The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-07-14
NUMBER 289.
stranger cases than this, of fights when the

marking the House did not take acfiar, nn a. !,
OF them. His object was to show that the oc.
currence now under consideration was souoht
to be magnltied with a view to make political
Icapitaf. -
a certain party, thinking their sands of life
ire running low, want to get mp a great excite.
nent. There was nothing to jiustifyit. He
zhou9nt the argument of the minority of the
sommlttee took the proper ground, and con.
ened that no breach of privilege had been
committed by Mr. Brooks. II +. s4s-'a7
Were he to speak of sSumrer's speech. as
IS character deserved, he would have to adopt
collection of coarse and offensive expressions.
No man had right to indulge in vitupera-
non, as FFaan says, without subiecting
almsell to be called TO account al-e'sss i
men OF courage are rarely abusive, but those
who falslfy are generally towards He believed
sumner was closely identified with the Oarri-
ion and Phillips school, and was for disuniou,
| IL that Senator wanted to degrade the coun-
try and Senate, he might well indulge in such
.nln5s. In conclusion, aUllngman sand there
was nothing in the assault to justify the in-
I1ignation OF the country.
1t was not matter for the House to inter-
ere with, and ought to be left to the judicial
tribunals.
Bingham submitted to to the House that.
while Clingman lectured the members as to
The propriety of conduct, he INDUCED in the.
most gross and outrageous personal abuse
which could fall from the lips of any man
Who constituted Clingman the censor of the
distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, /?
Freedom of speech and security of person un4,
derlles every representative system of gov-4
ernment, and on the maintenance of this great
principle depends the life of State. With
out its observance, there could be no free State
and no free people. This case involved more
than assault and battery. 1t involved guilt,
the violation of representative privilege, and
contempt and crime against the great princi-
pie of free speech. No civil tribunal has cog
nizance Of this House. Justice Story, speak
ing of privileges of the two Houses, says these
rights are the rights and privileges of their
constituents, yet gentlemen here represent
this as an ordinary case of assault and battery.
Brooks violated the spirit of that constitution
ne swore to support-that constitution which
protects Senator in freedom of speech and
tebate. The Senator being beaten and left
tripping in blood for having denounced tyran-
ly and slavery, the sum of all yillainies, which
makes merchandise OF mortality, he was felled'
md made to bleed. A bludgeon was used
he weapon of barbarous age The instru4
nent was in perfect keeping with the act.
Brooks expressed his qualification that
Bingham had disclaimed personal unkindness,
md asked him whether he understood hin as
saying that he (Brooks) was guilty of moral
urpitude and of perjury.
Bingham-That consideration never enter
d my mind.
Brooks replied-Aitogether satisfactory.
Orr sad that Bingham, after indulging in
'eautiful paroxysm, asserted that Sumner was
tricken down in consequence of pleading set
Up in behalf of the injured people of Kansas
t was attempted to produce such an impress
ion on the public mind, but it was not true :
n point of fact Sumner was punished for =
ibel on South Carolina and SANDER on Butler,
he ancient relative Of Brooks, who so inform
ID Sumner. Franklin was right when he said
hat freedom of speech was freedom of cudgel.
This was no more against a Senator than
gainst an Editor whose foul ISLANDERS against
riyate individuals are often punished by
lows, there being no remedy at law. 1t was
ot true that Sumner was struck down by a
ludgeon. The testimony showed that it was
y common walking cane, one witness tes--
flying that it was one inch in thickness
bove, and five-eights below. Fair play is a
ewel. 1t is the design of this nisrepresenta2
ion to operate on the Presidential election
Whoever heard before of personal difficulty
1agnifed as this has been. i'sf~
ay to print an hundred thousand copies of
be report on the Sumner assault, as an elec-s
loneering document.
Hickman, rising amid the confusion. said
did not vote for it as an electioneering doc 9
ment for | owe no allegiance to the Repub-
can party, and am opposed to it,
Orr--If the gentleman is not, his public po-
tion has been much misunderstood through
ut the country. 1t is part of system, to
lfame the public mind, and if the gentleman
ON Pennsylvania did not vote for the prop
sition, he casta vote the effect of which was
) injure the party to which the gentleman
rofesses to belong. ---r~--5-5 +, s,.-. :.
Hickman desired to reply. but objections =
ERE made from various quarters.
Orr quoted the testimony of DIR. Boyle, to
how that the physical condition of Sumner
ad been misrepresented for political effect,
nd concluded by arguing the case pending
as not question of privilege. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, July 10.
SENArE-Sundry amendments were made
} the Indian appropriation bills at eaa hss
Senate bill passed. Mason, from the Com
littee on Foreign relations, reported bill
mending an act of the last session to remodel
ae diplomatic and consular system which
-as made the special order for Monday next
he principal changes proposed are to make
ne salary of the minister to France the same
5 that of the minister to England, $l7,5O0;
aising Austria to full mission, with $1,000;
andwich Islands, $1,000. The ministers to
rance and England to be each allowed
Jerk. with a salary of 81 800.
Adjourned.
HoUsE-took up Balls resolution, asking
elect committee to inquire into the subject OF
LEGGED frauds in the construction ofthe public