Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-03-17
THE SENATE'S PRISONER.

A citizen Of New England ia now under arrest
by order Of the Senate, for declining to appear
and testify before a committee Of it's appointment,
and though not yet incarcerated, 10 all probability
will be on Monday next. Mr.. Thaddeus Hyatt is
the culprit, the committed is the one appointed to
investigate the Harper's Ferry matter. Mr.. Hy-
att was summoned, but refused to testify. standing
upon his rights as a citizen. The committee re-
ported the fact to the Senate, and the Senate asser-
ted its authority over Mr.. Hyatt by sending its
sergeant-at-arms with a warrant, into Massachu-
sets to arrest and bring him before its bar. In
this there is nothing novel or unusual.
But when the witness was brought a prisoner
before that tribunal, the case assumed q phase Of
grave importance. Deprived Of his personal liber-
ty by tho fiat Of the Senate, he desired to enter
his protest against what he deemed usurpation of
power, and to present an %argumen: in favor of his
release from custody. Many Senators were dispo.
sed to deny him this right, for right it surely was,
and were willing to hear him only when he had
admitted the justice of an act, his belief ir the
injustice of which was the occasion of Lis being
their prisoner. Senator Salisbury. of Delaware,
a Democrat, insisted that the witness should &C.
knowledge the jurisdiction of the Senate before
he should be heard at all in self defence; in other
words that he should shut himself up from making
any successful defence by admitting before hand
that be was rightfully the Senate's prisoner. Well
might Senator Sumner cay that the requirement,
WAS so unjust that he hoped the Senate would moi
permit it to be made.
The scene in the Senate Chamber on Friday, is
nrthu af Ininn o1oaaIu obsa..od Co., 1881 Al
one reason. The Democratic Senators show ed
themselves far more ~despotic in their views than
the Republicans. They were for listening &c
nothing, for hearing nothing. neither reason mol
argument. until the prisoner had acknowledged
the right Of the Senate to deprive him Of his liber'
~ for not complying with tho wishes of the COM
mittee. 1t was only by the determined spirit oil
the Republicans chat he at length obtained a hear.
ing. They protested against gaging the prisoner
in addition 10 n~rresting bin, and against sentenc.
ing him without hearing what he bad to say 10
defence or extenuation. We regret. however, that
a Republican Senator should have assigned the
reason which Senator Trumbull is reported to
have given for referring Mr. Hyatt's argument to
a committee, viz: That he did not wish to stay
and hear that long argument readi One would
have supposed that such a sentiment could moi
have fcoud place 10 the mind of any Senator
much less found utterancs from his lips. Surely
after holding a citizen under arrest for as many
days, Mr.. Trumbull and oil other Senators NIGH
have given him attention for a couple of hours
while he plead for his discharge.
We make these remarks irrespective Of any
question as to the right Of the Senate to compel
citizens to testify before a committed of its appoint
ment. That is a legal question, and possibly Mr.,
Hyatt's arrestmsy lead to it's authoritative decision
by the courts. But if the power rightfully and
eonsti,utionally exists, it is unquestionably one to
be exercised with caution aud prudence, and ouly
in great emergencies. Never should it be used
with harshness. and cruelty to The citizen. Men
entrusted with such power under a republican gov.
eminent, should exercise il not in the spirit oil
despotism and tyranny, bot with kindness and for
bearance. They should remember that the mau
brought before them under ouch circumstance il
not convicted or even accused Of crime, but as q
citizen is their equal. They are to assume that he
has strong motives for declining to testify, and il
may be even conscientious scruples He 10 TO be
treated, therefore. with respect aud the cons;dsrar
ton due TO a citizen. A little more Of such q dis
position would have been ereditable 10 the Senate
on Friday.-NsW Fork Cormeyeiol