The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-05
VOL. X.

latlve department OF the Government, and
the personal rights and privileges Of the Sena-
tor, but of the rights of his constituents and of
our character as d nation. 1t was premeditated
during period Of at least two days, without
any other provocation than words lawfully
spoken in debate in the Senate chamber not
ruled out of order by the President of the Sen
ate, nor objected to by any Senator rs violative
of the rules established for the government
and order of that body.
The act cannot, therefore, be regarded by
the committee otherwise than as an aggravated
assault upon the nestimable right of freedom
Of speech guaranteed by the Constitution. Il
asserts for physical force a prerogative over
Governments, Constitutions, and laws and If
carried to its ultimate consequences, must
result in anarchy, and bring in its train all the
evils of " reign of terror"
The committee, therefore, in conformity to
the spirit Of the resolution of the House aud
their sense of public duty, are constrained to
recommend to the House the passage of such
a resolution as will vindicate its own character,
and rebuke the member who has, so unhappily
for himself and the country, perpetratel this
great wrong.
The committee do not discuss the powers or
the House to punish its disorderly members,
nor do they undertake to argue the general
question as to what constitutes "A breach of
privilege. The passage Of the resolution rails
ing the committee is regarded as a declaration
on the part of the House Of its power to call iis
members to account for such acts rs Violate
the privileges of the Senate. This assault hav.
ing been committed by member upon a Sera-
tor whilst remaining in his seat in the Senate
chamber in the performance of the duties per
tanning to his Official station and for words
there spoken in debate, the committee have no
AOnh Of Ia pi,tht nc h.
adopt the resolutions which they recommend.
No testimony has been taken, nor are the
committee aware of anv, which shows that any
other member of the House was either actively
engaged in the assault, or designed to commit
any violence upon Mr.. Sumner, nor that any
other member knew the "precise time ,pLe,,
or Il" tie place Where' Mr.. Brooks would assal
him. 1t does appear, however. that the Hon.
Henry A. Edmundson, of Virginia, and the Hon.
Lawrence Nj. keitt Of South Carolina members
of the House. had been previously informed Of
the purpose of Mr.. Brooks to commit All assault
upon Mr.. Sumner, and that they anticipated
that the assault would take place in or near the
Senate chamber, about the time the occurrence
| did take place. Mr.. Keitt was in the Senate
| chamber, and Mr.. Edmuudson in room adioir.
| ing it, at the time the attack was made. and II
| is proved that Mr.. Keitt rushed mp with cane
| III threatening manner when the bystanders
| attmpted to protect Mr.. Sumner from the blows
| of Mr.. Brooks, and that Mr.. Edmundson enter
| ed the chamber soon after Mr. Sumner fell.
The committee do not feel themselves iusti.
| fed in expressing the opinion. upon the
| testimony that either Of these members was a
principal accessory in the assault, but regard
| their conduct in the transaction--and particu-
larry in not taking steps to prevent the per
| petration OF the wrong to inform the Senator
| OF his danger-as reprehensible. The com
| mittee therefore recommend the adoption Of
| the following:
Whereas the Senate Of the United States
| have transmitted TO this House a message. com.
| planning that Preston S. Brooks. a Represent
| alive from the State Of South Carolina, com
mitted upon the person of Charles Sumner. a
| Senator from the State of Massachusetts. while
| seated at his desk in the Senate chamber after
| the adjournment of that body on the 22d OF
May last, violent assault, which disabled him
from attending to his duties in the Senate, and
declaring that the said assault was n breach M
the privileges of that body and
| Whereas, from respect to the priy;',a,,es e
the House, the Senate have furthe' declared
that inasmuch as the said Prestor \ Rrooks il
a member of this House, the, cannot arrest.
and, fOrti0ri, cannot try :. punish him for q
breach OF their privilege 81: that they cannot
| proceec iurtheT III me case than to make their
complaint 10 TINS ouse. and that the power
10 arrest, try, an' punish, devoIves solely on
| nereas, upon full investigation. Il appcars
TO TINS House that the said Preston :. BROOKS
| mas Deen guilty of the assault complained of bv
the Senate, with most aggravated circumstances
| Oh violence; that the same was a breach of the
| privileges, not only of the Senate; but of the
senator assailed, and of this House rs a co
ordlnate branch of the Legislative department
oi Government, IN direct violation of the Con
s.itutloh OF The United States, which declares
that Senators and Representatives, "for any
speech or debate in either House, shall NOT la
questioned in any other place g" and
Whereas this House is of opinion that II has
the power aud ought to punish the said Preston
.. BROOKS Tor the said assault, not ONLY a. 4
Sfeach OIL the privileges OF the Senator assailed
ana OF the Senate and House, as declared hv
the constitution, but an act of disorlerIv b
haviour; and
whereas 1t further appears. from sncb invest
igation, that Henry A. Edmundson, Represent,
atlve from the State Of Virginia, and Lawre,p q.
Nj. keltt, Representative from the Stat, oc
oouth carolina, some time previous to tb g said
assault, were informed that il was the ,nr,osn
OF the said Preston S. Brooks to commTt violence
upon the person OF the said Charles Summer. FAR
wor,is used by him in debate, as " Senator in
the Senate, and took no meas Tres to Iigc,,,r,,,
or prevent the same, but on the contrary an.
ucipatlng the commission of such violence, were,
present on one or more occasions to witness the,
same, as friends of the assailant: Therefore
neSofoed, That Preston s. Brooks be aud he.
rs forthwith expelled from this House rs a Rep
resentative from the State of South Carolina.
:. hesotced, That this House hereby declare its
disapprobatiOn Of the said act of Henry A. Ed
mundson and Lawrence NJ. Keitt in regard to
the said assault. LEWIS ID. CAMPBELL
j.. f.. SPINNER.
A. G.. NJ. PENNINGTON.