Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-06-06
CONGRESS-.

Aside from the following lhcre has been
nothing Of interest save message from the
President announcing a dsmission of the
British Minister Champion aud sundry
British Consus. The President says this
has not been done because Of any dissatis-
faction with The British Government, but with
the conduct Of the persons dismissed. The
tchsips are whipped, not The Lion. Whew
MoNDAY. June ..
SFNATE.-The presiding officer laid be-
fore the Senate a letter from p $. Brooks 10
Mr.. Bright, in which he disclaims any inten-
ton of offending against the privileges Of
the Senate by his assault on Mr.. Sumner,
but says he felt bound to chastise Mr.. Sum
ner for the insult to his State and to his rel.
alive, and having sought him in vain else
where he deemed It proper to inlet that
punishment IN the Senate. lie did not think
he was committing any breach Of privilege.
What did he Thick n
The letter was read laid on the table, and
ordeied to be printed
The Senate then adjourned to Thursday.
HoUsE.-Mr Campbell Of Ohio, from the
Select Committee on the assault on Mr. Sum
ner by Mr. Brooks made a report, conclud-
ing ms follows:
Whgeas, The Senate Of the United States
have transmitted to this House a message,
complaining that Preston = Brooks, a Rep
resentative from South Carolina, committed
upon the person Of Charles Sumner, a Sena-
tor from the state Of Massachusetts, while
seated at his desk in the Senate Chambe, az
ter The adjournment on the 22d day of May
last, violent assault, which disabled him
from attending 10 his duties in the Senate,
and declaring that said assault was a breach
of the privileges of that House The Sem
ate have further declared that, nasmuch as
the said Preston ). Brooks is member Of
this House they cannot try or punish him for
a breach Of their privileges that they can
not proceed further 10 the case than TO make
complaint 10 this House, and that the power
TO arrest, try and punish, devolyes solely on
this body and
Uheteas, Upon fall investigation il ap~
pears 10 this House that the said Preston S.
Brooks has been guilty Of the assault com.
planned Of by the Senate. with the most ag-
gravated circumstances of violence; that
the same was a brench Of the privileges not
only Of the Senate, bu, the Gu ordinate branch
of the Legislative Departma Mt of the Gov
eminent, in direct violation of the Constitu-
ton Of the U. s., which declares that Soma
tors and Representatives, for any speech or
debate, 10 either House, shall not be ques-
toned in any other place and
Uh0cds This House is of the opinion
that has the power and ought 10 punish the
said Preston s. Brooks for the said assault.
not only as a breach of the privileges Of the
Senator assalied and ofihe Senate and House,
as declared by he Constitution, bat as an
act of disorie-ly behavior, aud
Whereas, IN further appears from such in
vestigauons that H. A. Edmuudson, a Rep
reseniltive from the State Of Virginia, and
J.. N. Keiit, a Representative from South
Carolina, some time previous 90 the assault
were Informed that 10 was the purpose Of the
saie Brooks 90 commit Yolcnce 90 tine per-
son of the sand Summer for words used by
hlm in debate as a Senator the Senate of
the United States, and took 900 meaus io dis-
courage 90 prevent tle same. bui, un the con-
turY, anticipating the commission OF such
violence, were present ON one or more occa-
sions Go witness the same as friends Of the
assatl1Dt; therefore,
Resofrrd, That p. S Brooks be and is
hereby expelled from this House as z epre-
sentative from the State of South Carolina.
Resoiucd. That tins House hereby declares
ITS disapprubalou Of the said act of Henry
A. Edmundson and Lawrence NJ. Kelu, ~
regard TO said assault
Signed by Me-srs Campbell Of Ohio,
Spinner, and Pennington.
Mr. Howell Cobb. representing the minor
ity Of the COMMITTEE, presented a 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
breach of privilege had been committed.
Both reports were land on the table aud or
dered 10 be printed. Adjourned