Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-23
SPEECH OF HoN. P. S. BROOKS,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
On resgning his seat in Congress, delivered IN inc
House Of Representatives, July IA, 1856.

r..
Mr.. SPEAKER: Until this moment have felt
that there WAS 4 proprety in my remaining 81
lent, and in trusting my defence to friends who
mr.. abler and more learned than myself. | have
heretofore felt that other anu higher interests
than any VIII oh affect me personally were in.
volved in the proceedings Of this case. The
interests of my constituents, of this House, ard
of all, indeed, who are concerned in the C"nsil-
tu,ion itself, in my view, have been Intimately
and inseparab.y complicated.
Here Alr. Brooks was interrupted by DR.
.Giddings, &c.
Sir, am indebted to the House for even this
5murh courtesy was boIt remarkng that
there were higher interests than my own lnvoi-
we'd in this matter have been content, there
fore. to meet personally and in silence all the
consequences of these proceedings.
- Some lime since Il Senator from Massachu-
{. setts allowed himself in an deliberately prepared
Speech, to offer gross insult 10 my Stale and
!. TO a venerable friend, who is nv State repre-
sentative. and was absent at the lime.
Not content with that, he published TO the
world, and circulated extensively, this uncalied
for libel On my State and my blood Whoever
insults nv State insults me. Her history aud
character nave commanded my rious reHeratlon,
and in her defence hope shall always be pre-
pared, humbiy and m"dcStly, to perform the
duty of son. should have forfeited r:y ow"
self.:rSpect, and perhaps, the good opinion OF
my countrynlen, if had failed 10 resent such
an injury, by calling the offender in question I"
4 personal account. 1t was L personal att"r,
and in taking redress into my ew; bands meant
no dsreSbecl to the Senate uf The United States,
i or 10 this House Nor, SIR, did | design dis.
respec: to tic State of Massachusetts. was
aware of The personal responsibilities incurred,
and was willing TO meet them. knew, toe.
: that W S amellabe 10 the laws of the country.
= which afford the same protection to all, whether
they be members Of Congress or private cillzens
dill not, and DO not now. believe that could
BE- properly punished, not only in Il court OF law;
/. but here also, a, the pleasure and discretion al
) the House. did rot thea, aud do not now.
( believe that The spirit OF American ireem"n
would tolerate s!al.dvr in high places, and per-
+. zr.it a member Of Congress 10 publish and clrcu-
late i libel on another, ard then call upon either
: House 10 protect him agant the per,onal re-
spnnsibi!i;ies which he had titus Incurred.
So. But if | had committed a breach Of privilege,
it was the privilege OF the Senate, and not of
this House, which was violated. WAS answera-
:. bic there, and not here. They had 10 right,
i. MS it seem to me, 10 prosecute me IN these
halls, nor have you the right in law.or under the
constitution. rs | respectfully submit, to take
jurisdiction over oflcnces committed against
; them. The constitution does not j justify them
..s.ss<k:-rs 1lesfy ys1oF tnfS III ouse III
granting it. If. unhappi'y, tie day should ever
come wi,rn sectional OF party feelings should
S run so high as to control all other considerations
/ Of public duty or justice, how easy will 1t be t"
= use sucl, prccedents for the excuse OF arbitrary
!. power, in either house, to expri members ol
the minority who may have rendered themselves
obnoxious to the prevailing spirit IN the house
/, 10 which they belong.
Matters ,lay ro smoothly enough when one
house asks the other TO punish member who Is
offensive to L majority Of its own body, but how
vii, il be when, upon prctence of in>uted dig
ni,y. demands are made of this House to eXpel Il
t, member who happens 20 run counter to its party
, predilcclions, or other demands it may not he so
, agreeable 10 grant! 1t could never have been
desiqned by ,iie constitution oflhe United States
TO expose the two houses to such temptations to
collision. or to extend SO far the discretionary
power which was eiycnto either house to punish
its own members for the violation of It's rules
and orders Discretion has been said TO be the
law of the tvrant, md when exercised under the
color of the law and under the influence OF party
dictatiou. il NAV and will become terrible and
insufferablc despo,isln.
This House, however, it would seem from the
unmistakable tendency of its proceedings, takes
different view from that which deliberately
entertain in common with many others.
I. So far as the public interests or constitution
. nj rights are involved, | have now exhausted my
means of defence. may, then, be ALLOW to
? take more personal view of The question at
issue. The further prosecution of this subject
in the shape it has now assumed may not only
involve nv friends, but the House itself, in
agitations which might be unhappy in their con-
sequences TO the country. II these consequences
? could be confined to myself irdividnally, think
: I am prepared and ready to meet them, here or
$ elsewhere and when nse this language,
mean what say. But others must mol suffer
for me. have felt more on account Of my two
friends who have been implicated than for my
self, for they have proven that there is friend
that sticke.h closer than brother" will not
constrain gentlemen TO assume responsibility
on nv account which possibly they would not
on their own.
Sir. / cannot, on my own account, assume the
responsibility, in the face of the American peo-
pie of commencing line of conduct which in
nv heart of hearts believe would result in
subver,ins the foundations Of this government
and in drencLing this hall in blood. No act OF
mine, and on my personal account. shall inaugu-
rate revolut;an; but when you, Mr. Speaker
seiurn to your own home and hear the people
;. of the great Nortll-and they are great people
2 speak of me as Il bad man, you will do ME
the Justice to say that blow struck by me al
this time would be followed by reroution-and
this know. [Appause aud i'Isses IN tho
galIery.]
90 The Speaker announced that if any such de-
! monstrations were repeated, the galleries should
Z be, cleared, s.,
=. .Mr. Brooks, Ournng 10 the. gcnllemcn's gal.
! kry.) If have any friends in the gallery,
appeal to them to be quiet 49,.
At the same time, Mr.. Speaker am not
, wilingto see the constitution wounded through
me-; nor will III submit voluntarily 10 wrong IL j
can ayoidit | will not voluntarily give my
|, name to countenance parliamentary misrulc or
constitutional aggression. l. If am TO be tried
again for the matter now before us, will choose
] INV own tribunal. Twill appeal from this House
TO nv own constituents. II an expression OF
public opinion islo. be invoked in my casc let
INV constituents and nv felow-citizens pro-
\ pource upon it. From that verdict will not
!. .appeal. The temper of the dimes is not favora,
,ble for calm. and dispassiohate judgment of
sahs cease and If, by any acl of In ine' can save
! the majority of this House from the consequent
ces of rash decision, the time may come wncn
. -ihe good men who are pursuing me-and be-
lSIiere there are such.in iheeopposllon--"iii ao-
Z NIT that deserve their. thanks for ihe deco:
Il l.l To Off rika