Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-07

EXPULSION OF sENATOR BRIGHT.
In the United States Senate, on Tuesday, on
the question of the expulsion of Senator Bright
Of Indiana, for his sympAthies with treason and
traitors, Mr. Sumner of Massachusetts,, made
the following remarks;
SPEECH OF MR.. SUMNER,
Mr.. President; This debate ia about to close
but, before the vote is, taken, wish briefly to
review II, aud to show again that there is but
one conclusion which can truly satisfy the Senate
or the country. II your just judgment in this
case were not of incalcuable importance both
for the Senate and the country-helping to ele-
vate the one and to inspire the other-I should
not venture again to claim your attention. Such
a precedent, 30 fruitful in great influences,
should be commended aud vindiCated that it
may remain forever unquestioned as one Of the
pillars Of that constitutional secu'ity which is
the object of government itself.
Out Of all who have spoken, we naturally
yield precedence on this occasion to the Senator
from Indiana, MIR. Bright. His speech was moi
long; but it afforded ample ground for regret,
IL not for condemnation II showed odensvely
the same spirit which is found in the original
letter; nor did it suggest ANYTHING in apology,
except that the bearer Of the letter was his life
long friend, and that when he wrote the letter
he did not dream of war; in other words, an
act OF unquestionable disloynlty was put under
the double cloak of q lifelong friendship, and
of professed ignorance Of the real condition OF
things Because the bearer of the letter was
his lifelong friend, and because the Senator did
not see war ahead, therefore he was justified in
sending forth this lifelong friend on an errand
Of disloyalty, il not Of treason itself, and oil
making him the instrument of aid and comfort
to Au organized rebellion. OF course, such an
argument shows weakness, and not strength
and the very weakness out of which il sprung
naturally became impassioned and unjust. II
anv personal feeling could disturb that perfect
eouanimity which with me, on this occasion, il
at once sentiment and duty, might com
nlain of that vindictive tone which broke forth
not Gully in personal imputations, but also il
the menace that what had said on the case
the Senator dared not say again here or else
where but make no complaint. 1t is suf'
hcient Tor me that spoke in the conscious dis
charge Of my duty, and that know oil nolhn
in the yindictive tone or in the menace of tn
Senator which can interfere with such duty as
understand it, Therefore, 1 put aside what Ii
has said, whether Of personal imputatiOn or pei
sonal menace, or OF argument for they all lsaV
him worse than " he had contained silent.
l put aside, also, the elaborate argnmen
lasting throughout whole day, Of the Senate
from Kentucky (Mr. Davs) practically exaltn
alaverv above the Constitution, and insistin
that, while life is sacrificed and property
taken-whie great rights are trodden down, al
all human energies are ehlsteu ~ terence
our country, slavery alone is too sacred to
touched. Sir put aside this argument, b'
cause il is utterly out of place and irrelevant
the present discussion and trust u will n
be my habit in debate to rambe from th
straight line which is the shortest way to q
desired point There is a time to SOW and
time to reap and there will be time to dlseu
the constitutional power Of Congress to put
end to this rebellion, even il, in so doing 1t
constrained to put an end to slavery itself
put aside, also. the suggestion Of the Senat
frotn New York (Mr. Harris), to the effect tl
ihs SeIator from Indiana is now on trial th
our proceedings are judicial and that tho e
deuce before us is insufficient to satisfy the
ouIrements Of such Il case. Surely, this a
sumption proceeds on a mistake. The senAi
from Indiana is not on trial, in the ordinary u
derstanding of that term; nor are our proce'