The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-08-01
ABBEvILLE H. SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. AUGUST l. 1885,

| '"'e ol tnis House, or Oi parliamentary
/ courtesy, but it cannot be denied that he is,
! p0r excellence, the representative of a sovcr,
eighty which is at this instant in open. sta,u.
tory rcbellion-not to a simple rule of Il
single house, but to the constitution and
laws OF the United States Of America.
Massachusetts sits in Judgment upon me
without hearing, and presents ire for a
breach of privilege! Sir, is it not strange
that 1t did not occur to that sage lcgisla-
ture that its demands upon the Congress
OF the Cnitcl States, relative to Il member,
was greater breach Of privilege in them
than that complained Of the member him
self? What right, sir, has the legislature
OF Massachusetts to make any demand up-
Oh this llousel She has not the right of
even lnstructing the most insignificant
member from the State, and has by her
resolutions but given additional proof that
she neither comprchcnds the theory of our
government nor is loyal to its authority.
have said, sir, that if | have commit
ted breach OF privilege, it was the privi-
lego of the Senate. II 1 have in any par
tlcuar violated the privileges or rroprc,ics
OF this House, am unconscious OF il, anl
challenge every member to specify a sim
gle disorlcrly or improper act. In nv in
tcicourse with lis members | have cn,lca-
vorc' TO observe Il civil and respectful de-
pertinent; | have rendered prompt and
implicit obedience TO its constituted author
ltlcs, and can truly say that which many
who have recorded their votes against me
cannot-and that is, that never once. in the
three years that have held seat on this
| II
before the transaction, for which ltoritv
have declared me t" be deserving expulsion,
| have offended any oilccr or member or
been unkind even TO an employee, l regret
and am ignorant Of it.
And yet, sir, the vote which has iusi
been taken tr;lusmits me to pos.crity rs =
man unworthy, in the indignant Of ma
l"'l'v nt my peers, of Il scat in this hall.
And for what! The mcm!rr from New
Jersey, (Mr. Pennington)-the prosecuting
nembcr--thc thumb-papcr mcnber--
Laughter the F;,!statlian member, who.
iike hiS prototype, WAS born about four
o'clock III III" morning. and if lie has not
the bald head, is graccd with The corporal
rotnndity great laughter of hi. prc,ieccs
sor, upon his advent into this sublunary
wor'd-he says it was for making Il "nur-
derous assault with a "blu,lgeon," and he,
torsooth, would have this House and the
country believe, with an intent to kill.
NOW, sir, see that very respectable and
excellent gentleman from Massachusetts has
III his hand cane of the ordinary size for
a gc.::lc,nan Of his age, and l beg him TO
raise it for inspection Of the member from
New Jersey. Mr.. De Witt clclcvatcd his
cane. Now, Sir, ask that member to an
swer as a gcntlenan-I beg his pardon,
That Is a word which lie cannot conprchcnl
but rs 4 man on the witness stand, is
not that cane double the weight and thick
ness of the one used by me, and which Won
have inpulently and falsely called "blud-
gcnn ?"
Mr.. Trafton, (nterruptng)-I have no.
ticed several interruptions in the galleries
during this discussion, and wish to move
that the Sergeant. alarms be directed to
clear the galleries Kisses in the galleries
Mr.. Wheeler. object.
The Speaker. The motion is not in Or
der. The Chair announced some time since,
that if there was any further disturbance
the Sergeant-at-Arms would have orders to
clear the galleries.
Mr.. Brooks. 1 again appeal to nv
friends in the galleries to he quiet.
The Speaker. Order must be preserved.
Mr.. Brooks, (resuming) IF I desired to
kill the Senator, why did not do it? You
all admit that had him in my power. Let
me tell the member from New Jersey that it
was expressly to avoid taking life that used
an ordinary cane, presented to me by a
friend in Baltimore, nearly three months be-
fore its application to the "bare head" of the
Massachusetts senator. l went to work
very deliberately, as | am charged this
is admittcd-and speculated somewhat as
to whether shonld employ horse.whip
or cowhide; but knowing that the Sena-
tor was my superior in strength, it occurred
to me that he might wrest it frcm my hand,
and then-for never attempt anything l
do not perform-I might have been com
pelledtodo thatwhich:I world have regretted
the balance Of my natural life. .> -
II The question has been asked in certain
newspapers why did not invite the Sena.
tor to personal combat in the mode usually
adopted. Well, sir, as, desire, the whole
truth to be known about the matter, I will
for once notice a newspaper article on the
! floorof the House, and answer here. q"
My answer Is, that. I knew that the Sena-
tor would not accept q message {; and hav-
ing formed the unalterable determination to
punish him, believed that the offence Of
"sehdiugsa hostile message" superadded to
the Indictment for aassaulti and battery;
would subject nlts toaleoal mn alt;os moro 90.