Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-07

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Vsq DELIVERED BY
HON. OTTO DRESEL,
OF FRANKLIN COUNTY. .ot
In the Ohio House of Representative,
March 30, 1864, with Special Ref
erence 10 the Brutal Attnck
Nude by w. II. Free, of
Perry County, Upon A.
Mayo, OF Butler Coun-
~, while Address.
ing the House.
j. The ONO STATEsMAN's true narrative Of tht
-.rlt.ao @ assault: ~
On the 22d of March, 1854 the House
of Representatives held an evening ses-
sion to discuss the resolutions condemn
ing mobs. After the Rev. Mr.. Thompson
had delivered a violent and most abusive
speech against Democrats, Mr.. Mayo, the
young and talent Representative of Butler
county, addressed the chair in favor of the
resolutions condemning mobs and the liber-
ty of speech and the press, and while pro-
claiming his opinion that the freedom OF
the press was more valuable than any Gov
ernment, and that where the two could not
co-exist the Government ought to go down,
Mr.. Free the member from Perry swagger-
ed down the aisle andapproaching Mr.. Mayo
in q threatening manner, asked several
questions which Mr.. Mayo answered. The
answers appeared to enrage Free, though
there was nothing uncivil or personal in
them. Free then asked Mayo ifhe believed
in the liberty of treason. Mayo replied that
he did not understand the question, and re-
iterated what he had said IN regard TO the
.. n 4
d----d traitor!" Mayo turned to Free and
replied that those acquainted with the intel
lectual capacity of Free were not surprised
at any expression he might use. Free there
upon struck Mr.. Mayo blow in the face
which staggered but did not knock him
down. Members interfered and dragged the
brutal and infuriated Free away, and Mr..
Mayo concluded his speech. The excite-
mont was so great, however, that the House
adjourned. .lT rH
II. Preamble and Resolution offered By Hon.
'.'sR~ y. A. Estitl, from Van Vert: %
"WHEREAs, On the 22d day of March, A.
d. 1854, VIM. III. Free, member of the House
sfrom Perry county, perpetrated brutal and
unwarranted assault upon the person OF
Archibald Mayo, member of this House
from Butler county, whilst addressing the
mObs, then under consideration; and
WHEREAS, BY committing said assault,
VIM. II. Free has made himself guilty of the
highest breach known to parliamentary
law--of the privilege not only of the House,
butof the member assailed-and has proved
himself unworthy of the honorable position
as member Of the General Assembly
therefore, .,iuE ~
"Resotved, That the said VIM. H. Free be
and the same hereby Is expelled from his
seat on the foer Of this House.
Ill. Substitute reported Jy Hon. G. Dslano,
from the Judiciary committee: }hl
sResolved, That the personal attack made
by the member from Perry upon the mem
Der from Butler, on the evening Of the 22d
inst, was in violation Of the rules as well
as the decorum Of this body; and being
without Justification, and grave insult to
this body deserves, notwithstanding the
frank apology made for 1t, the censure Of
this House. . Il ~ ~ ,s.s6i5r .fi III
~ Resoived, That Archibald Mayo, the
member from Butler, for his disloyal and
morally reasonable sentiments, uttered on
the floor Of this House, in debate, on the
evenings Of March, 18th and 22t, AID. 1854,
merits stern and indignant rebuke, and
therefore deserves, as he hereby receives,
the unconditional and unqualified censure
and condemnation of this House,"
Said resolution and substitute being un-
der consideration, Mr.. DREsEL said: -
Mr.. SPEAKER: In approaching the sub
ject matter under consideration, j want IL
to be understood, that claim no sympathy,
no mercy, no charity for the gentleman
from Butler at the hands of the majority In
this House. No, sirs, / do not seek your
sympathy; i scorn your mercy, your chari-
tyi / demand from you full protection Of
our rights. i demand from you stern, i'm
partial justice! ask every member of
this House, who loves his country, who
loves peace and order, to join as one man
and hurl back ruffian force, which has of
late become so prevalent In our State and
of this legislative hall e%,fl8Nt
The Constitution In Art. ii, See. 8, clear
ly defines the judicial jurisdiction of this
Assembly over the conduct of its members.
The highest breach of privilege known to-
parliamentary law has been committed by
the assailant of the gentleman from Butler;
Iclaim that the highest punishment should
be inflicted on the offender. / claim this,
not In vindictive spirit, but because l
deem 1t Indispensable, In order to protect
the decorum, the dignity Of the House, yea,
the majesty OF the people. For the blow
struck was aimed not only at the head of
the gentleman from Butler, but at the mai
esty, at the liberties Of the sovereign peo-
plel ~ sy,t.s- 1lil
Sirs, the most lamentabIe fact connected
with this disgraceful occurrence, is your
cold indifference, your stolid inactivity
Your own volition did not prompt you to
move liz the premises; we had to coerce you
into activity. And how did You respond to
our call !? BY another attack on free speechl
i am not surprised at the course you have
takenos Iexpeeted nothing else. ] Ipredict-
ed that you would act thus and not other-
wise, Your course In this matter Is con-
eistent with the course Of your party ever
since the war commenced. Whenever we
pleaded for our constitutional prerogatives,
Whenever we availed ourselves Of our sa-
cred rights, You have invariably answered,
not by argument but by blowsi s7g
When Democratic citizens Of Ohio, who
had committed no crimes against the laws
OF the land, were dragged nom their iaIni-