Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-30
cENsURE OF HON. L. L. KEITT.


Never before, in The history Of American leg
isla,on. has so gross an outrage been commit
ted against Justice, ard the rights OF the citizen
as has Just been consummaied in the censure Of
Hon. L. NJ. Keitt hy the House Representatives.
We search in vain The records Of Privilege. }
as expouudcd BY an omnipotent Parliament, in
times of the widest excitement, for any pre-
ccdent that approaches it. What are the facts
The majority report of the House Committee
declares:
"Whcrcas it further appears from such inves-
tigation that Henry A. Edmundson, 4 Rcpresen.
tative from the State Of Virginia, and Lawrence
NJ Kcitt, Representative from the Stale OF
South Carolina, scme time previous to The said
assault, were informed that it was the purpose
of the said Preston S. Brooks 10 commit vlo-
lence upon the person of the said Charles Sum-
ner for words used by him in debate rs Sena-
Tor in the Senate, and took no measures to dis
courage or prevent tie same, but, on the con-
trary, anticipating the commission of such vio-
lence, were present OH ore or more occasions
10 witness the same as friends Of the assailant." !"
Now it must he lorne in mind that this was
the verdict Of Mr. Summers sympathiz. rs-sym-
pathizers not only in his political opinions, bnt
in his Infamous iibels upon South Carolina, and
in his more infamous cowardice. Ard yet, with
all their malice and invention, they could COR
vict Mr. keitt of nothing more than that he
knew of Mr. Brooks intention, and happened
to be present on the occasion of Summers cas-
tigaliOn. They do not pretend 10 assert that
he either advised Mr.. Brooks 10 his course or
was aware when The assault would take place,
while Mr.. Brooks openly and emplaiically de-
clared in the House that nobody knew when or
where he would execute his determination. For
the simple fact, then. Of being prcsent-that
while others were interfering against MIR. Brooks
he in,erposed 10 prevent INTERCHANGEABLE. kei.t
is arraigned and publicly censured by the House
of. REPRESENTATIVES The stigma in tie cchsnre
of such body as the present House of Rep
resentuivcs-has been placed upon Mr. keiit
and upon tue constituency whose representa-
tive lie is.
Upon what plea, or specification, is this cen
cure founded? Has Mr.. keilt violated Tie
'privilege' OF the Senate? Has he transgress-
ed aught against that law, under which each
House Of Congress assumes to be the accuser
the Judge and the eXrculioncr-a law underlined
Arbitrary and absolute, and by whose sanctions
the worst acls Of tyranny have been pcrpetra-
ted-a law abhorrent 10 every princ pie Of free
constitutional government? Has. we say, MIR.
Keilt trans greSsed even this law! it is not su
claimed There is 10 breach of privilege
charged againS: him. In its fierce and iniolcr.
ant usurpalion. lie House Of Representatives
has scorncd to seek justification in even so con-
venient claim us this.
Nor does it charge Mr.. Kcilt with "disorder-
ly c"nducl'-ihe only charge which, under the
Constitution. it can be cognisant of. He did
nothing which could sustain such charge, and
lcncc The silence Of The majority report upon
the subject. His sole offence was, that he knew
of Mr. Bruoks's intention, and did not reveal il
TO the officers of tie law--hat he chose ia
maintain that silence which was equally hi.
RIGHT ard, under The circumstances, his duty to
maintain And has it come to this-has this
boasied free Democratic Governmcnl--ihis" "asy,
lum for the oppressed of all naiions'-growr
20 insolent in lis aggression, SO reckless OF right
ard law, as that n citizen and The representative