The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-19

SPEECH OF
Hon. ISAAC BENSON,

IN Congress to rote for the expulsion OF the
Traitor, Jesse u. Bright.
Before the vote il taken, ] desire to say al
very few words, in order to put myself prop
erly upon the record. Irepresent a c,ustit-
uency that, | have~h no doubt. Mr. Speaker,
almost unanimously require should vote for
The same proposition for which ihave alread,
cast my vote, viz: the original resolution
passed by this Senate. And sir, had / not
besn perfectly satisfied that the evidence
which was adduced-the only evidence that
has been presented convicting Jesse d. Bright
of the crime charged against him-had not
been satisfied that the truth of that eyideuce
had been established Il would have been the
last man to cast the vote gave upon last
Thursday. Sir, Jesse D. Bright although a
Democrat, if he is loyal, as are thousands of
others belonging to that party, and if he had
co-operated with this Government, with the
Administration in its efforts to crush this re-
bcllion, would as cheerfully given him my
heart and hand as would the most radical
member of my party in this government. That
vote, sir, that | cast on last Thursday was
given after full deliberation, being perfectly
satisfied ofits correctness. am not prepared
to-day to cast vote that will stultify my ac-
ton upon that occasion; am not prepared to
say that upon last Thursday | acted il-ad-
visedy, or Without full and fair consideration
Mr.. Speaker, 1 was not little surprised
this morning, when i saw the Senator from
Bcrks Mr.. Clymer,) rise in his place and
heard him make motion to concur il the
amendment made by the House; because !
conceive that amendment to be thwarting en-
tirely and evading totally the object we had
in view in the passage of the Senate resolu-
ton. The amendment of the House and the
original resolution of the Senate are distinct
PROPOSE ions, entirely at variance with each
other; and in my judgment if we pass the
proposition that has come over from the
House, we say to our noble Senator Wimot.
who is always right upon questions of this
character-we say TO him that he has been
hasty and inconsiderate and that he is doing
injustice to the traitor Bright. By the House
proposition, we say to Mr.. Cowan, oul other
representative in the United States Senate,
that if lie finds certain facts to be true, then
we request him to vote for the expulsion of
Bright. Why, sir, did not the House-dd
not every gentleman who voted for that prop
osition we'll know the position that Edgar
Cowan has occupied for the last month, upon
the subject? Has he not spread it before the
country in an able speech? 1t may be spe-
cal pleading, admit, but has he not informed
the people that he entertained doubts upon
this subject, and the evidence did not clearly
satisfy HIM that Jesse D. Bright was guilty
of treason, so deeply guilty that a court and
jury would convict and execute him therefor
The Senate of this Commonwealth under
stood that, and so did the gentlemen in the
other branch of the Legislature and what
does this amendment amount to? Its sum
and substance is comprised in simple dec
laration to Mr.. Cowan to do just as he pIeases :;
it is only sustaining him in the position he
occupies. Now, sir, is that our object? Are
We making mere plaything and an unSeemly
folly of this matter or are we expressing our
judgments, our convictions, as his constitu-
ents. upon this subject? Sir, have we not
precisely the same evidence before US, have
not the people of Pennsylvania precisely the
same evidence upon which to act, that Mr..
Cowan possesses? / only judge that they
have from the fact that the Senator, standing
upon the floor Of the United States Senate,
and his colleague, David Wilmot, says that
the authenticated letter which has been read
here, and that letter alone, constitutes the
entire evidence upon the subject. Tho Sena-
tor from Berks, Mr.. Clymer,) few days ago
stated that there might be other evidence be.
committee of that body, which had charge of
tho case, exculpating the accused from the
charge of treason but, sir, have found since
that Senator made the statement on this floor,
that Senator Wilmot and others standing
upon the floor of the United States Senate,
have asserted that that letter and that letter
alone constituted the entire evidence upon
the subject. If that be true, Mr.. Speaker,
then say that Mr.. Cowan's constituents-we,
the members of the Legislature of Pennsylva-
MIA, have II right to examine that evidence,
and are, perhaps, as competent to judge of
its effect and OF the guilt of Jesse d. Bright
rs is Mr.. Cowan. Now, say that Mr. Cowan
must not shirk the responsibility by special
pleading, by saying that it must be esta bIished
beyond all doubt that Jesse d. Bright is so
guilty of treason that he could be convicted
before a court and jury. l do not understand
any such position as that to be correct in such
q case. II Mr.. Bright, in his official position
as Senator of the nation, or in private
capacity, has committed acts which show he
is in sympathy with the rebels against the
governmeut-If he has committed an act
that would amount to a high misdemeanor,
and which renders him unworthy to receive
or participate in the councils and secrets of
the government in this struggle | say then.
that special pleading has nothing to do with
such case the only resourse left to that
high court, of which he is an unworthy mem
ber, is to eject him from his position. The
nature Of the times demand it. Every Sena-
tor, every head of department, and every
man who may have charge of any of the at
fairs Of this nation in the present crisis, should
be like Caesars wife ''above the breath of sus-
picion."' Take the former course of Jesse d.
Bright in the United States Senate ; lcok at
it since he pepned that letter, until the pres
ent time; aud say there is no man loyal to
this government, no one who desires to see it
reinstated as nation, but who considers bis
course obnoxious to that object. Why. sir,
did he not stand hand in hand with Burnet,
Vallandigham, and with John G. Breckin-
ridge during the extra session. and has he
not in every measure that has been propos ed
in the Congress of the United States. to an