The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-06-12

xxxuv,A Censr...-i.s ses.i...


WASHINGTON, June 2.
SrNArE-Nr. Bright being absent, Mr.. Stu
art presided lie laid before the Senate .
message from the President about Central
American affairs which has already been pub
lish,y
A resolution was adopted that when the
Senate adiourns on Thursday next. it will be
till the following Monday.
The presiding officer laid before the Senate
letter from Preston :. Brooks. in which he
discaims any intention Of offending against the
privileges Of the Senate by his assault on Sum.
ner. but saws he klt hound TO chastise Mr.
Sumner for his insults TO his State and TO his
relative and having sought him in vain else
where. he deemed il proper 10 inAict that pun
ishment in Senate; il being not in session he
did not think he was committing any bryach
Of privilege. The letter was read and laid on
the table and ordered to lie printed
The Senate then adjourned till Thursday.
HorsE.--Mr. Campbell of Ohio, from the
select commute on the assault on Mr. Sumner
by Mr. Brooks. made report concluding as
follows Whereas the Senate Of the 'uitesi
States transmitted 10 this House a message.
pertaining that Preston :. Brooks Reprscn-
tatiye from South Carolina. committed on the
person OF Char'es Sumner. u Senator from the
State Of Massachusetts,, while seated at his desk
in the Senate chamber after the adjournment
Of that body on the 22d Of May last, u violent
assault which disabled him from attending TO
his duties in Senate, and declaring that said
assault was a breach Of the privilege Of that
body, aud, whereas. from respect Of the
privileges OF the House. the Senate further
declared. inasmuch us the said Preston g.
Brooks is u member oil this House. they cannot
arrest or punish him for bcach OF these priv
ilegcs; they cannot proceed further in the case
unless there is complaint made TO the lleuse.
and that the power 10 arrest. try aud punish
devolvcs wholly on this body and. whereas, on
full investigation il appears to this House that
the said Brooks has been guilty OF the assault
complained Of by this Senate with the most
aggravated circumstance Of violence, and that
the same was breach Of privileges, not only
of the Senate, but OF the Senator assaled and
Of this House, Of q coordinate branch al the
legislative department Of the government, in
direct violation OF the constitution OF the Uni
ted States which declares that senators and
Representatives, for any slsech or debate in
either House shall not he questioned in any
other place; and whereas this House is OF the
opinion that il has the power and ought to
punish the said Brooks Cor said assault, not only
as breach of privilege Of thc Senator sssailed
and of Senate and House declared by the con
stituiion. but as an act Of disoricrly behaviour.
and whereas. il further appears from such in-
vestiga,ion that Henry A. Edmondson. Rep
rcsentative IRON Virginia, and 5. N. keitt. q
Representative from South Carolina. some
time previous TO said assault were informed
that il was the purpose of said Brooks to com
init violence on the person Of sumner for words
used by him in debate as Senator in the Sen
ate Of the United States. and took no means TO
discourage or prevent the same, but on the
contrary. anticipating the commission Of such
violence. were present on one or more occa
sions to witness the same. a. friends Of the as
sailant; therefore,
Resoi,ed That Preston ). Brooks be, aud is
hereby forthwith expelled from this House us
Representative from the State Of South Caro-
lima.
Resoircl. That this HOUSE declares its ,lisap-
probation Of said act Of Henry A. Edmonson
and l.. VI keitt, in regard TO said assault
Signed by Mcssr.. Campbell. Spinner. and
Pennington.
Mr. Howell Cobb representing the minority
OF the committee, presented n minority report,
arguing that M breach Of privileges under the
constitution had been committed, and that the
liouse had no power 10 10 Leyond the Consti.
tuition in deciding that breach ii privilege
had been committed
Both reports were laid IN the table and or
dcred printed
Adjourned.