New-York daily tribune., 1856-06-04


lation to the outrage upon Mr.. Sumner every
where calls out the loudest expressions of con-
demDatiOn and disgust. That report is indeed, in
more points Of view than one, hardly less sneaking
and conteDptible than the very assault itself which
forms the subject of it. Frightened by overwhelm-
ing indications of Northern Indignation into the
admission that the act was breach of the pri9i-
leges Of the Senate, the whole ingenuity OF the
Committee is exerted to prevent that admission
from being followed by any consequences. The
brutal and bloody cOwardice of the outrage itself,
90 eternuly disgraceful to the Senator's who stood
by and witnessed t-being neither more nor less
than a premedtated assault with the intent to
commit murder-is studouSy, not to say ffaudu-
ently, covered up under tho unmeaniDg descrP-
ton of an "assault OF considerable Violence
Next it is laid down that the cowardly assassin,
being member of the House of Representatives.
is protected by his privilege as member OF tina
body from being arrested and punished by the Sen
ate for this sdmtted breach Of their privileges.
The only cases in which members of Congress are
privileged from arrest are those which do not IN
vove treason, felony or breach of the peace. That
the assault upon Mr. Sumner was a breach OF the
peace nor even the impudence of Douglas or OF
Toombs could deny. Made, as it was, on premedi'
ton, by surprise, ard with a deadly weapon, the
law implies the design to kill, or at least to commit
some great bodily harm, and regards it as felony.
If il WAS treason in Governor Robinson and Gov
ernor Reeder 10 be concerned in framing Free
State Constitution for Kansas, what Is 10 be said OF
the act of man who attempts to suppress the
freedom of debate in the Senate by deadly assault
upon one of the members of that body Because
Mr.. Sumner declared upon the floor OF the Senate
that he would never aid in the restoration OF fugi-
tive slave he was beset on the part of the Sou hern
Senators with an hfuriated clamor as guilty of re-
sistance to the laws of the UniOn, and as having
committed perjury BY thus declaring his resolution
not 10 comply with the oath he had taken to sup
port ,he Constitutions all of which Mr.. Sumner con-
clusivAs answered BY the statement that as he read
and Unidentified the Constitution, there no obli-
CATION in it to return fugitive slaves. Preston 5.
Brooks Of South Carolina, Member of the House,
in violation of his oath to support the Constitution,
attempts TO suppress by bloody violence the great
est right and privilege of the Senste-freedom of
debate-but so far from hearing any clamor against
him of perjury or hostility to the Constitution or
moral treason the Senate attempts 10 shield from
punishment this South Carolina compound, so
much admired in that State, OF the bully, the cow
ard and the sneak-by setting up that his privilege
as Member of the House protects him from be-
ing proceeded against as violator Of their privi-
leges.
1t is absurd TO say that any member Of the House
can have privilege to violate the privil' ges Of the
Senate. The privileges OF the members of the
Uuse extend DO further than to be themselves
prot cted against interference with their legislative
dutjes by private individuals. They enjoy no pro-
lection against being proceeded against for crimes,
and especially for that highest OF all crimes the
l.y,inc of war against the freedom OF debate.
The utmost tlat could be said in such case
would be, that courtesy to the House might require
notice to that body of the position in which one
Of its number bad placed himself, and the consent
Of the House that the Senate might proceed to deal
with the scoundrel according to hS deserts.
But If, in this point Of view, the Sc nate present
themselves before the public in this report as
treacherOusy suIrenderiug the privileges Of their
own body, and, in th,ir anxiety TO use a sneakiDg
tuffian Ike Brooks to silence man whom they are
o'aeiwise uosble to answer as being ready TO sub
SA' 'ae regulation Of speech in he Senate to any