The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-04-17
tiles. desire TO submit the following report
rha result of the investigation u the pre-

mises:
Tue committee were OF opinion that TIN
general authority conferred upon them II
his matter bv the resolution under which
they were 10 act gave them full latitude K
extend their inquiries 10 the conduct OF any
person whatever, which might be construed
fnro an iutrin cement OF the privileges con
le~red IS law upon member Of this body
while ~ ing IN an official capacity. Taking
this view OF the object and scope OF the duty
ign II them, they Cntered AZ once upon
fh. discharge Of the dutiss thus imposed on
them is such manner as 10 enable them to
Oh lett any fact or circumstance necessary IL
guide them in any particular case. when u
should appear Chat such intimidation had
been attem pied.
Thus proceeding their attention WAS d.
recttd 20 an occurrence of recent date, OF
such a character ia their opinion. as to war
rant them on entering at once upon an IN
ge-tigagiYu OF the facts Immediately con-
uecLeu y it'll hr origin. nature, ana result OF
that parLicul4 II instance; il being case in
which member OF this body was assaulted
in-ul.cd and abused upon the streets OF
Jackson, tor. Ia accOrdan-e with the decla-
ration of the party making the ASSAULT. his
ac iDn ia certain ma tiers OF legislation.
They allua TO the case OF Senator sullivan,
who Was rudrIy a-s4ul ed on the first in
slant IL public place without cause or
VrJvOcHrjOn, 10y &. , Bell. Tle ease Is an
aggravated one in every particular, aS APP
pears from the testimony of number OF
witnesses who were present at the time of
the occurrence. THIS testimony which is
hereby submitted, establishes clearly the
following facts:
Bell having taken umbrage at the action
OF senator -ulis AN III reference 10 "A matter
penIlug before the Legislature tor its con
sIusra ion. made threats OF violence against
nun. and afterwards approached him upon
The streets, and without any apparent pro-
vocation or any cause whatever to Justify
su b action. made the assault alluded TO, ac
c5Inpanied vii the most insulting and abII-
T..
t!al character was assailed. From the tes-
tmoHY OF the witness Monroe Bell, ii
appears that said &. ). Bell admitted that
aJ me time when he approached Mr.. Suli-
van NJ bed bad determined 10 blow SulIi-
vans brains out; that this was his frs
intention on meeting Mr.. Sullivan.
IL Is ais" proven that said &. >. Bell drew
ami presented a loaded pistol very close t.
the head Of Mr.. Sullivan, arr at the same
time applied To him words Of insult and
abuse. II Is further proven that in the at
tempt OF a third party to interfere, said
pistol was dis -har2ed into the ground, aud |
We therefore infer that IL wa1 cooked, ready |
Tor Instant use, when so presented, close 70 |
the head of MT. sullivan.
That during the difficulty he raised the |
ptsl"l ~ a threatening manner. He after !
ward held the pistol presented in a very
mrnacing altitude, warning all persons not |
~ interfere and the violence of his conduct |
wa only arrested by his (Bell) being taken |
lutp custody by an officer. Ii is clearly es-
tdbli7hed by the testimony that Bells only |
ALLEGED cause Of complaint hal its origin IN l
the COURSE pursued by Senator Sullivan in |
MS ON ,tai action upon certain measures
before the 1t gisature in his capacity as
senate. Ihe law governing deiOerative
oo@le-, 50 Tar as their action is concerned
IN the official character of the members
composing such bodies, is well known |
That they are shielded and protecte in
WhAJ, yer act they do in such capacity is u
prtncip long established. 1t has always |
ttel reg 1TtEu as Il maxim of |
m@nt tiiat the immunity OF a Legislator tor |
MS conduct as sucn Is high privilege in
Which they are protected even by the
courts or IN" country. The Constitution OF |
the United States prescribing the privileges
of The members of Congress, declares, for
any sucrch or debate in either House they
hh'ti h"t be questioned In any other place"
Anu the same principle applies with equal
force 20 ~ mbers Of our Legislature
Among other privileges enumerated i'm
parliamentary law. it is held in reference TO
Legislative bodies, that they are at all
time. exempted from question for ANYTHING
said in their House.. and ''that during the
time OF privilege, neither member, him.
se!i, servant or family may be arrested in
any ;ivil suit, nor their persons assaulted or
character traduced.' See BarcIav's DIGEST
section 3, PIP. 56 and 81, When any viola
tions OF the privileges OF members occur,
the House to which such member belongs is
vested by preTo2ative with full authority to
punish Sucn injury. ,
Il being considered an offence to the ,
whole House OF such a character that even
the membrr cannot waive it.
Ia view Of the law AMI facts connected
with the case of Bell, the committee are of ,
the opinion that lie should be held amen
able tor his conduct in the matter alluded ,
70, IN maklng the assault upon senator Sui
Ivan, and they Big leave to submit the ac-
complaining resolution in relation thereto | ,
all OF which Is respectfully submitted.
). L. GILMER Chairman.
Resolved. That the oer2eant-at-Armso of {
the Senate be, and he is hereby, directed To .
arrest and bring before the bar of the SEN
ate the body of c. 5 Bell. to answer the
charge OF violating the privileges of this ,
House by committing an assault upon the |
person OF Senator Sullivan, on the lst inst. | !
in the clry of jackson, and to abide the ac- |
ton OF The Sen ttc, and to do or suffer what
may be aajudged respecting him in the
premises.
The report and the resolution went over
under the rules.
MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.
Mr.. President:
! am directed by His Excellency the
Governor to inform the Senate that he has
approved the following entitled acts, origi- :
mating in the Senate:
An act IT, authorize /. L. Davis to seI
lands OF Sarah Calvit, and for other pur-
poses.
An act roincorporate the Bank of Corinth, :
Corinth. Miss.
An act amendatory of and supplemental {
to an act to re-incorporate the city OF !
Brookhaven, county of Lincoln, State of !
Mississippi and to repeal all frrther acts
pertaining thereto, approved February s.
1873. .
"A act to authorize the Ripley Railroad ;
Company To consolidate with any other | {
company or companies, and for other pur-
poses. .
An act TO amend the charter of the Mem :
phiS. oxford and Meridian Railroad I
An net to incorporate the NAtchez Union :
Joint stock. Mercantile and Land Com pany. !
OF Adams county, Miss.
An act for the relief of Mary b. b. Yaun- |
kin, minor of l. lafayette county.
An act for the relief of Needham H. Whit |
field, of NJ rnroe county.
I'm act To repeal certain stock laws SO far
as the same relates to the county of Iowndes
An act To incorporate the town of Scooba,
in kemper county.
An act to authorize the Board of Super
VisoTs oil Kemp per county To levy tax to .
pay outstanding school warrants.
An act toremove the disabilities of minor
ity OF Peter Mckenzie Nentress, of Wiki
inson county.
An act TO prevent the sale of vinous and [
spirituous liquors AZ or within two and one
half miles OF Gallman Station, Copiah
county
An act to incorporate Cooperative Build $
ing Ass pciatiOn at Vicksburg. Miss
An act 10 amend the charter OF the city of |
Match, z, approved July Goth, 1870. district
ing the city into wards, and for other pur-
poses,
An act to authorize a conditional sub
scription by certain counties to the capital | t
stock of the Greenvilr, Columbus and Biz {
mingham Railroad Com Oany. |
Governors Private Secretary.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. /
By Mr.. Little: An act to provide for the &
payment OF costs in certain criminal pro- ,
ceedings Passed.
By Mr.. Watts: An act Tor the relief at c.
c. Ferril. Passed.
IN Il fo- =