and involving in his own humiliation that Of
Messrs. EpMrSDsoN and KE,rT, he preferred
to resign Ills seat and appeal to the Judgment
Of his constituents. II wus an act that should
dc commended md rightiully appr,cutcdhy
the cnihc STATE, which he in part represents.
lie has voluntarily thrown The matter into
the hands Of his constituents; their action
VIII now decide whether they condemn or
approve his course, and we prcdic, that their
dccsion will be such IA will honor the CHI. |
valric action of their worthy Representative:
and With his permission, they will return
him TO the seat that he has vacated, Ly :,
triumphant and ovcrw helming majority
The action of Mr.. BROOKS in chas,isinu
SUMNER, has had, and will doubtless con,
tinue to have, n very salutary effect in
checking that low vitupcrptive character Of
debate, and vulgar personal dcnuncia,inns,
HAT has on m"ny different occasions dis
grHced the Halls of the American CapItol.
There are some natures 50 depraved that
they cannot feel any other argument but
that which abounds in the same low and
offensive abuse, that they themselves delight,
TO indulge in; Southern men should be
above resoriing to il, and Mr. Books has
defined the argument, which we conceive,
ls the most applicable in such cases. We
dcprccnte all extreme measures except when
applied TO extreme cases, and that Mr..
Books was righ, in his mode of redress, il
proven in the effect il has produced; and
The laudiblc notivcs by which he was actu-
"ted, has been shown, both by his firm and
dlspaSsIonatc manner at the iimc, and by
his subsequent course under the ex,raordi.
nary circumstances that have encompasse
his pathway.
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