The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. II. $. BocooK


The House having under consideration the report of the
committee the alleged assault Of the Hon. PREsroE
BaooKs the Hon. CHARLES SUMNER, of the Senate
Mr. BOCOCK said rise address the House upon this
question at this time with unfegned feelings of ddence
and reluctance regret that IL falls to my lot TO come
forward TO speak after the question has been debated by
so many distinguished gentlemen upon both sides of the
question-and gentlemen, / may say distinguished not
more for their learning their eoquenee and their ability
than by their tact and in always obtaining the floor
exactly the interesting period of every debate
ing IL to such humble members myself later period
of the debate to gather up the fragments left and to tread
| the paths already worn smooth by them. +. #a
Under these circumstances do not know that should
have said word upon this question this time but for
personal consideration, which win be appreciated by ALL
and which made il appear to proper that something
should be said by member from the State which
have the honor in part represent upon this floor
should have preferred it, and had spoken at earlier
period of the debate would have confined my remarks to
close and 80 far could make IL logical argu-
upon the points involved in this discussion but at
this period must be pardoned if follow the example
which gentlemen have set before and stray occasionally
| to seek for matters of interest by the way-sde.
And in the first place. say to the gentleman from Ohio,
Mr.. BINGHAM who made the first long speech which
made his side of the question: and who spoke with much
ervor and eloquence that his about the instu
ton OF slavery were as erroneous as the topic itself was
out of place -.a. ..aata .a.
To speak of slavery "the curse of Kehama, which
smes the earth with barrenness that crime which bghs
the human intellect and blasts the human heart and mad
dens the human bran and crushes the human soul
be good rhetoric fine defamation, but it is very bad his
| tory, and worse fact.
When the gentleman tells me that slavery blasts the in
tellect of the slave, him show where the in
te!ect Of the African race is BETTER cuva
ted in the enlarged Of the word than among the
slaves of the southern States Does madden the human
brain Then he will perhaps compare for the coud
ton of the free African of the North with the slave
African of The South and show me how much more
madness and doy there among the latter than among
the former The statistics of the census show that it is
greatly the other way.
Does it blast the human heart and crush the human
soulf Then he will show me where among the African
there is more of happiness of Christianity
OF the sweet consultations and high hopes Of religion, than
among Until he do this he ought
deal in this empty defamation ask the gentleman to
to the facts the subject and study them for the
purpose OF understanding the institution rather than with
predeermnaton to condemn It, ..... .1....a
Sir what business had this subject of slavery and the
slave power in this debate2 Can not consider here
simple matter of assault and battery without having the
subject of slavery and the slave paraded before
mark for the of attack And this, too bear in
mind by the gentlemen who constantly complain
ing of the aggressons Of this slave power Why sir If
simple OF assault and battery avenge personal in
suit cannot be considered without attack upon the
slave power, what spectacle will not have2 If
Providence in its wisdom should again visit the earth with
famine peslence-if He should send upon drought
yellow fever cholera may expect TO bear these gen
tlemen urousy proclamng, Here another aggression
of the slave power" In their maginaons everything is
aggression of the slave power.
suppose, in parts Of the land they their
children into quiet with tales Of the slave power and that
the matrons and the maids and the young and the old
all dream dreams and visions of horror connected
with the terrific slave power Gentlemen doubtless
suffer much but the day Of their tribuation is ended
Memorable day ia yesterday likely to be in the annals of
the countrys history, the day which the gentleman
from Massachusetts, Mr.. CoMss and proclaimed
ave tell you plainly viii longer submit to these
things"
How, sir with the deep sorrows of jeremiah brooding
upon his heart did he cast his thoughts back to the pleas
associations which he had enjoyed and then take leave
OF them forever How sir with the rspt ecstac hopes Of
Isaiah inspiring his SOUL did he look forward to the gores
which lie hid in the fuurei How heartily did be rejoice
fbatth hava ha.
God said he "he from Massachusetts have had
the courage to place before the American people the
character Of the slave powerp When the veil of Mokasna
lifted the sight hdeous 10 bear. The gentle
from Massachusetts, has seen the slave power in its
colors and yet yes Indeed, like Jeshurun he
eth fat and kcketh Whatever il may besubsantial
shadowy sprit-he fears 1t not Ay sir the fat
has gone OUT he will submit to il longer Then sir If
gentlemen have that conclusion let consider the
matter settled and hear about the saveocracy
and the slave power
Mr. Speaker shall proceed to present some views
which have suggested themselves to my mind, upon the
constitutional and legal questions which have been raised
in the Of this discussion The leading facts of the
have not been disputed disagree with the geLe
man from Georgia the way, Mr.. FosrgR,l who last
spoke upon this question: in Of the latter positions
taken by him. that because the gentleman from South Car
ona had been arragned before the of justice and
bis had been pronounced this House had there
fore right take cognzance Of the matter that the
gentleman from South Carolina had the right in fact
plead In bar Of proceedings that he had been tried by
court Of justice and fine had been adjudged against
| him.
If gentleman rises here In the presence Of the House
and strikes down brother member in his place. II would
constitute Of assault and battery and such the
of the District would have the right to take cogni-
of it, But il is only OF assault and bat
terry also breach Of the privileges Of the House into
which the Honae may inquire. The act s one the offence
may be considered in twofold aspec-not only Of
fence against the laws Of the District but also against the
privileges Of the House
now come to inquire briefly whether there has been
violation Of the privileges of the House Of the Senate
committed and II there has whether have the power
TO punish il Now sir although the majority Of the
mttce did idly let fall the assertion that breach of the
privileges Of the House had been committed
y consider them to have been in earnest in the decara
ton | can hardly imagine that single member OF tho
House will seriously say that encroschment upon the
rules privileges Of this House OF Representatives has
been committed 1t that it is enough to pro-
pound the question what privilege Of this House. Of any
member Of IT, received any let bar hndrance dimnu-
ton from the act in question: What privilege had we,
individually collectively, before the said act which
did enjoy the time and have enjoyed since
None sir The matter will not bear discussion for
moment II violation Of the privileges OF this House
will now inquire briefly whether 1t s a violation Of the
privileges OF the Senate Of any member of the Senate
The privileges Of the Senate and the House Of Represent
atves forth in the constitution of the United States
in the clause They two-fod. The first is priv
ege from arrest while attending the sessions Of either
i house-while coming going from the same. No
therefore, that part Of the clause may be dismissed from
! further consideration. The other portion is
And for any speech debate in either they shall
not be questioned in any other place."
Mr. Speaker has been couteuded with great force and
power by the gentleman from Georgia TMr CoBBl that
this was intended to apply solely legal responsibility
questioning by legal process alone and provide merely
that should be held legally responsible for words
spoken in debate within parliamentary limits In either
houae of Congress | agree with that position Was Il
Al hu -. a.