The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-14

JULY IL, 1856,
nority of the Select Committee to L.cestiqate
the Assault upon Senator Sumner
Mr.. NICHOLS said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: l do not rise with the hope of
influencing the vote of any member of the
House upon the resolutions before us. NV own
judgment is already formed, and presume the
mind of every other gentleman upon this floor
is already made up, as to the course which it is
proper for this House to pursue upon the mat
ter before u.s. But, sir, after coming to the
conclusion to vote for the resolution reported
by the majority of the committee, in reference
to the principal in this transaction, have
sought the floor for the purpose of explaining
briefly the vote l shall give. Before doing so,
| shall refer to an incident which occurred in
debate on the day these resolutions were taken
up.
AT this point, Mr.. NICHOLS gave way to 6
motion to adjourn, which being negatiYed, he
proceeded as follows
Mr.. Speaker, l was about to remark, when
interrupted, that reflections had been cast on
the action of the committee of which am a
member, in respect to the recommendation to
print extra copies of the report of the commit
tee to investigate this assault. 1t will be re-
membered, that, when that resolution was pre
scented, l sought the floor for explanation. NV
desire was to state that the report then submit
ted was a ma ority report; that l did no,
assent to it; and, Mr.. Speaker, in honesty and
fairness, think this statement meets and dis
poses of the charge that any political advantage
was sought by that report.
Mr.. Speaker, view this transaction in diff
| ferent light from some other gentlemen. / re-
TOD Gwa< IL.
all implicated will have abundant reason to re-
greet it hereafter, and that gentlemen have more
| reason to deplore it than they have for condem
nation now. l have no political capital &c
make out of the question. But, sir, 1 regard
it as question for adjustment by this House
What, sir, is the question? Have the priv
| leges of the coordinate branch of the National
Legislature been invaded; and if SO, and by a
member OF this House, is the invasion such q
one as we ought to take cognizance of? In
my judgment, it is an offence of which this
House ought to take cognizance. / would be
| glad from the personal relations WHICH have
sustained to the gentleman implicated in this
matter, If / could, from q sense of duty TO my
self, to the Constitution, and my constituents
be brought to regard it in different light
The conclusion to which have arrived is, that
the resolution submitted by the majority con
templates such action as it is proper and Just
that this House should take in the premises.
Yet the majority report of the committee rs
assailed. The gentleman from Georgia [Mr
COBB made a long and eloquent speech, to
prove that this House had no Jurisdiction owe,
the offence. He asserted, that to adopt the
line of policy laid down by the majority of the
committee would lead to an invasion of the civil
rights OF the citizens of the Union. do not sc
regard it. In my judgment, when the gentle
man from South Carolina made up his mind to
an assault on Senator SUMNER-when he de-
liberately determined to punish him for words