The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-28

July IL, 1856.
The House having under consideration the
resolutions reported by the committee charged
with the investigation of the assault by Mr.
BRooKs upon Senator SUMNER
Mr.. KNAPP said:
| could have wished. Mr.. Speaker, that my
first utierances ia this Hall, apart from the rou
tine Of ordinary business, had been upon some
more congenisl theme; but, standing as l dc
ia this place, "a the representative of O people
whose rights and interests are deeply affected
by the issues involved in the resolution before
us feel no inclination to shrink from any Just
responsibility that attaches to me. L partici-
pate in the regret which expressed the
other day by one of my colleagues, MIR. CoMINs,
that under the operation Of the rules Of this
House II was found necessary, or deemed ne
cessary, that We should come to the considera-
ton of this matter with such tardy steps. But
this delay, unpleasant as it has been In view OF
the magnitude Of the outrage which has been
perpe;rated, as / conceive, upon our common
rights, upon the Constitution, and upon the
sovereignty of Massachusetts, is the less to be
regretted, since, from the lapse of time, that
acerbity of feeling or of passion which the char
ac;er Of the offence was so well suited to evolve
Inay in a measure have subsided, and left the
House IN "A better frame of mind to Judge dis
passionately and impartially upon the question
before IT,. Another advantage has been CLEANED
from this delay: The responses of the people
have been uttered. Some of US, at least, have
had an opportunity Of mingling with our con-
stiiuencies. | have visited my home, on the
banks of the Merrimack. ] have met the work
ingmen Of Lowell-have seen the fire in their
eyes, and felt their indignant heart-throbs. es,
si. and the noble women. copyrighted in such
numbers IN those hives of busy industry, have
not been backward in manifestations of their
deep concern. The mechanic in the shop, the
shoemaker on his bench, the farmer beside his
plough, th.. maiden In the mill--in Il word, the
pul pit, the press, the people-cry out with one
accord. Forgetful of former partisan feuds
men Of all parties, animated by feeling akin
80 tIat Of the revolutionary epoch. rush together
in masses, vieing with each other in the earnest
ness Of their protestations.
The knowledge of this outrage, of course, wa.
immediately transmitted To every extremity o.
she land. The Legislature of my own beloved
Common wealth. then i'm session, had immediate
information of the facts. In the previous dis
eussions epon this question, some animadver
sions have been INDUCED in, in reference to
what has been represented as hasty and incon
siderate proceedings on the part of the Legisla
cure of my State. This outrage was perpetrated
on the 22d of May. Within twenty -four hours
the knowledge of its essential particulars was
disseminated throughout the land. 1t was q
matter of history. 1t was as well known to the
people OF Massachusetts az the essential facts
connected with the great event of the battle o.
Bunker Hill. Everybody knew it, and every
body was startled by the intelligence. Through
out the free States the moral sense of the people
received shock, such Is ] venture to say ha.
never been paralleled in the snnsls of our his
tory. But the Legislature of Massachusetts
did not proceed hastily. They delayed thei,
action until they had received will not ga,
afidsyits-I will no. say sworn testimony-but
they waited long enough 10 receive the conce
ded, acknowledged facts Of the case, published
by those who we're supposed TO be in the Inter
est Of The accused, and, may also add, SAID
to have been published by his authority. How
LONG then, should Massachusetts have waited
npder the pressure Of this great indignity which
had been exhibited toward her sovereignty, in
view OF this transaction, in which the Senator
OF her cho;ce--the pride of the Commonw wealth
had been stricken down in the place appointed
for the discharge OF the high functions of bis
eiSce-stricken down IN the discharge of the
functions of a Senator OF the United States
Lere, IN the very Temple Of our Liberty
Massachusetts waited until ten days had elapsed
and then, in response to what may saw was
,fi. universal sentiment of her million of people
she uttered her voice: and that voice has been
veil and appropriately embodied IN g series Of
resolutions which have been transmitted to tbs
Representatives of the Commonwealth, under
The attestation 81 Der proper officers, which
have been presented at your table, and, by order
of the House, have been printed, and placed
upon your flies. j here place thea on the
record of this debate:
Resolrcd by the Senate and House Of Rep
seqtaticeS Of the Commonwealth of MasSa
e.hnsetss, That we have received. with deep con
Germ, information of the recent gio,ant assault
committ.4d in the Senate Chamber at Washiny
ton, upon the person of the Hon. CHARLEr
SUMNER, one Of o0r Senators in Congress, by
PaFsToN x. Books, a member of the House
of Representatives. from South Carolina-ar
assault which no provocation could Justify
brutal and cowardly in itself; gross breach
of parliamentary privilege; ruthless attack
upon the liberty of speech an outrage of the
decencies of civilized life and an indignity to
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,.
:. Resoloed, That the Legislsture of Massa
chusetss, in the name of her free sa6 enlight.
eued people, demands for her representatives.
10 the Na:ioasl Legislature, entire freedom o.
>,,esch. and viii uphold them in the proper ex.
EFCiBt OF lual cosShiiei kHA VI wv
Zens.
" Re,oEse1, That we approve of Mr.. sesEEF'4
Iuanliness and courage, in his earnest and fear
less declaration of free principles, and his de-
fence of human rights aud free territory.
:. Resogoed, That the Legislature of Massa-
chusetis is imperativeIy called upon, By the
plainest dictates of duty, from decent regard
10 the rights of her cirisens, and respect for
her character as sovereign State-to demand,
and the Legislature of Massachusetts, hereby
does demand, of the National Congress,
prompt and strict investigation into the recent
assault upon Senator SUMNER, and the expul-
sion by the House of Representatives of Mr..
Books, of South Carolina, and any other
member concerned with him in said assault
4" ResoIred, That his Excellency the Governor
l.. requested to transmit a copy of the fore
yoi,.g resolves TO the President of the Sensts
ard speaker Of the House Of Representatives,
aud to each of the Senators and members OF
the House Of Representatives from this Com