The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-15
XXXVII. Congress - Senate.
EXTRA SESSION.
WASHING TON. March L


The Senate resumed the consideration of
Mr.. Fosters resolution for the expulsion of
Senator Wigfall from the Senate, and
Clingman's substitute thereto.
We have received no report of Satur-
days proceedings, and this will account for
the non-appearance of the resolution
EDS. P. & D..
Mr.. Foster said be had offered the reso.
luton, neither as party or personal ques.
ton, but had acted in accordance with his
duty, considering the avowal of the Senator.
He differed altogether with Mr.. Clingman
that State has the right under the Con-
stitution to 60 out of the Union. He
Foster) said the Senate owed it to
itself, not to allow seat to one
who avowed be was foreigner, and
owed no allegiance to this country,
but to foreign government, and if that
Government happens to take up arms
against this government, and seizes its pro-
perty, and expels from its Territory, by
force, the troops Of the United States, it
became very serious objection, and it was
inconsistent to allow one so circumstanced
to hold seat here. He had no personal
feelings in the matter. He then argued
against Clingman's substitute, which adj
mits the right of secession. No such thing
was known to the constitution, which was
too plain on this point to argue or admit of
a doubt. He held that the Senator Wig
falD was entitled to seat on sound consti-
tutional grounds, whether Texas seeded or
not.
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 he took it for granted, that if
Texas seeded, she is not entitled to rep
resentation. The senator from Texas be-
lieves that his state has seeded. The
senator from Connecticut says that the act
of secession is invalid. Then the senator
from Texas is entitled to seat unless an
erroneous opinion disqualifies him. Was it
ever maintained that because one senator
differed from another on constitutional
question, that that was reason for expell-
ing him. If it is an error of the senator
from Texas to believe that his state has
right to secede, why not expell the Virginia
senators who hold the same opinion; and
why not expell those who declared it and
have gone away. No motion is made to
expell JEFF. Davis, who is at the head of a
foreign repuolic-who has advised the sell
zure OF arms and forts. He (Clingman)
did not think the avowal of Wigfal sui
6cient ground for his expulsion. He con-
tinued at some length arguing that the
course of the senator from Connecticut was
not proper one.
Mr.. Mason cOntended that the resolution
was one of expulsion for what the Senator
from Texas said on this floor; and said if
Mr.. Foster thought that Wigfall ought not
to occupy bis seat because be was not a
citizen, he ought to move to refer the sub
ject to a committee so that if facts warrant,
the seat should be declared vacant.
MIR. Foster asked whether, after the Sem
ator from Texas had been duly elected by
his state, and admitted as member here,
they could inquire into the legality by
which he holds his seat? A new fact has
arisen which did not exist at that time.
MIR. Mason was very certain if the Sena
tor was not entitled to a seat, it could be
vacated whenever the fact warranting such
a course should be disclosed. He defended
the course of Wigfall, and said if it be a
punishable offence to allege constitutional
truth then the resolution may be well
founded. For one, he Mason) recognized
no allegiance to this g0vernment--nOne
whatever, and here took his position along
side the Senator from Texas. He owed
allegiance to Virginia and nowhere else.
Did the Senator from Connecticut resist the
decline of constitutional law. and hold the
government of the United States still SOW
ereign? If he did, God help him. So far
as the Senator from Texas has committed
an offence, by saying he owed no allegiance
to this government, he stood by his side,
and should be unfaithful to Virginia if he
did not. Allegiance here is that which is
due from one citizen to sovereign power and
he knew no sovereign except the State. He
denied that the act of separation was
nudity and said that not only Virginia de-
MED it, but the seven states denied such a
doctrine and have formed government,
and are prepared to sustain itself, if at
tackled.
Mr.. Hunter considered the resolution as
one of censure, for the mere expression of
opinion-the Senator from Texas having
done nothing more than declare his belief
in secession. He continued at length ad-
vocating state rights. The Senate then
went into executive session Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, March H.
SENArE.--The Senate took up MIR. Fosters
resolution for the expulsion of Mr.. Wigfall,
when on motion Of Mr.. Simmons, it, to.
gether with MIR. Clingman's substitute, was
referred to judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Trumbull from the Judiciary Com
mlttee, to whom was referred Mr.. Mason's
resolution about Carlton and Sanborn, re-
ported back the resolution with the recon-
mendation that it be postponed until the
third Monday in December, which was
agreed to. The committee deem It prema-
ture to order amendments at this time.
The Senaee then went into executive session.
Adjourned.