The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-11


maintaining that the offence Of Mr. BRooKs merited
pulsion.
Mr. COBB of Georgia said that he would not have al
luded TO the facts detailed by the testimony in this case
had II not been that the gentleman from Massachusetts,
Mr. CoASs seemed disposed TO give currency to the
charge that had been made by the press and In other
speeches upon the floor OF the House. and perhaps in the
Senate in reference to the of the assault upon the
senator from Massachusetts He had hoped that the facts
detailed BY the evidence would have been substantially
agreed upon and that there would have been DISPOSE
ton here before the country to avoid the issue made
and understood by this evidence The charge made by the
gentleman that the assault was made In consequence OF an
anayey speech uttered by the senator from Massachu-
sets not founded in truth supported by the evil
dence lie appealed to gentlemen to meet the issue fairly
evidence taken IN part from the OF the senator IRON
Massachusetts himself well from other witnesses
showed that the assault made In consequence OF
personal insult offered TO friend and knsman OF Mr.
Brooks and for indgniy cast upon his State II the
House disposed 10 give fair and proper Judgment
and If it disposed TO have proper Judgment pro-
nounced by the country he desired that the country should
understand the truth they understood it. from the evil
dence
The view which he took Of the did not require him
to examine the evidence in detail His object was to adj
dress the House in support of the great fundamental prn
cples mbodied in the constitution of the United States
and he should not be deferred from the line OF his argu
ment because the gentleman from Massachusetts, had seen
proper to him by that he need not raise his
voice in behalf Of the constitution That gentleman had
warned him that the time had passed when such an appeal
could be successfully made upon the floor of American
Congress, and had told him that it only remained now to
draw black line around its margin and write upon Its
face expunged In reply he declared that he who was pre-
pared for the damnable deed might perform it. 1t
part Of bis duty and met no response in his heart Not
constitution, and planting himself upon its provisions
called upon the House to enforce them The House was
sitting court to pass Judgment upon three Of its own
members, and he invoked the intelligence OF his fellow
members and asked them to lay aside passion aud preu-
and investigate the question with minds free and open
| to conviction.
The report submitted to the House by minority of the
committee asserted general propositions the first in
reference to the freedom of debate declaring that the pro-
vision of the constitution which referred to 1t intended
protect members in the exercise of their representative
duty in legitimate and proper debate from all questioning
before the civil criminal courts of the land and second
on the subject of privilege that the members of either
branch of Congress and the two houses possessed no other
privileges except those which derived from the con-
stuon and from the laws and rules passed in conorm-
ty with the constitution Mr.. Conn then proceeded TO
argue the at length showing clearly that neither the
freedom of de.e privileges of member of Congress
had been violated. In conclusion, to SNOW "
which the majority of the committee proposed to carry this
question of privilege he referred their proposal that the
House Mr.. KETT and Mr. EDMuNDsoN, at the same
time that they reported that these two gentlemen were
guilty of offence They were neither found guilty as
principals or accessories the majority OF the committee
feeling justified in expressing such opinion upon
the testimony but still the majority regarded their conduct
in the transaction reprehensble particularly as they
did take steps prevent the preparation OF the wrong
or inform the of his danger. Mr. EDMUNDsoN had
been told in confidence Mr. Books that he intended to
call Mr. SUMNER to and because he had refused TO
violate this confidence majority Oh the comltee iouha
him guilty of breach of the privileges of the House. for
which he was to be punished.
Mr.. PENNINGTON, of New Jersey, read written ar
gument in favor of the report of majority OF the COM
mitee.
Mr. FOSTER, of Georgia. addressed the House, arguing
that the constitution conferred power upon the House
to take notice of assault committed under such crcum-
stances and thought they should wash their hands of the
matter possible.
| Mr. TYSON, of Pennsylvania, obtained the floor, but
way and alta quarter after four O'clock the House
adjourned.