The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-12

SPEECH OF HON. T. L. cLINGMAN,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,

On e resolutions reported by the select committee to in
vestgae the alleged assault upon Senator SUMNER by
Mr. Brooks delivered in the House of Representatives
July 8, 1856. ....t ..- r..,
with expelled from this House representative from the
| State of South Carolina.
ton of the said acts of HERRY A. EDMUNnsToR and Law
HENCE NJ KEirT in regard to the said assault;
the pending question being on the amendment of Mr.
Con of Georgia. TO strike out the resolutions and insert
| in lieu thereof the following:
Rsoved That this House has no Jurisdiction over the as
saut alleged to have been committed by the Hon. PREsTos
s. BRooKs, member of this House from the State of South
the State OF and therefore deem ii improper
to express any opinion on the subject.
| Mr. CLINGMAN said
Mr. SPEAKER desrous of offering few observa-
tons to the House upon this question at the time when it
first came before No opportunity TO debate it, how
ever afforded but the previous question moved
You, sir may remember that | made effort to say
something the merits OF the case should then, for
my mind operated on by the excitement of the
sion- should then perhaps have said one on two things
that do not desire TO present upon this occasion find
that is necessary for those of who voted against the
proposition Of the gentleman from Ohio Mr. CAMPBELL to
something for the country since we held up before
approving the assault of the gentleman from South
Carolina and usfyng it, because of the votes then
gave against the resolution under which the committee
raised. There has been Mr. Speaker that time,
great deal Of excitement gotten up this question in
tend to-day in the remarks which expect to make to
deavor to speak not add to the excitement either
In the house or lntenu speak,
can, without doing injustice to anybody, but simply
with the purpose Of presenting briefly those views which
operated upon my mind and which, perhaps, influenced
the minds of other gentlemen who voted with me upon
that occasion.
But sir in order that gentlemen may misunderstood
the position which mean to occupy when speak mildly
and moderately upon this question, must aude to mat
preliminary in its character by way of explanation Sir
said few weeks ago. and very shortly after this
currence-whether truly not do not knowbutit was
reported all this city that certain gentlemen who
opposed to me in politics, and who sympathZed with Mr.
SUMNER intended by speeches of extreme violence to pro
voke if possible other attacks from u.s. and thus increase
the excitement This generally circulated to
have been known to everybody here; and prominent
publican reesoil paper in New York he Courier and
Enquirer) had article, which sent to all in
which that course seemed 10 be marked out Now with
out undertaking say that it is the purpose Of any gen.
tlemen upon this oor by violent speeches. to provoke
Others 10 engage in personal rencontre nevertheless feel
it right allude to that matter and say all such gen.
temen if there be suchl hope there in fact none
suchbut if any gentleman desires personal difficulty,
benevolent goodnatured man, hope he will be graft
fed II there none such, why, then all the better.
When boy in my part of the country, sometimes
occasions of public gatherings man would out and
say that he "eleconeering for fight and such
generally succeeded in picking up fight somewhere
those occasions but if he did fight and whipped
or il he whipped somebody else 1t being free fight
supposed that the matter concerned the parties alone
and that no one else had right to complain
Now sir if on the present occasion any gentleman de-
sires to get into difficulty and is gratifed in his wishes
hope we shall not have great howl In any part OF the
country over It. hope that il will be looked upon as q
personal matter for the qualification of the gentlemen
who engage It, And as am peaceable man, and never
like to get into difficulties so do not take much pains to
get out of their way aud as during this hot weather,
feel very lanpuid and idsposed to exerton shall not
especial pains to get Of the Of body who
may be in search Of such thng While do not intend
to utter yhng TO offend any gentleman who does not
TO be offended, still, any upon this hoor-l
limit the remark members Of the House extending
IL 10 outsiders all-wans difficulty with this
subject perfectly willing for him to take it for grant
ed that have insued him, and responsible in any
manner that he desires but IL he does desire it, then
not for the world would offend him. But IL this is 10 be
matter OF abuse and yituperaton wash my hands
OF do not intend TO embark in thing of that kind
regard fighting Objectionable in many respects but
ouarrelng and denunciaon vastly ntolerable.
When the British made war on China the Chinese went
into field armed with gongs and made terrible noise
10 induce the English doubtless 10 leave their territory
Now If this Is to be Chinese gong busness-an ef
fort in other words who make the loudes and
most disagreeable noise will keep clear Of it, and If
cessary put my fingers in TO escape lis annoyance
And now lei call the attention Of the House to the
case under consideration As have already said is
which has produced very great and remarkable excite
ment in the country This, Mr., Speaker may well be
matter Of surprise to for though have not been here
great many years as member yet about dozen col
sons the floors Of the two houses have occurred in
time and they much stronger than this because
they took place while the houses were In session Why
recoec that during my first Congress Mr. White OF Ken
lucky, and Mr. Rathbun OF New York. bad set-to jus,
near where stand during period Of great excite
ment and when politics ran very high with reference to
personally offensive charge against Mr. Clay but the House
adopted any proceedings against those members and
II made no noise In the country recollect too that n
the next Congress gentleman from Georgia and another
from Tennessee had struggle the other side OF the
chamber and several large desks overturned and the
gentlemen apoogzed for disturbing deliberations
but the House did raise any committee them
In any wise Also towards the close Of that session. whilst
the House in session. at late hour in the night du
ring sort of triangular fight gentleman from Alabama
struck gentleman from the Northwest the head with
cane and II that II bled very freely but this did
not the raising OF any committee any other
proceeding against the parties remember too going
into the Senate that night two ocock-snd
must say here that these disturbances frequent
y during the last night Of the session. when gentlemen
having been up three days and nights successive
have gotten sleepy and those who In the habit Of
drinking spirits drink little from patriotic motives just 10
keep awake be able attend the public business
But as ! saying, went into the Senate chamber
that night and a senator asked what we had been do
ing in the House. / replied that had just had little
6ght there among three Of the members "WhyP said he
with air Of exultaon 1--WE have had two In the Senate
o-nghtp and IL true II that occasion that
senator from Pennsylvania standing up making
Speech and senator from Mississippi, liking his
speech went up and struck him In the face attempted
strike him, and they had regular setto The Sen
however did not raise any committee to take charge Of
/ the subject
| During the next Congress, two members from North
Carolina had collision just behind where am standing
i but really notice taken Of IT, except by little
that members would resume their and keep order
II A NolCE. Who were the membera2
Mr. CLlNGMAN do not give the names Of the parties
in any Of these because II did might have TO refer
| to gentlemen who upon the floor and thereby
render IL necessary for them 10 make explanations and
thus divert the attention Of the House from the present
/ case.
Il 7 tbat ,ogo