Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-06-11

MONDAY, June 2.-Senate.-The presiding Of
icer laid before the Senate Q letter from Pres
ton s. Brooks, to Mr.. Bright, in which ne dis
claims any intention of offending against the
privileges of the Senate by his assault on Mr..
Sumner, but he says he felt bound to ehastise
him for the insults to his State and to his rela-
tive and having sought him in vain elsewhere
he deemed it proper to inflict that punishment
here, the Senate not being in session he dld
not think he was committing any breach OF priv
ileges.
The letter was laid OF the table and ordered
to be printed. Adjourned till Thursday.
Hoa&.-Mr. Campbell, from the select COM
mittee on the Sumner assault, reported that up
on o full investigation it appears that Mr..
Brooks is guilty of the assault complained OF by.
the Senate, with aggravating circumstances OF
violence; and proposing that he be forthwith
expelled from the House. The report also dis
approves of the conduct of Messrs. Keitt and
Edmundson, being aware Of the contemplated
assault and taking 70 measures to prevent it.
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, made q minority re-
port, ayerring that no breach of privilege had
been committed.
The reports were ordered to be printed, and
the House adjourned.
TURsDAY.-House.-Very few MEMBERS pres
ent, and no business transacted.
WRDNEsDAY-Houss.-Only about 20 MEM
bers present.
FRIDAY.-Senate.-Not in session.
House.-About O dozen members present, who
adjourned after O session of about one minute.
SArURDAY.-H0nH.-Thirty or forty members
We're in their seats, and some of the chairs were
occupied by ladies. No business.
AMERICAN NATIONAL CoUNcM-The Amer
lean National Council met in New York city
last week. The resolutions of the hast Phila-
delphia Convention, abolishing secrecy and in
augurating the party as an open political party,
were adopted with only two dissenting votes
Mr.. E. Bartlett, of Kentucky, was reelected
President of the National Council Mr.. Erastus
Brooks elected Vice President Mr.. Deschler, of
Maryland, reelected Corresponding Secretary;
Mr.. Crane, of Ohio, Treasurer; Mr.. Stephens,
Recording Secretary, and Mr.. Goodwin, of New
York, Chaplain. The following resolutions were
adopted: ~
Resolred, That the extreme p~artizan measures
of the administration democracy on the one
side, and of the so-called Black Republicans on
the other, driving the country with frenzied zeal
into the most dangerous sectional strife, not only
requires prompt and signal rebuke, but absolute
" proves that neither faction can be safely trust
ed to administer the affairs of the republic. As
conservators of law and constitutional rights, of
q free press and a free speech, without licenti-
business in either, the American party is equally
opposed to the bowie knife and revolver on the
one hand, and to Sharp's rifles on the other, for
the settlement of sectional issues or constitution
al questions.
Resolued, That our earnest thanks are tender
ed to the American National Convention for
the nomination of Willard Fillmore and Andrew
Jackson Donelson for Presidency and Vice Presi-
dency of these United States, [applause,] and
that we are confident of their ratification by the
people Of the nation.