American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-06-07
NEWS DEP ARTNEu7.
CONGRESSIONAL.


CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsuinoroN. May Seaate--M Mr..
Pierce fiom the, Com,nittee To investi.
gate the assault on Mr.. Sumner, made
. report The report states that pre-
cedents, for this affair are % b found
only in the House Of Represented
The Senate, having been called on Go
pronounce its judgements, seseval ettni-
lar cases were cited. The cem@itlecl
comes TO the conclusion thst although
the assault Masa violation ofthe Ssaate's
privileges. yet il VAS not ia their iuris.
dictioD--.the offence being ponishable.
only by the House of Representatives
this being strict and parliamentary
law and according to the requirements
of the Constitution.
The Committee recommend to the
Senate to make complaint and submit
the resolutions to that body.
The report Of the Committee was a.
dopied with only one dissenting voice
that of Mr.. Tombs of Ga.
A bill was passed granting 1000 900
acres of land to Louisiana 10 aid in the
/ construction of railroads.
June 2.--SENArE-Mr. Bright being
absent Mr.. Stuart took the chair, and
LAID before The Senate a message from
| the President, relative to the affairs of
! Central America, which he's already
been published. a.
The presiding officers laid before the
I Senate letter from Hon. Preston S.
Brooks. addressed to Mr. Bright, in
which he declaims any intention Of of.
Tending against the privileges of the
Senate by his assault on Mr.. Sumner,
! but says he felt bound to chastise him
( fot his insults to his State and to his
relative, aud having sought for him in
vain elsewhere, he deemed it proper to
] infiict that punishment here. the Senate
/ not being in session, he did not think
lie was committing any breach Of priv.
lege.
The letter was read, laid on table,
and ordered to be printed.
The Senate then adjourned till Thurs.
day.
HoUsE-Mr. Campbell, ofOhio, from
the select committee appointed to in
vestigate the circumstances attending
the assault upon Sumner. made re.
port, concluding as follows:
Whereas, the Senate of the u. S.
have transmitted to this house complaint
! that Preston S. Brooks, representative
, from the State of South Carolina. com
/ mittcd upon the person Of Charles Sum
ner, Senator from the State of Mass,
! 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 atten-
ding to his duties in the Senate, and de-
Glazing that said assault was breach of
the privileges of that body; and where
as. from the respect of the privileges
J of the House, the Senate have further
/ declared that inasmuch, as said p. S.
Brooks is a member Of this House they
| cannot arrest and portion cannot try
! him for breach of their privileges; that
they cannot proceed farther in The mat
ter than to make their complaint to this
! House, and thatthe power TO arrest. try
and punish devolves solely on this body;
! and whereas upon well investigation,
1t appears to tnis House that Pres
ton ). Brooks has been guilty of the as
sault complained of by the Senate, Of
violence; that The same was breach of
! The Senate's privileges, not only Of the
Senate, but of the Senator assailed, and
! of this House as a coordinate branch
OF tho Legislative DepaItmont Of this
| government, in direct violation of the
Constitution Of The u. S.. which declares
! hn
, for any speech or debate in either House
shall net be questioned in any other
! place; and, whereas, this House is of
the opinion that il has the power. and
ought to punish said Preston s. Brooks
for said assault, not only q breach of
| privilege of the Senator assaled and of
the Seuate and House as declared by the
| Constitution, but as an act of disorderly
behaviour, and whereas it further ap-
pears from such investigation that Henry
a. Edmanson Representative from tho
| State of Virginia, and, Lawrence Nj.
Kent, Representative from South Caro-
| lima. sometime previous to The said as
| sault, we're informed that it was tho rur-
pose of said Brooks To commit violence
upon the person of said Sumner, for
words said by him in debate as Sena.
tor in the Senate, and took no measures
| To discourage or prevent the same. but
on the contrary anticipating the com.
mission Of suchaviolence, were present
on Que or more occasions tn witness the
same as friends Of tho assaiants, there.
fore.
ReSoiced, That Preston S. Brooks
he and is forthwith expelled from the
House as Representative from tho
Stale of South Carolina.