Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-06-07
Gouwtssional Nelps,
THiRTy.FoURrH sONeREss.
First session.
WAsiIIsd+ox, Juno 2.

WAsiiIsdtoS, Juno 2
SENATE.
MIR. Bright being absent, Mr. Stunrt took
the-rhnir. and laid before the Senate @ mes
gage from the President ip relation to the
uirairs nf Central America, which has al.
ready been published.
A resolution was offered that when the
Senate ndiourns on Thursday next, it adjourns
10 meet on Monday.
Tho. presiding officer laid before the Senate
a latter from Hon. Preston S. Brooks, adj
dressed to Mr.. Bright, in which he dsclaim-
ed any Intention OF offending any OF the
privileges Of the Senate by his assault upon
Mr.. Sumner but says he felt bound to chas-
tise him for insults to his State and to his
relative. and having sought him in vain else
where. deemed il proper to infict the punish
mpnt here. The Senate not being in session,
he did not think lie was committing any
breach Of privilege. The letter was read.
laid 0N, the table. and ordered to be printed
The Senate then adjourned until Thursday
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Campbell, Of Ohio, from the Select
Committee appointed to investigate the cir
cnmstnnces attending the attack upon Mr..
Sumner. nadp report, concluding ms follows :
Whereas. The Senate of the United States
have transmitted to this Iionse a message
complaining that Preston S. Brooks. Rep
reseptn,ivr from the State of South Carolina,
committed upon the person Of Charles Sum
npr, Senator from the State Of Massachn-
setts while seated at his desk, in the Senate
chamber after the adjournment OF that body
Oh the 22l OF Ma, last, a violent assault
which disabled him from attending TO his
,ia'ips in thc Senate, ard declaring that said
nssnpt was u breach Of the privileges of that
=, hn rkCt n 4,
,oiyilrgas Of the House. the Senate have de-
,iarcd that ilasn,uri as the sato Preston ).
Brooks is q member III this House, tbcy can
not arrest. ard a forttori, cannot Try to pun
ish him for breach Of their privileges thai
they cAnn,t Irocepd farther in the case than
20 make their complaint TO this l1ousr. and
thst the over to arrest, try aud punish dt.
rolvrs fu!.,ly on this body and whereas, upon
a full inv, iieatiop. it appears 10 this House
thu, the said Preston s. Brooks lns been
guilty Of the assault complained Of by the
Senate. with most aggravated circumstances
Of violence and that the same was . brencl,
OF the privileges not only Of the Senate, but
Of the Senator assailed and of this llonse.
~ u ca coordinate branch Of the Legislative
Department Of the government, in direct
violation Of the Constitution OF the United
States. which declares that Senators and
Representatives for any speech or debate in
either House, shall not he questioned in any
other place: and, whereas this House is OF
op;nion that il has the power and ought to
punish tie raid Preston s. Brooks for the
laih assault, not only ss breach Of tie priv
"ge If the Senator usssiled. and Of the
senate and House, us declared by the Con-
si,u,ion. but us al set Of disorder!y beha
Nurr
AnI-whevcas. it further appears from such
irrsiraion that Henry A. Edmnnds"n
REPRESENTATIVE from the State Of Virginia.
al Lawrence N. Keitt Representative
frn South Carolina. soHe time previous 10
sal assault. were informed that it was the
nupne OF said Brooks 10 commit violence
upn ,he person of said Charles Sumner for
wrls nscd by him in debate as a,Senator in
~ Scnnte and took no measures TO dis
courage or prevent the same but on the con-
Ntry, anticipating tho commission OF such
vinlme, were present on one or more occa-
lions 10 witness the same as friends Of the
assal,nt Therefore,
Res,ived. That Preaton s. Brooks be and
:. forthwith expelled from this House ns
representative from the State Of South
t,HrrNs.
H.so,ved, That the House hereby declares
lt. uiSsyDrubaton Of the said net of Henry
A Ndmnndson and Lawrence NJ. keiit, in
regard to said assault.
Signed by Messrs. Campbell, OF Ohio,
Spinner and Pennington.
Mr.. Howell Cobb submitted minority re
port, arguing that no breach Of privilege
under the Constitution had been committed,
and that the House had no power to 60 be-
yond tie Constitution in deciding that
breach of privilege had been committed.
Both reports were laid on the table, and
o;a red to be printed.
The House then adjourned.