Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-23
THE BROOKS AFFAIR IN CONGRESS.
MAsHINeroN. July ID. IoJ6

the House Oy It's vote OF III eaS IN id'o' va |
expulsion, to % against it, has, as Brooks tru-
ly said, after the vote, transmitted him to pos
terity as man unworthy TO hold seat on
that floor Mr. Campbell endeaYored TO post
pone the whole subject until Wednesday, ow-
ing to i'll health, but the House was opposed
TO it. The previous question was called,
and the motion TO recommit was lost. Cobbs
amendment was defeated by Yea and Nay
vote of SO to 145. Then came the question to
expel which, requiring a two third vote, was
not carried, but received the majority above
given.
On the call for the previous question Mr.
Edmundson Of Virginia, one of the censured
party, addressed the House, and contended
that what Brooks told him about his intentions
were confidential, and he could not have di-
vulged them without betraying confidence;
that lie supposed the meeting between Brooks
and Sumner would be equal, and therefore
fair That no injustice would have been done
to Sumner il he (Edmundson) had been pres
ent He made strong appeal 10 the sympa-
thies of the House.
Mr. Campbell made the closing argument
which was very clear aud able review Of the
whole transaction. Opportunity was given to
Brooks and Keitt to speak in their own de-
tense, but they declined until after the House,
/ BY its majority vote, decided Brooks to be un-
/ worthy of seat in that body. Then he rose
| TO privileged question and was entering upon
| an elaborate speech when Mr.. Giddings objec-
/ ted giving as a reason that the last vote OF
the House had declared the member from
/ South Carolina to be unworthy Of a scat here,
/ and therefore he ought no. to be allowed to DO
| anything improper.
! Mr.. Dunn of Indiana hoped the objection
would be Withdrawn, followed by the same
request from the whole South. Mr. Comins
! of Mass lchusetts earnestly appealed TO Mr.
/ Giddings to withdraw his objection, and others
/ from the North were imprudent enough to do
the same thing, and then at last, under the
/ press of personal solicitations, Mr.. Giddings
withdrew his objection against his own viii
and threw the responsibility upon his friends
to whom he yielded.
Mr.. BROOKS said Mr.. Sumner uttered a
! SANDER on his State and venerable relative.
who was absent. Not content with this, he
published libel on his State and blood
! Whoever insulted South Carolina insulted
him, and he stood ready at all times humbly
and modestly as her son to perform his duty.
He should have forfeited his self-respect, and
the good opinion OF his countrymen, if he hId
/ permitted the offence to pass unpunished. 1t
was personal affair, and in taking redress in
to his own hands he meant no diSrcspect to the
Senate or the House, nor did he mean disres-
pect to Massachusetts,. He was aware OF his
personal responsibility. He incurred it, and
| was prepared to meet it. lie knew he was a.
menable to the laws which offered the same
protection to every citizen, whether Mem
Ter of Congress or in the private walks of life.
lie did not believe he could be punished by a
Court OF law and by the majority of the House
at the same time: If he had committed a
breach Of privilege, he was answerable to the
Senate, which had no right to present him TO
the House for punishment. The question not
only involved him and his friends, but the
| whole House. If the consequences were con-
fined to himself he woutd be prepared to meet
them here or elsewhere. Others must not
suffer for him. He had felt more for his
friends, Messrs. Edmundson and kett, than
| himself. They are blameless. Each has pro-
we'd q friend who s.sticketh sscloser than Il
brother" When, he remarked, the people OF
the great North speak Of me as a bad man
they will do me the justice TO say, that a blow
| from me at this time would be followed by
revolution, and they know it applause seem
ingly confined to the galle-ies,) but no act OF
mine shall favor revolution. L am not willing
to see the Constitution wounded through NE.
He would say to the House, that the axe uplic-
ted over him might fall Oh them. He had on
tcntly with his selE-respect and rights under
the Constitution. During this very session.
member from Pennsylvania charged Il COL
! league with attempt at bribery. Where
were the proceedings in that case (? By pas
| sing it in silence, the House has declared bri-
berry is excusable but simply assault and bat
terry is not. He spoke of Massachusetts, as
being in rebellion against the laws and Consti-
tuition of the United States while sitting in
judgment on him and demanding his expul-
sion without hearing. He had never been
called to order, nor had he offended any officer
Yet vote has been taken to-day transmitting
him to posterity unworthy of seat here.
| because of disorderly behavior and in this
connection he spoke of Mr.. Pennington as the
prosecutor, as the s'thumb-paper," the ssFalls-
| taffian MEMBER &c, for which the Speaker
called him to order. Mr.. Brooks said that
Mr.. Pennington charged that the assault was
murderoas. and that with bludgeon / had at
| tempted to kill Mr.. Sumner. Ny friend from
Massachusetts, over there has pretty good
sized stick. l would thank him to raise it