Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-03-15
Senate Proceedings.
THE PROPOSITION TO EXPEL WIG.
FALL.

WASHINGTON, March IL.
SENATE. - The Senate resumed the con-
sideration of Mr.. Fosters resolution for
the expulsion of Senator Wigfall, and
Clingman's substitute, [See Fridays Senate
report. Mr.. Foster had offered the resolu-
ton, neither as party or personal question,
but had acted in accordance with his duty.
considering the avowal of the Senator, He
differed altogether with Mr.. Ciingman, that
State has q right, under the Constitution,
to 90 out Of the Union. MIR. Foster said
the Senate owed to itself not to allow q
seat here 10 one who avowed he was q for.
eigner and owed no allegiance to the coun.
try to which he belonged, but to foreign
government; and if that government hap
pened to take up arms against this govern.
ment and seizes its property and exrels from
its territory by force the troops of the Uni.
ted States, it became a very serious obiec
ton, and it was inconsistent to allow one
so circumstanced to hold seat here. He
had no personal feelings in the ma tier. He
then argued against Clingman's substitute,
which admits the right of secession, but no
such thing was known to the Constitution.
which was too plain on this point to argue
or admit of q doubt. He held that the Sen.
ator was entitled to seat on constitutional
grounds, whether Texas seeded or not, that
State, by withdrawing from the Union,
could not withdraw him from that body.
Mr.. Clingman replied that if the accounts
were true, Texas had called Convention,
and passed an ordinance Of secession, which
had been ratified by the people, and if the
act was valid, Texas is no longer one of the
States, and took it for granted if Texas Sc
coded she is not entitled to representation
here The Senator from Texas believes his
State has seeded. The Senator from Con-
necticut says the act Of secession is invalid.
Then the Senator from Texas is entitled to a
seat, unless an erroneous opinion disqualifics
him. Was it ever maintained that, because
one Senator differed from another on a con-
stitutional question, that that was reason for
expellirg him? IF it is an error for the SEN
ator from Texas to believe that his State has
a right to secede, why not expel the Virginia
Senator, who holds the same opinion; and,
especially, why not expel those who declared
1t and have gone away?
No motion is made to expel JEFF Davis.
who is at the head of foreign Republic,
and WHO has advised the seizure of arms AMI
forts. lie (Clingman) did not think the
avowal of Wigfall a sufficient ground for
his expulsion. He continued at some
length, arguing that the course of the Sen.
ator from Connecticut was OF proper ore
MIR. Mason contended that the resolution
was one of expulsion for what the Senator
from Texas said on the floor, and for one, he
,Masonl recognized no allegiance to this
Government none whatever and he took
lis position alongside the Senator from Texas.
He owed allegiance to Virginia, and no one
Else. Did the Senator from Connecticut re-
list the doctrine of constitutional law. and
lol1 the Government Of the United States
till sovereign? If he did, God help him
20 far as the Senator from Texas committed
IN otfense by saying he owed no allegiance
0 the Government. he stood by his side, and
hould be unfaithful to Virginia if he did not,
Allegiance here is that which is due. from
me citizen to sovereign power, and he knew
10 sovereign except the State. He denied
hat the act of separation was a nullity, and
aid that not only Virginia denied it, but six
.tstes denied such a doctrine. and have
ormed Government and prepared to sus.
ain itself if attacked.
Mr.. Hunter considered the resolution as
ne of censure for the mere expression of
opinion. The Senator from Texas having
one nothing more than declare his belief
4 secession, and continued at length, adyo-
ating State rights.
Executive session-adiourned.
WASHINGTON, March IL.
SENATR.-The Senate took CD Mr.. Eos
RS resolution for the expulsion of Mr.,
'igfall, when, on motion of Mr.. Simmons,
, together with Clipgman's substitute, was +;
ferrea to the Judiciary committee.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the Judiciary com.
ittec, to whom was referred Mr.. Mason's
solution about Carlton and Sanborn, re-
'rted .sck the resolution, with the recon.
endation that it be postponed till the d
ird Monday in December, which was 81
rcd to. The committee deem it prema- u
re to order payment at this time. e
Executive session-adjoIrned. 81
WASHINGTON, March Is. =,
SENATE MIR Douglas offered a reso. '
ton calling on the Secretary of War for 10
formation as to the forts in tho seeded
ates II 1t Is necessary to OCCUPY the
ne-what force will be necessary for that
rposc, SC. -. III
Aessrs' Wilson and Mason Directing. the c.
olution lies over. oe's -
Mr.. Fessenden offered resolution direct til
, the Secretary of State to strike from u
roll OF the Senate the names of Sena
g from the seeding States, who have de.
red they are no longer members of the
1ate. .7s{.... R.
The Senate went into executive session id
| adjourned. at