The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-12

narrow aud technical view ef th;.
They deal with the Senator from Ind;.-
one on his trial fer treason, and then rs
as judges or jurors sworn to try him es IVY,
all the technical rules of presumn,;on. uer
reasonable doubts, applicable in sucb e. "aa
Herein thew greatly err. We sit here il s .s.
upon the Senator from Indiana, NOT - Ai
nounce Judgment against him for III. oi; p.0-
of treason, but to say by our votes. md .ue ~
f,ets before ns, if he be loyal and saf. , ."e
to sit in this high council of State.
Mr.. COWAN. desire to ask nv bo,ou.,,
colleague, if Mr.. BRlGAT is not guilty of tr.a
son, what is he guilty off
| will answer my colleague bv SAVING *.
if | were called upon to-day to give any de-
milton of his ottense | should prono,.no" :.
treason; but | am frank to admit tba, ;,s ~
were sitting rs juror, there are those dn,t.
hanging about the case that would mar. y
hesitate TO pronounce verdict of guilty t"'
as Senator, will not hesitate as 10 tho rs1 a'
shall give here. The conduct of tbn o's
ator FROM Indiana, Judged by the facts on.
circumstances surrounding the case loar
like treason still might not be prenared As 40
to pronounce sitting as juror on his trial
know not on what circumstances of bos,.
or thoughtlessness, the letter was written
These il they existed, were for the Senato,
from Indiana to show. There may not bora
existed, ut the time the letter was write
tnat deliberate and wicked purpose esson,;aii
to the technical crime of treason. We -.
not. We have the letter before us n 49,.
,rritten TO troitor and for traitor. and % g.
hcr reasonable end. What more docs 49,.
colleague want The Senator on trial ~
given us no facts or mitigating circumstan
whatever. AS juror, might even refuse .,
the case, as it stands, to pronounce the rs,
dict of guilty of high treason. But when IN.
case is presented to me az Senator's tbr
Senator frem Indiana safe man to sit her.,
Is his loyalty and fidelity TO the Governman,
justly obnoxious TO strong and well -grounaoa
Impeachment? Can he be trasted to adv;sa
the President, and to share in our delibera.
tions, in this crisis of pnblic affairs T,
these inquiries can have no doubt whatov-
er. ! shall vote to expel the Senator from In.
diana from his seat in the Senate
What it is right to do in this case, the SEN
ate should do promptly and fearlessly. A tim.
idity, bordering Oh cowardice, paralyzes the
arm o. the Government. Treason stalls
abroad in open day. We must vindicate the
character of the Senate and our own self.re.
spect; we must give to the people an assur.
ance that here at least, in6delity and disloy-
atty meet with speedy and condign punish.
ment. tttI
Now, sir, it seems to me that have stated
the whole case. put the case upon the rec
ord and upon nothing else. place it upon
the Senators letter of the lst of March. |
take the letter and the circumstances of the
country at the time, the position of the man
to whom the letter was written, the position
of the man for whom it was written, and tn.
GRAND upon which he went, and say the
facts are conclusive and overwhelming against
the Senator from Indiana. There is no posi-
BILE escape from the conclusion. 1t is a legal
maxim that man is responsible for the nat
ural and necessary consequences of his act
What did the Senator do? lie commended
one traitor to another, and the errand upon
which he commended him was by the ad-
mission of all reasonable errand it was to
give to him an improved ire-arm. Can it DO
possible, as asked before, that loyal Sena-
tor would do this ? Sir, suppose your Com
manding General had written such a letter,
would there have been any doubt as 10 hia
completely with the traitors The Senator
from Indiana occupies position in this Gov.
ernment as high and responsible in many re-
snects as the Commanding General of your
Army. Nay, sir, in dignity of character he
occupied position second only to the Pres-
dent of the nation. Suppose he had written
such letter, would you have had ary doubt
AS to his completely with the traitors Would
You have had any doubt that he had at least
forgotten his duty to this Government? Sir,
an impeachment could have rested on the let
ter; and to-day | have serious doubts a, 10
what would be the result of the trial of the
Senator from Indiana before an impartial
jury.