Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-06-03
CoYGRFssI0yAI.
morning.

WASHINGTON, June =.
SExNrE-AIr. Bright being absent, Mr. Stuart
sage from the President in relation tn affairs in
Central America, which has already been pub
lished
A resolution was adopted. that when tue Sen
ate adjourns on Thursday, it adjourn to meet on
Monday.
The presiding oficerl laid before the Senate
letter from the Hon Preston S. Brooks, address
ed to Mr. Bright, in which he disclaims any in
tentioa of offending against the privileges of the
Senate by his assault upon Mr.. Sumner, but
says nc felt bound to chastisc him for the iIults
to his State and to his relative; and having
sought him in vain elsewhere, deemed it proper
to intiict that punishment here; the Senate not
being in session he did not think he was commit
ing breach of privilege,
The letter was read, laid on the table, and or
dered to be printed.
The Senate then adjourned until Thursday
next.
HousE-Mr. Campbell of Ohio, from the Sc
lect committee appointed to investigate the cir
cumstances attending the assault upon Sumner,
made report concluding as follows:
Whereas, The Senate of the United States
have transmitted to this House message COM
planning that Preston S. Brooks, representative
from the State of South Carolina, committed
upon the person of Chas. Sumner, Senator
from the State of Massachusetts, while seated
at his desk i'll the Senate Chamber, after the ad-
journmcnt of that body on the 22d Of May last,
a violent assault which disabled him from at
tending to his duties in the Senate, and dccla-
ring said assault was breach of privileges OF
that body; and
IPheredS, From the respect of the privileges
of the House, the Senate has further declared
that inaSmuch as p S. Brooks is a member of
this House, they cannot arrest and portion
cannot try and punish him for a breach of their
privileges, that they cannot proceed further in
the matter than to make their complaint to this
House. and that power to arrest, try and pun
sh, devolves solely on this body; and
Whereas, Upon well investigation it appears
to this House that said Preston S. Brooks has
hcen guilty Of the assault complained of by the
Senate, with the most aggravated circumstances
of violence, that the same was a breach of the
Senate and of the privileges not only of the
Senate, but of the Senator assailed and of this
House. as a coordinate branch of the Legislative
department of the Government, and in direct
violation Of the Constitution of the u S., which
/ declares that Senators and Representatives for
speech or debate i'll either House Shall not be
questioned in any other place; and
HHereas, This House is Of opinion that it has
power, and ought to punish said Preston 5.
Brooks for said assault, not only 4 breach OF
the privilege the Senator a$SailCd, and Of the
Senate and House as declared by the Constitu-
ton, but is an act of disordcrIy behavior, and
| IIcrcas 1t further appears from such inves-
tigation that Henry \. Eilmunston, representa-
tive from Virginia, and Lawrence n. keitt, rep
rcsentativc from South Carolina, sometime pre-
viOus to said assault were informed that it was
the purpose of said Brooks to commit violence
upon the person of said Sumner, for words said
| by him as a Senator in the Senate, and took no
measures to discourage or prevent the same, but
on the contrary, anticipating the commission of
such violence, were present on one or more oc-
easions to witness the same as friends of the as
Sailant, therefore
Rcso7rcd, That Preston s. Brooks be, and is,
forthwith expelled from the House represent
alive from South Carolina.
Resolre3, That this House hereby declare its
Edisapprobation of the said act of Henry a. Ed
munston and Lawrence N. Kcitt, in regard to
Signed by Campbell of O., Skinner, Pcnning-
ton and Howell.
Mr.. Cobb submitted q minority report, arg,I-
ing that no breach of privilege under the consti
tuition had been committed, and that the House
had 10 power to go beyond the constitution,
even if breach of privilege had been CONF
mittcd.
Both reports were Iail on the table and order
ed to be printed. Add