The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-21

obtain he legal majority required. Upon this Mr. Brooks
resigned hs seat and took leave OF the House OF Repre-
senatve5 spe ech which not only did not contain any
apology for the ass >u but boldly justified H. and claim.
Cd the ympathes of the world
II Is this conduct which strikes with sstouishment,
We understand ha In the hot conflict OF passions ana
interests between the abtSnonists and the emancipation
ts one legislator might bs 90 far carried away by his
impeta0y as to strike au0f1er. But We cannot figure
70 ourselves legislator deiL ,atey and premedatedy
watching his opportunity to sssa man sitting at his
desk IN another house of legislation strng him before
40 could rise, beating him in the presence OF bis coll
Leagues snd finally justyng this sscriIogc against the
Where this can be done 80 cooly as seemsso have been
done by NJ Brooks we are inclined to fear that the IL
smo.s senss Of Of acson and i@manay frOrt control
are tending towards tAat line which separates
extrene liberty from reactouary ana vindiclve des-
principle that Congress has aationaI and collective cha
recter In bis eyes it is only fortuitous conglomerton
whole not bit better than any one Its right to regulate
the conduct OF members within is walls 10 m Lntstn or.
dangerous. 4 do net says he believe hat the spet
Ct American freedom would tolerate slander ia hirh
circulate Ebei on nnosher and shen cali unon either du
house to protect him against the per3onal responsibilities
which he had thus incurred" That Is to say nobody
being prepared TO fight or be caned the spot ra
tiona and efectua inducement to free discussion this
VI oourse we DO not enfer Into the ncetes OF the
sttutiopal question whether Mr. Brooks committed
breaca Of Parliamentary privilege, inasmuch his vic
tim was member Of the other, and higher house,
though would BE curious til this country to hear a
member Of the House OF Commons deprecaie a similar
charge on the ground that he had only assaulted Peer
IN one OF the comnttee Icems Nor do very clearly
see why Mr.. Brooks shosd have embarrassed himself
Win tie constitutional argument at all, Tor he has
theory Of his own which proudly overrites all cons-
tional and legal ncetes whatever. II ID simply
or send aohalienge to any member Of eLer house
denounees bis attack Mr. Summer and one Of these
challenges sent TO Connecticut legislator he actually
read TO the listening representatives. L. gentleman SO
ready with his cartel aeed hardly descend 10 the trivial
ties OF constitutional privilege.
We are IN general averse from critc5ng the pecullar
ties Of foreign countries and governments We know
that much that TO strange Quixzical may
proceed from causes with which nperfectiy ac
quanted, and be paiated by accomplishments which
less foraiby attract notice. We know also how exag
geiated and overco0red Is the CRITICISM
selves by foreign hands We should be particularly eau
tous IN commenting upon the strange anomalies
the political or social conditions Of country like the
United States which is still in its growth and mmaturity
But community of feeling constitutional mpathes, and
the knowledge that both we and they jcaiousiy
watched by the hAfers of free Institutions, prompt to
then that scenes like those which have cited
and declarations like those made by Mr.. Brooss are
dscredn and dishonor to free representative govern
ment is for the people, and those whom they send
Congress to correct this unseemly defect ere time IL
tense and toleration have made it irremediable.