Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-07-19

The Constitution and laws shall be on one
side, and the freedom of the cudgel on the
other.
Tho House then voted on Mr.. Englsh's
substitute, that the House declares its dis
appreciation of the assault on Senator Sum
ner, and deems this Il fit occasion to express
its disapprobation of the use Of language in
debate personally ogeusive TO individual
members of Congress or States of the Union,
aud it was reiccted--yeas 81, nays Ia.
The substitute of the minority Of the Com
mittee for the resolutions reported by the !
majority. viz that the House has no jnris-
dictiun over the assault committed by Mr.. |
Brooks upon Senator Sumner, and therefore
deem it improper to express any opinion on
the snbjeci. was voted on and rejected-yeas
&C. nays l45.
The House then voted on the resolution Of
the majority. declaring that Preston ,.
Brooks be and he is forthwith expelled from
this House as a Representative from the
State of South Carolina. The vote resulted
as follows Yeas l2l, nays %.
The Speaker said the House has refused
TO agree to the resolution, there not being
two.thirds IN its favor as required by the
Constitution in such cases.
Mr.. Brooks rose to a question OF privilege
saying that he had felt that the rights OF his
constituents and the rights Of members have
been violated by the action of the House.
Mr.. Giddings-l wish TO know what the
question of privilege is.
Mr. Brooks-I will state it.
Mr.. Dunn--I ask that by unanimous con-
sent the gentleman from South Carolina he
heard.
Mr.. Giddngs-For one shall give no such
consent. / object to anything out Of order
from that gentleman.
The Speuker-'rhe gentleman from South
Carolina states that he rises to privileged
question.
Mr. Dunn trust the House viii enter
tain motion for the suspension of the rules.
Mr. Nichols-Delcacy may have prevented
the gentleman from speaking heretofore, and
it is proper he should be heard now. pro.
test, in the name Of truth and justice, against
keeping him silent, if he desires to speak.
Mr.. Eustis--lt would be u gross violation
Of courtesy and decency to deprive him Of his
| privilege.
Mr.. Florcncc-The gentleman from South
| Carolina had risen, and was stating his ones
ton without objection. 1t was not in order
for Mr.. Giddings to object to his proceed
ing.
The Spcaker-It was competent for the
! gentleman from Ohio to raise the question OF
/ order.
Mr.. Gddings-.We have voted and did our
duty and ought not to listen to a speech out
| of order.
Mr.. Campbell, Of Ohio, earnestly appealed
| TO Mr.. GdGings to withdraw his objection
Mr.. Brooks ought to be heard, as he was vi
tally interested.
Mr. Comins likewise appealed TO Mr. Gid
dings to withdraw his objection. and Mr.. Gid.
dings yielded only on the ground of satisfying
his friends.
The members crowded in the neighborhood
of Mr.. Brooks, and the spectators intensely
interested, leaned over the galleries to heal
him.
Mr.. Brooks said that Mr. Sumner had nj
tered Islander on his State and "a venerable
relative, who at the time was absent; ant
not content with this, he published the libe
on his State and blood. Whoever insulet
South Carolina insultcd him he stood rcadi
ly at all times humhly and modestly, as sol
to perform his duty. He should have forfeit
ed his sef.rcspcct, and the good opinion o
his ccuntrymen. if lie had permitted the of
fence to pass unpunished 1t was persona
affair and in taking the redress into his owl
hands he reant no disreSpcct TO the Senate
or House, Dor did he mean any disrcspect Il
Massachusetts, lie was aware of the per
sona responsibility Ia incurred, and was pre-
pared to meet it, lie ku,v he was amenabl
to the laws, which oilored the s.me protection
TO every citizen, whether mcmbet of Con
grcsS or in the private walks OF life. te di'
not then believe that lie could be punished
by court of law and here by majority o
the House at the same time.
II he had committed hroech Of privilege
he was answerable to the Senate, which haC
no right to present him to the House for pun
iShment. The question not only involved
him aud his friends but the whole House. !
: the consequences were confined To himself h'
: would be prepared to meet them here or else
, where. Others, however, must not suffer 70
him. lie had felt more for his friends, Mr.
Edmundson and Mr.. Kcitt, than for himself
They are blamcless. Each has proved
; friend, that sticketh closer than a brother =
When the remarkcd) the people of the grea
North speak Of me as a bad man, they vii
: do me the Justice to say that blow from m
nt this time would be followed 10y revolution
7 and they know it. Applause, seemingly con
, fined to the galleries But no act of min
shall favor the revelation. ! am not willing
e to see the Constitution wounded through me
: He would say to the House. that the axe NJ
| lifted over him may fall on them. He ha
2 only to say that he could not retain his sea
j consistently with his self-rcspect and hi
+ rights under the Constitution.
i During this very session, n member fror
=. Pennsylvania charged a colleague with an al
: tempt at bribery. Where were the proceed
j ings in that case? by passing it by SILENT,
I the House had declared that bribery is eXcr
y sable, but simple assault and battery is no
+ lie S AXE Of Massachusetts as being in rebe
:. lion against the laws and constitution of tb
S United States, while sitting on him, and d'
n mnndng his expulsion without IA hearing
;, lie had never been called to order, nor ha
= he offended and officers, yet vote had bee
d taken to-day. transmitting him to posterit
: as unworthy seat here because of dsordcrl
e behavior, and in this connection he spoke
c Mr.. Pennington as the prosecutor, tn Fa
!. s,ahian member, for which She Speaker calle
d him to order
n Mr.. Brooks said Mr.. Pennington charge
d the assault as murderous, and that with
bludgeon, had attempted to kill Mr.. Sun
/ uer. My friend from Massachusetts, ovC
n there, has pretty good sized stick, | w0ul
IS thank him to raise it and submit it to I'll
r, inspection Of the gentleman from Ne
J. Jersey.
Mr.. De Witt, the gentleman alluded t
Intl OF, f,,, \