The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-08-22

"| '.' ~ .'c i'i iScSI point anu 1lYc-clTlI1llS
OF IN inch in the smallest part, as deadly
weapon; and why they went further bv
declaring that the weapon was calculated
To cn,!angcr life, and that he lay for some
time in Il critical condition--whc the plvs
ician testified that hi; pulse, for six days
after the assault WIS committed, never cx-
cccdcd ciglty-two beats in Il minute.
But, Mr.. Speaker, that is not all. 1t is
surprising 10 me that this whole question of
privilege should have been disposed of bv
the committee rs tlippantly as it seems TO
have hccn disposed of by this report.
What does the gentleman from Ohio. the
chairman Of the committee, say? lie
says:
"Thc committee do not discuss the pow
or OF the House to punisl, its disor,lcrlv
members, nor do they undertake TO argue
the general question Us to what constitutes
n breach OF privilege. The passage Of tie
resolution raising the committee is regarded
ms declaration on the part of the House
OF It's power to call its members TO account
tor such acts as violate The privileges of
the Srnatc.'
lie docs not undertake to argue the Gen
cral question rs to what constitutes a breach
of privilege, or the power of the House.
without any law, TO punish therefor. The
committee assume here that the raisinr
OF the committee, under the resolution offer
ell 10y the gcn'!man from Ohio, prciudccs
AMI prcictcrlnines this question ms 20 privi-
l"SSr. We'll, sir, have before me the pro-
crctlngs OF that memorable hay-thc 22.l
ni May-t!'at gave birth to this committee
/ he gentleman from Ohio offered his reso-
luton, an'l before taking his seat, without
u'trring single word explanatory of his
reS"!"'i"E, he 'le'na'l'lcl the previous qucs-
iicn. There was no debate.
Mr. Campbell. The gentleman from
North Carolina Mr.. Clingman1 had the
floor for an hour.
Mr.: Orr The gentleman from Ohio is
mistaken. The gentleman from North Car.
DINA had the floor on IN appeal whicl: he
took from the decision of tic Speaker en-.
tertalning the question us II privileged uncs
ton. lie occupied it but few moments.
Mr.. Campbell. lie entered into the
merits of the case.
MIR. Orr. No; according 10 the report
here, the gentleman from North Carolina
may have occupied not exceeding ten min
utcs.
Mr.. Ciingman, Tin his scat.) At furtIest.
Mr.. Orr. Say ten minu,cs ut the ont
side. The gentleman from Ohio succeeded
III obtaining the floor when the gentleman
from North Carolina took his seat. And
what did he do then: Did he 60 on and
debate the question? Not ut ALL Feeling
confident that he had the power 10 pass tic
resolution without debate, the gentleman
moved to lay the appeal Of the gentleman
from North Carolina OH the table; and
thereby cut oil and prcclr,lcd any further
debate, even on the incidental question of
ORDER
Now, Mr.. Speaker, the gentleman went
further, and did not act with his ususal. in
Scnuousncss; for, when he was catcchizcl
by the gentleman from North Carolina, and
one or two other members OF the House.
he says:
"lhc Object OF the resolution is simply
that Tie facts my Ge brought before the
House in au authentic form. 1t is du. To
the House that they shoull.'
Again, in another place, he says:
The result Of the Investigation would
certainly work no wrong to either gentle
man. Ny purposc as simply to hare Mr
tact* presented"
Now, Mr.. Speaker, with these two decla.
ratlons and others OF Il similar import, on
the lips Of The gentleman from Ohio, the
mover OF the resolution, the gentleman who,
above all others, must have best known
what the resolution containcd-G believe
it was read but u single time, and passed
without debate with these declarations
coming from him that that was tho only
purpose he had in view, the gentleman now
turns round and says in his report he will
not argue the question Of privilege or Of
the power of the House, because the House,
IN raising the committee of investigation, has
preludgcd those questions. Was it fair
Did the gentleman, if he contemplated the
action of the House that day was to deter
mine the question of privilege, this great
constitutional question, act ingenuously to-
wards the House by stating that all he
wanted was simply IN investigation into the
statement Of facts, that the facts might be
reported to The House, without saying any
thing about the question Of privilege being
determined at all 2
But thero is another thing connected
with the proceedings before this committee,
to,which wish to call attention. find, :,
from; the report, that after DR.. Boyle had
given his testimony pretty fully before the
committee, he was subjected to cross-ex-
animation by the HONORABLE gentleman from
New. Jersey, [Mr. Pennington. Well, sir,
when..I have been engaged III nisi orius
cases at home-wleii Ihave been e,npiioyed