“_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] Immediately after the vote upon the resolution of expulsion, Mr. Brooks, with some difficulty, obtained leave to address the House. Mr. Giddings objected, but, at the request of friends, withdrew his objection, contrary to his own judgment. In the course of a speech vindicating his conduct, Mr. Brooks took credit to himself for not beginning a revolution. “Sir, I cannot, _on my own account_, assume the responsibility, in the face of the American people, of commencing a line of conduct which in my heart of hearts I believe would result in subverting the foundations of this Government and in drenching this Hall in blood. No act of mine, and on my personal account, shall inaugurate revolution; but when you, Mr. Speaker, return to your own home, and hear the people of the great North--and they are a great people--speak of me as a bad man, you will do me the justice to say that a blow struck by me at this time would be followed by revolution,--and this I know. [_Applause and hisses in the gallery._]” Afterwards he seemed to take credit for using the instrument he did. “I went to work very deliberately, as I am charged,--and this is admitted,--and speculated somewhat as to whether I should employ a horsewhip or a cowhide; but, knowing that the Senator was my superior in strength, it occurred to me that he might wrest it from my hand, and then--for I never attempt anything I do not perform--_I might have been compelled to do that which I would have regretted the balance of my natural life_.” At these words, according to the papers of the day, there was a voice from the House:-- “He would have killed him!” The speech concluded:-- “And now, Mr. Speaker, I announce to you, and to this House, that I am no longer a member of the Thirty-Fourth Congress.”