Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-10
mr.RrIrhtExneIIed.

II
wayman's plea that might makes right" The
Republican Senators had the power to expel
Senator and they exercised it, not for any act he
had committed in violation of the Constitution,
but solely for the reason thel his opinions did not
coincide with theirs upon the momentous issues
which have involved the nation in fearful and
wasting civil war. a Senator, acting under the
solemnity of an official oath, responsible TO his
constituents for the manner he discharged his
trust is prescribed for opinions sake. This is
is the first instance of the kind in the history OF
the Government and the act is committed by
dominant party who for years have claimed pur
excellence to be the champions of free speech,
of free press and of free men. We are
no apologists of Mr.. BRIGHT. We offer no
justification for his opinions or acts. Some we
have condemned and do yet But he had just as
much right to entertain and express them, as had
or have SUMNER, HALE. WADE, HARLAN, or any
other Senator, or individual, the peculiar views
they entertain. The men we have named held
seats in the Senate, when majority of that body
believed they entertained opinions and purposes
I
stroy the Union. Upon the same grounds that
they united to expel Mr.. BRIGHT from the SEN
ate, their seats could have been vacated. But the
party then in power respected their constitutional
rights. They thought, spoke, wrote and voted
upon all measures of public policy as they saw
fit. 1t was the mission of the Democratic party
TO defend the Constitution and maintain all the
rights it guaranteed 10 the citizen, not to strike
them down and this sentiment was the protec-
ton of the very men who were foremost in the
expulsion of Mr. BRrGHr.
Let US look at the facts in the case. The
charge Of treason against Mr.. BRIGHl, based upon
his letter introducing a Mr. LINCOLN, addressed
to JEFF. DAVIS as President of the Southern Con-
fsieracy was not sustained. The Judiciary Com
mittee of the Senate, composed mainly of Re
publicans, after a full investigation of all the
matters in issue, exonerated Mr. BRIGHT from
any intended disloyalty to the Government. Mr..
FEssESDEN, the Republican Senator from Maine,
stated in his seat that Mr.. BElGHr had offered no
factious opposition to any financial measure de
signed to maintain the integrity of the Govern
ment. Three Republican Senators. whose patri
otism and ability can not be questioned in elabo-
rate speeches. declared that there were no Just
grounds to sustain the charge of treason
against Mr.. BRIGHT. or cause sufficient to
warrant his expulsion. But such expires
sions were of no avail. A party intoxicated
with the possession of power, influenced BY
political prejudices and luminosity, has stricken
down freedom of opinion and freedom
of speech in the person of Senator 1t is of
but little if any consequence TO the freemen Of
Indiana to every citizen who renders allegiance
TO the Constitution, whether Mr.. BRIGHT occupies
a seat in the Senate or retires to private life; but
it is of vital Importance if they desire to preserve
a constitutional government, to enjoy cOnstitu-
tonal liberty, that this outrage upon the most
valued prerogatives of the citizen of free Gov
eminent. guaranteed by the Constitution, should
be properly rebuked If the people tamey sub
NIT to this blow at popular rights, 1--WE care not
for the man who falls, and make no appeal for
sympathy in his behalD they are unworthy of
and are unfit to enjoy freedom
To justify what we have said in regard to this
violation of freedom of opinion and freedom of
! Speech if any justification be needed, and to
prove that no just cause existed for the gross out
rage committed by the Republican Senate, we
give the following extracts from the speeches of
two distinguished Republican Senators in refer
ence thereto. Senator TEN EYcK, of New Jer
/ sey, said:
| Why, sir, well do | remember that in this Sen
ate, and upon this floor, Senator from Texas
declared here, over and over again, that this
/ Union was dissolved; that there was in existence
a Southern Confederacy, and that Jefferson Da-
Wis was at its head that he owed his allegiance
| it; and that he stayed here Just as long as the
| Senate called his name; and that, when thew re
fused to call his name, he would take his depart
ure for that Confederation; and vet, aside from
an effort made on the part Of the Senator from
/ Connecticut (Mr, FOster,) which was not follow
ed up. no steps were taken in this body to rebuke
that Senator or TO take any course with respect to
him. Well do L remember that Senator from
Virginia, the former Chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations, who has recently been
made the football of diplomacy, declared pub
licy on this floor that he owed his allegiance to
Virginia; that this Union was dissolved; that it
was fact Accomplished and well do | remember
his tone and his manner. l was young Senator
mere then; am comparatively young here now
if had been an older Senator do not know that
/ should have said anything.
The Senator from Massachusetts Mr.. Sum
nerl has said that courage in the Senate is as i'm
portant courage in the field. 1t is so, sir; and
a Senator should always manifest the courageous
spirit, whether he be in the majority or in the mi
norIty. If he be in the minority he should ex-
hibit greater degree, according to nv iudg-
ment, tone and spirit and irmness of char
acter, repelling insults and misconduct, than
when he IL in the majority"
"ThS is the day for the establishment of pre-
cedents; we are making new precedents because
the exigencies of the time call for them Let us
be careful that We establish our precedents upon
sure and safe foundations. Let US not establish
them upon mere suspicious. Let us not estab
lish the precedent that Senator can be turned
from a seat in this body merely because he does
not speak or vote as we desire him to speak OF
vote. The Senator from Kentucky will pardon
me if | admit that my mind is too much dwarfed
to be guilty of thing of that kind, and that
can not rise to the high plane of patriotism and
craftsmanship which he requires at our hands
Let US be careful in our action that our precedents
do not return upon our heads to plague US Let
US be careful that action be not like that OF
those guns which,
Though well aimed at duck or plover,
Bear wide, and kick their over"
Senator HARRIS, of New York. thus sharply
rebuked the Abolitionists of the Senate for Weld
ing to their personal and political preudices:
| have as little sympathy with the political
sentiments of the Senator from Indiana as any
other Senator on this floor. For many years
have had above all, no sympathy for his doctrine
of non-coercion. The Senator from Kentucky
| thought with little self-complacency, congratu-
lated himself that he had risen above the con-
tracing and dwarfng influences of the legal
profession, which sometimes operate on the
minds OF men. and has been able to rise to the
higher sphere of what he called large states