New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-09
Thlrty-Fourth oongress--FIrst Session.

VI 4 . & vi a
WASHINGTON, June 2d-Senate-Mr. Bright beins
| absent, Nh. Stewart presided He laid before thu
Senate the message from the President about Contra
American affairs, already published
4 "a resolution was adopted that when the Senate
adIou1ns on Thursday it be to the Monday following
The presiding officer laid before the Senate Letter
from Preston s. Brooks to Mr. Bright, in which he
dscalms any intention of offending against the priv
leges Oh the Senate by his assault Mr.. Sumner, but
he says that he felt bound to castise him for the
insults to his State and to his relative and having
sought him in vain elsewhere, he deemed it proper tc
nfiict that punishment here; the Senate not being in
session he did not think he was breaking any breach
| of privilege RI e5 G s.5
The letter was read and laid on the table and or.
dered to be printed
Adjourned.
House-Mr. Campbell of Ohio, from the select
committee on the assault on Senator Sumner, made q
report, concluding as follows: ID ~, eg..,
Whereas, the Senate of the United States have
transmitted to this House message complaining that
Preston B. Brooks, representative from the State of
South Carolina committed upon the person of Charles
Sumner, O 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 Nav last
violent assault, which disabled him from attending
10 MS duties " the Senate and declaring that said
assault was breach Of the privileges Of that body
And whereas, from respect of the privileges of the
House. the Senate have further declared that mas
much as the said Preston s. Brooks is a member of
TINS House. they cannot arrest him. and a factiori,
leges that they cannot proceed further in the case
than to make their complaint to this House and that
power to arrest try and punish deVolyes solely on this
body and whereas, upon full investigation it appears
to tins House that the said Preston S. Brooks has been
guilty of the assault complained of by the Senate
with most aggravated circumstances of violence !:
that the same breach OF the privileges not only of
the United States Senate but OF the Senator assaulted
and OF this House, as coordinate branch of the
Legislative department Of the Government in direct
violation OF the Constitution of The United States
which declares that Senators and Representatives for
any speech or debate in either House shall not be
questioned in any other place. Whereas this House
Is OF the opinion that it has the power and ought to
punish the said Preston S. Brooks for the said assault
not only as breach of the privileges of the Senator
assailed, and Of the Senate and House as declared
by the Constitution but as an act Of dsorlerly be-
haviour sand
Whereas, it further appears from such investigation
that Henry A. Edmundson representative from the
Stateof Virginia, and Laurence NJ. Keitt represent
alive from South Carolina, sometime previous to said
assault were informed that it was the purpose of said
Mr. Brooks to commit violence upon the person of said
Charles Sumner, for words used by him in debate a.
Senator in the Senate, and took no measures to dis
courage or prevent the same, but the contrary an
tcpating the commission of such violation were pre-
sent on or more occasions to witness the same, al
| friend Of the assailant. Therefore,
s. Resolved, That Preston S. Brooks be and he il
| forthwith expelled from this House as a Representa-
| tive from the State of South Carolina.
Resolved, That this House hereby declares its dis
appreciation of the said act Of Henry A. Edmunlsol
and Laurence NJ. keitt in regard to said assault
Signed by Mr.. Campbell, Of Ohio Mr. Spinner ant
/ Mr.. Pennington
Hon Howell Cobb from the minority of said com
mittee, submitted minority report, arguing that II
breach of privilege under the Constitution had beer
committed, and the House had nopower to go beyont
the Constitution in deciding that the breach Of priv
| lege had been committed.
Both Of the reports were laid on the table and OF
| dered to be printed. ~.
The House then adjourned