Mr. Sewall then said, he believed the business which he had to lay before the House would require secrecy, as it was a subject which would considerably affect the feelings of the members of the House. He therefore moved that the galleries might be cleared; which was accordingly done, excepting the members and Clerk.
Mr. Sewall then said, that he had been informed, in a manner which left no doubt of the truth of the fact, that, in the presence of the House whilst sitting, Matthew Lyon, a member from the State of Vermont, did this day commit a violent attack and gross indecency upon the person of Roger Griswold, another member of this House; and in order to bring the subject before the House, that he had prepared a resolution, which he read in his place, and delivered in at the Clerk's table. A question was then taken in the following words: Does the matter so communicated require secrecy?
This motion passed unanimously in the negative, and the galleries were opened.
The House then proceeded to consider the motion made by the member from Massachusetts, which was read, as follows:
"Resolved, That Matthew Lyon, a member of this House, for a violent attack and gross indecency committed upon the person of Roger Griswold, another member, in the presence of the House, whilst sitting, be, for this disorderly behavior, expelled therefrom."
It was moved that this resolution be referred to a committee to be denominated a Committee of Privileges, with instruction to inquire into the whole matter of the said resolution, and to report the same with their opinion thereon to the House.
The question was taken by yeas and nays, and decided in the affirmative, 49 to 44.
Ordered, That Messrs. Pinckney, Venable, Kittera, Isaac Parker, R. Williams, Cochran, and Dent, be a committee for the purpose.
A motion was then made that the House come to the following resolution:
"Resolved, That the House will consider it a high breach of privilege if either of the members shall enter into any personal contest until a decision of the House shall be had thereon."