“_Ques._ How often did Mr. Brooks strike?
“_Ans._ With great rapidity: at least a dozen, and I should think twenty blows. Mr. Sumner, at the first moment when I looked at him, seemed to me to be unconscious.
“_Ques._ (by Mr. Pennington). Do you know of any concert between Mr. Brooks and any other person, a member of Congress, to attack Mr. Sumner?
“_Ans._ I do not know anything of my own knowledge. I noticed several persons who were there. I saw Mr. Keitt there. I have a distinct recollection of seeing several parties, perhaps not distinct enough to mention them. I saw several Senators present immediately afterwards, but whether they were there at the time of the occurrence I could not say. My attention was directed especially to Mr. Sumner, and to Mr. Keitt, who seemed to be acting in concert with Mr. Brooks.
“_Ques._ State, if you can, what Mr. Keitt said or did from first to last.
“_Ans._ I saw him as I was approaching the parties. I noticed him run in from the centre aisle, and raise his cane. He used the words I have spoken; or rather, my impression is that the precise expression was, ‘Let them alone, God damn you!’”
The Committee, after taking evidence, made a report, signed by Mr. Campbell, Mr. Spinner, and Mr. Pennington, which, after setting forth the facts, concludes with the following resolutions.
“_Resolved_, That Preston S. Brooks be, and he is forthwith, expelled from this House as a Representative from the State of South Carolina.
“_Resolved_, That this House hereby declare its disapprobation of the said act of Henry A. Edmundson and Lawrence M. Keitt in regard to the said assault.”
A minority report, signed by Mr. Cobb and Mr. Greenwood, concluded with the following resolution.
“_Resolved_, That this House has no jurisdiction over the assault alleged to have been committed by the Hon. Preston S. Brooks, a member of this House from the State of South Carolina, upon the Hon. Charles Sumner, a Senator from the State of Massachusetts, and therefore deem it improper to express any opinion on the subject.”
In the House, the substitute moved by Mr. Cobb was lost,--yeas 66, nays 145. The resolution of expulsion was lost,--yeas 121, nays 95,--the two thirds required for expulsion not voting in favor thereof. The other resolution, declaring disapprobation of the act of Henry A. Edmundson and Lawrence M. Keitt, was divided, and the censure of Keitt was voted,--yeas 106, nays 96; that of Edmundson was lost,--yeas 60, nays 136. A long preamble, setting forth the facts, was adopted,--yeas 104, nays 83.[143]