Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-07

CoScRrsa.-In the House, Monday, June
ID, Mr.. CAMPBELL, (of Ohio, from the Select
Committee on the assault of Mr. SUMNER. by
Mr. Books, made a report, concluding as
follows
Whereas. The Senate of the United States
have transmitted to this House u Message
complaining that Preston :. Brooks, are pre-
sentative from South Carolina, committed up
on the person Of CHARLES SUMNER, a Senator
from the State of Massachusetts, while seated
at his desk In the Senate Chamber after the
adjournment of that body, on the twentv-sec-
ond of May last, a violent assault which disa-
bled him from attending to his duties in the
Senate, and declaring that said assault was a
breach of the privileges of that body, ana
whereas from respect of the privileges of the
House, the Senate has further declared that
inasmuch as the said Preston S. Books is a
member Of this house, they cannot arrest and
a portIon cannot try or punish him for a breach
their privileges: that they cannot proceed
further in the case than to make complaint to
this House and that the power to arrest, try
and punish devo!yes solely on this body, and,
whereas upon full Investigation, it appears to
this House that the said Preston S Brooks
has been guilty of the assault complained Of
by the Senate with the most aggravated
breach OF the privileges, not only of the Sen
ate but of the Senator aSsailed, and of this
House as n coordinate branch Of the LegiSa-
tive Department Of the Government, in direct
violation of the Constitution of the United
States, which declares that Senators and Rep
reSentatlyeS, Ter any speech or debate in either
House shall not be questioned in any other
place, and, whereas this house is of the opn-
ION that 1t has the power and ought to punish
the said Preston 5. BROOKS, for the said as
SauIt, 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 dlsorderlv behavior: and whereas,
1t further appears from such investigation,
that HENRY \. EDNUNDSoN, a Representative
from the State of Virgil ia, and LAWRENCE NJ
kEITT, Representative from South Carolina,
sometime previous to said assault were inform
ed that 1t was the purpose Of the said Brooks
to commit violence upon the person of the
said CHARLES SUMNER, for words used by him
in debate rs a Senator in the Senate of the
United States, and took no means to discour-
age or prevent the same, but, on the contra.
ry, anticipating the commission of such yio-
lence, were present on one or more occasions
to witness the same as friends of the assailant,
therefore,
Re o,,ei, That Preston S. Brooks, be. and
is hereby forthwith expelled from this House
as a Representative from the State of South
Carolina.
Rcscired, That this House hereby declares
its diSapprobation of the said act of HENRY
\. EDMrNDsoN aud LAWRENCE NJ. KEIrr in
rerard to said assault
Signed by Mr. CAMPBELL. (Oho) SPINNER,
and PENHINGr0H
Mr.. HOWELL CoBB, representing the mnori-
ty OF the Committee, presented minority re-
port, arguing that no breach of privilege, un-
der the Constitution, had been committed, and
that the House han no power to 90 beyond
the Constitution in deciding that a breach of
privilege had been committed
Both reports were laid on the table and or
dered printed. Adjourned.
.SENArE.-The presiding officer laid before |
the Senate letter from Preston S BRoaKs |
to Mr.. BRIGHT, in which he disclaimS any u- |
tcntion Of offending against the privileges of
the Senate by his assault on MIR SUMNER. but /