The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-06-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WASHINGTON, Jur

WASHINGTON, June 9.
REPORT THE COMMITTEE ON THE SUMNER ASSAULT.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, from the Select
Committee on the assault of Mr.. Sumner by
Mr.. Brooks, made q report, concluding as fol-
lows:
Whereas, The Senate of the United States
have transmitted to this House n Message
complaining that Preston s. Brooks repre-
sentative from South Carolina, committed
upen the person of Charles Sumner, a Scna-
tor from the State of Massachusetts, while
seated at his desk in the Senate Chamber,
after the adjournment of that body, on the
twenty Of May last, violent assault
which disabled him from attending to his du.
ties in the Senate, and declaring that said as
saut was n breach of the privileges of that
body, anl whereas from respect Of the privil-
eges Of the House, the Senate has further de-
clared that inasmuch as the said Preston S.
Brook is member Of this House they can
not arrest, and a fortiori cannot try or punish
him for breach of their privileges; that they
cannot proceed further in tho case than 10
make complaint TO this House, and that tho
power to arrest, try and punish devolves SOLE
ly on this body; and, whereas, upon full in
vestigation il appears 10 this House that the
said Preston S. Brooks has been guilty of the
assault complained Of by the Senate, with
the most aggravated circumstances Of vio-
lence; that the same was breach cf the priv
ileges, not only Of the Senate, but of the Sem
ator assailed, and Of this house as a co-ordi-
nate branch of the Legislative Department of
the Government, in direct violation of the
Constitution of the United States, which de-
clares that Senators and Representatives for
any speech or debate in either House shall
not BE questioned in any other place; and
whereas, thi, house is Of the opinion that it
has the power and ought to punish the said
Preston s. Brooks for the said assault, not
only as a breach Of the privileges of the Sen
ator assailed, and of the Senate and House
as declared by the Constitution, but as an
act of disorderly behavior, and, whereas, it
further appears from such Investigations, that
Henry A. Edmundson, Representative from
the State Of Virginia, and Lawrence M. Keitt,
a representative from South Carolina, some
time previous to said assault were informed
that it was the purpose Of the said Brooks to
commit tho violence upon the person of the
said Charles Sumner, for words used by him
in debate as Senator in the Senate Of the
United States, and took no means to discour-
age or prevent the same, but, on the contrary,
anticipating the commission Of such violence,
were present on one or more ocoasious TO wit
ness the same as friends Of the assailant, there
fore,
Resolved, That Preston S. Brooks be and
is hereby forthwith expelled from this House,
as a representative from the State of South
Carolina.
Resolusd, That this House hereby declares
its disapprobation of the said act of Henry A.
Edmundson and Lawrence NJ. Keitt, in re.
gard to said assault
Signed by Messrs, Campbell, (Ohio,) Spin
nor and Pennington!
THE MoSrroRY REPORT.
Mr.. Howell Cobb, representing tho minor
ity Of the Committee, presented minority
report, arguing that no breach Of privilege,
under the Constitution, had been committed
and that the House had no power to 60 be-
yond the Constitution in deciding that a
breach of privilege bad been committed.
Both ceports werc laid on its table and or
dercd printed, Adjourned. =.