Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-06-13
Brooks "Ap0l0gV."

0IOVhS APUIV6ys
The following communication to the
presiding officer of the U. s. Senate, is as
cool piece Of impudence as one often
fuds. This sworn Member of the House
"A "gentleman" in his own sstimation-
hunted, two days, for his victim, and tho't t
it no offence to the Senate to invade its
chamber, attack an unsuspecting member,
and knock him senseless at one blow, then
beat him as if designing to take his life. 4.
Read his defence, and see what complete
william Slavery makesb
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs,)
29th May, 1856.
SRI have seen in the public journals
Of this morning, the report Of the Senate
Committee to whom was referred the reso-
luton Of the Senate directing an inquiry
into an assault made by me on the 22d
inst, on a Senator from Massachusetts.
1t is with unfeigned regret l find in the
report that what had intended ly as
redress for personal wrong, has been con-
strusd into, or must necessarily be held as
breach of the privilege of the Senate.
While making full aud e.P'icis diseieirn-
er of any such design or purpose, ask
leave to say, that for the occasion, consid.
ering myself only as gentleman in socic.
ty, and under no official restraint as q
member of the House of Representatives. I
did not advert to or consider there was any
alternative restraint imposed upon me BY
reason Of the offence coming from mem.
Der of the Senate. had read atteutively
and carefully the speech delivered in the
Senate, on the 10Th and Goth instants, by
the Senator from Massachusetts,, aud found
therein language which regarded as un-
justly rejecting not only upon the history
and character Of South Carolina, but also
upon friend and relative. To such Ian.
guage thought had just right to make
exception under the circumstances,t the Sem
ator from South Carolina, who was affected
by these remarks, being absent from the
Senate and the city. had reason to be-
lieve that the Senator from Massachusetts,
did not acknowledge that personal respon-
sibility for wrongs in personal department.
which would have saved me the painful
necessity of the collision which l sought,
and in my judgment, therefore, had no
alternative but to act as did.
That the assault was made in the Senate
chamber was caused only BY the fact, that
after q careful search elsewhere, on the
previous as well as on the same day, the
offender could not be found outside the
walls of the Senate chamber, aud the Sen.
ate had adjourned for more than an hour
previous to the assault. Isubmit the fore
going statement, from the high respect l
have for the Senate of the United States,
and ask that it may be received as full
disclaimer of any design or purpose to in
fract its privileges or offend ito dignity.
l cheerfully add that should the facts a.
reported by the COMMITTEE of the Senate
be deemed necessarily as breach of priv.
ilege, as . conclusion Of law, my earnest
desire is to atone for it so far as may be
by this unhesitating and unqualified apol-
ogy, that you will obligs me by communi-
eating this to the Senate as its presiding
officer. l have the honor to remain, with
great respect, your obedient servant,
P. S. BROOKS.
To Hon. JESSE D. BRIGHT,
President Of the Senate.
The "relationship' existing between
Butler and Brooks, has been traced out,
and their pedigree is thus given by Brooks
himself: "Hy grandfather married But
ler's fathers aunt" Such intimate con-
ssnquinity must cover his little innocent
desire to "puuish" Senator IS be would
a negro. Really,the graud-graud-uephew,
by marriage, Of bis gtea.great-aunt, is .
great sticker for noble blood
The only "apology" Congress should
take from such brute, would be to kick
him out from their body, hand him over
to the law, and thsn leave what is left of
him to the scorn Of every decent man and
the contempt Of every woman, black or
white.