True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-02-11
DISGRACEFUL.

Below we publish the report of inves-
tigation, in the case of the disgracefuI
attack made by Slough upon Caldwell,
in the House Of Representatives. The
House has since vindieaied its honor by
the expulsion ofSlougb.
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Hunter, from tie select committee
to investigage the PERSONAL occurrence
between Mr.. Slough and Mr.. Caldwell.
reported as follows:
Your committee, towhom was refer
red the difficulty between Mr.. Caldwell
and Mr.. Slough, members ofNthis House,
beg leave to report, as The result Of as
careful an investigation as the circumstan-
ces would admit of, the following facts :
On the l4lh inst, and while the House
was taking vote on The resolution Of Mr..
Slough, calling for the opinion of the Al
torney General on the subject of the per
diem of members during the interval be.
tween the regular sessions, and mileage
to and from the adjourned session, Mr.
Slough remarked is as / expected,
they are opposed to allow in the attorney
General to give an opinion" Mr.. Cald-
well who was setting near, overhearing
the remark, answered, that if the resolu.
t;o,, ,ro. noseoJ ,bo iA,tornau Gonoral
would pay no attention to il; then Mr..
Slough inquired why ,he (Mr. c. thought
The Attorney General would disregard the
resolution ! Mr.. CT answered that it,
(lhe resolution) was SO foolish, frivolous
or absurd, that .ha Attorney General
would not condesceid to give an opinion
on it.-Mr. SloughIin reply, said he did
not permit any gentleman to speak to him
in that way, or to Sail him "a fool TO
which Mr.. Caldwell answered." What
do you propose to do about ii :"
At this time Mr.. G. and Mr.. S. were
face Ia face, the des / only between them,
and Mr.. Slough said, THAT is what |
propose to do about it," at the same time
striking Mr.. Caldwell with his fist on the
forehead. t.s
Mr.. Slough then picked up his chair,
which had fallen over in the affray, at
the same time remarking that he did not
allow any man to call him fool, to
misuse or insult him, or words to that i'm.
port.
Your committee believe the foregoing
to be all the prominent facts in the case
and we are satisfied from them that Mr..
Caldwell did not intend any personal in.
suit to Mr.. Slough and although we are
convinced that Mr.. S. made personal ap.
plication of words used by Mr. G. only in
reference to The pending resolution, and
was therefore highly incensed, (such
words, when SO applied, being offensive,
yet we are ofopinian that no amount o.
provocation in mere words, can justify {
personal assault by one member on ano
ther in a legislative assembly, and woult
therefore recommend that this House
take such measures for the yiDdication .
its outraged honor and dignity as lht
present circumstances demand,
Your committee herewith offer by way
ofappendix 10 lheirreport, the testimony
in the above case, and asked to be- dis
charged from the furthsr consideration o.
the same, yJonH HUNTER,
r M. Cook,
.g. ,NELsoN FRANKLIN
The Undersigned, a minority of th'
committee. believe The foregoing repor
and appendix present substantially tn
facts in the above case, and we concu
with the majority Of the committee il
opinion expressed thereon. We do nc
however, consider il our duty, nor sa
we " recommend TO this Honse 10 tax
measures for the vindieation Of iis oui
ragged honor and dignity as the circum
stances demand"-bul leave it enlirel
10 the HOUSE 10 determine how great A
indigni.y has been offered to it, and
adopt such measures I'M the premise
as the circumstances seem TO require.
THos. J. s. SMITH,
! e L. d. ODELL.