The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29
Friday, May %, 1856.
SENATE.

Mr.. Wilson rose and submitted the facts in re-
| lation to the assault on Mr.. Sumner. We print
the speech in our columns .''
Mr.. Seward submitted resolution, that a com
mittee be appointed by the President pro tenn,
to inquire into the circumstances attending the
assault committed on the person of the Hon.
| Charles Sumner, member Of the Senate, in the
Senate Chamber, yesterday, and that said COM
mittee be instructed to report statement Of the
facts, together with their opinion thereon, to the
Senate.
On suggestion of Mr.. Mason, the resolution
was amended so that the committee should be
elected by the Senate, when Messrs. Cass, Allen,
Dodge, Pearce, and Geyer, were elected.
HOUSE.
| Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, from the Commit.
tee of Elections reported resolution, that
James G. Allen, Of Illinois, is not, and William
b. Archer is, entitled to the seat now held by
| the former.
| Mr.. Stephens, of the same committee, has
| prepared minority report.
The consideration of the subject was post
poned to the 9th June
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, rising to a question
of privilege, offered the following:
Whereas, on the 22d day of May, the Hon.
| Preston S. Brooks and the Hon. Lawrence NJ
Keitt, members of this House from South Car
DINA, and other members, either as principals
or accessories, perpetrated violent assault
| on the person of the Hon. Charles Sumner,
| Senator of the United States from Massachu-
sets, while remaining in his seat in the Senate
Chamber, and while in the performance of du-
ties pertaining to his official station therefore,
ReS0tCed, That select committee of FIVE
persons be appointed by the Speaker, to invest
| igate the subject, and report the facts, with
such resolutions in reference thereto as in their
| judgment may be proper and necessary for the
| vindlcation of the character Of this House, and
that said committee have power to send for
persons and papers, employ a clerk, and sit
! through the session Of the House.
Mr.. Smith, Of Virginia, suggested the pro
priety of striking 0ut of the preamble, as much
is assumed as fact that which could be ascer-
tanned as such only on examination.
Mr. Campbell was willing to modify the pre-.
amble, which he did so as to read Whereas it
is represented" &c. Mr.. Campbell said it was
due to the House and all parties that the facts
| should be presented in some authentic form,
and this could only be done fully and fairly
| through committee.
Mr.. Clingman was satisfied that the statement
in the preamble was gross falsehood, but he
did not mean that Mr.. Campbell had intention
ally made an untrue declaration. The gentle
| man mistOok.
The Speaker decided the proposition to be in
order as question of privilege. He said sub
stanually, that 1t was represented or charged
that member of the House had assaulted a
Senator while in the discharge of his official
| duties. The Senate could not interfere with a
member OF this House, but it belonged to the
House, If one of its members had violated the
privileges OF the Senate, to make AN investiga.
tion-lt being the proper tribunal for that pur-
pose, the Senate being coordinate branch of
Congress, and covered by the same constitution
al privilege. 1t was the duty Of the Chair to re-
ceive MIR. Campbelrs proposition as a question
of privilege.
MIR. Clingman appealed from the decision of
the Chair.
MIR. Craige was satisfied that Mr.. Keitt was
| not concerned in the matter in the way stated
Mr. Campbell replied, that if that should be
proved, certainly no wrong would be done
Mr. keitt thought differently. His personal
relations with the parties had always been those
| of friendship.
Mr. Paine inquired: Is this resolution the
| result of preconcert Of action outside this Hall
or by caucus?
Mr.. Campbell said that not one word had
been heard lisped by any member of any party
| as to such course. He was Influenced alone by
the dictates OF his own judgment and sense Of
public duty. As TO who perpetrated the out
rage, he only knew from what ne heard, al.
though he saw Mr.. Sumner lying in the room
adjoining tie Senate, with gashes in his head
to the bone, and blood flowing over biE..
Mr.. Ciingman repeated, he ~onld leave Mr..
| Brooks to answer to the law,
| Mr.. lletcner said that, several wears ago
POSTMASTER General Hubbard was attacked by
| george Briggs, then q member OF this House
yet neither he (Letcher) nor Mr.. Campbell
thought proper TO bring the subject to the at
tention OF the House.
| MIR. Campbell said Mr. Hubbard was not act
| ing IN his official capacity at that time.
AFTER some further proceedings, Mr.. Camp
| Dell moved to lay Mr. Clingman's appeal from
| the decision Of the Chair on the fable
Ihe motion was agreed to-yeas 81, nays II.
The Speaker then made a personal explana-
ton. He said he had not been a party to anv
deliberation or consultation in this matter, and
had no knowledge of the proposition until It
was heard from the Clerks desk
Mr.. Brooks explained and said take the
| entire responsibility on myself, and state, on nv
honor as n gentleman, that no human being
beside myself knew when or where the transac,
ton would take place
Mr.. Mcqueen informed Mr. Campbell that q
process had been issued against his colleague.
Mr.. brooks, who was amenable to the laws OF
the country.
Mr.. Campbell said ne had no purpose to put
any party in false position, but merely wish
Cd to ascertain the facts, there being so many
rumors prevalent.
Mr.. Haven appealed to Mr.. Campbell to
omit the name of Mr.. Keitt from the preamble.
Mr.. Campbell assented.
Several members desired him to strike out
the words, "other members" but
Mr.. Campbell refused, saying he had reasons
for retaining them.
Mr. Kett remarked, as his name was with
drawn, he would say that ne neither knew the
time nor place when the act would be commit
ted; and when it was committed, he was behind
the chair of the President of the Senate, with
gentlemen from his own State, and he did not
see the beginning of it; therefore he had not
tia slightest preconcert with his colleague.
Under the operation of the previous question,
Mr.. Campbell's resolution was adopted-yeas
90, nays 68-ss follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Albright, Allison, Ball, Bar
bour, Bennett OF New York, Benson, Billing
hurst, Bingham, Bishop, Bliss Bradshaw, Bren.
ton, Broome, Buffinton Burlingame. Campbell
of Pennsylvania, Campbell Of Ohio. Chaffee.
Clawson, Cclfax, Copins, Covode, Cragin, Cum
racK, Davis Of Massachusetts,, Davy, Dick,
Dickson, Dodd, Durfee, Kdie, Edwards, Emrie,
Flagler, Fuller of Maine, Galloway, Gilbert,
Granger, Grow, Harlan, Haven, Hoffman,
Holloway, Hughston, Kelsey, Knapp, Knight,
Knowlton, Kunkel, II. Marshall of Kentucky,
Meacham, Miller of New York, Morgan, Nor,
rill, Murray, Nichols, Oliver of New York,
Parker, Pelton, Pennington, Perry, Petit Pike,
Pringle, Purviance, Richie, Roberts, Sabin,
Sapp, Scott, Simmons, Spinner, Stanton, Stran-
ahsn, Tappan, Thorington, Thurston, Todd,
TraAon, Tyson, Walk, Wade, Wakemsn, Wal
bridge, Waldron, Washbpyne of Wisconsin,
nf Mai IL