Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-03


that II j. not the prerogatise Of any man 10 in
quire. | am afraid the Senator from Kentucky
has given his ear TO an outside influence that has
array Ell itself against me
Mr.. Davis gave way 20 enable the gentle
man W max an explanation.
Mr. Bhgtf-Weii. sir. | 30 not know what
explanation the Senator from Kentucky desires
Mr.-Dssi---fhe gentleman y charging me
nov with Ieanug TO an outside influence. II he
wants 10 carry the war into Africa, | am ready
To meet him
Mr. Bright-The Senator from Kentucky can
not alarm
The Vice observation-disclosures will preserve
order.
Mr. Blight understand him. and no doub.
he understands me. | have not imputed any
thing improper to the Senator from Kentucky
He has admitted that he has not exa mined my
record; he has not examined the journal that
contains the votes and the speeches that have
made. How then did he get tie Information that
has justified him in standing here and thus mis-
representing met | deny IN fofo that II he will
examine nv record 10 will furnish him With any
such facts as be has detailed, he has been misln-
formed The records wall prove whether my
statement is true. Present them and will
swer you.
Mr.. Davs-Mr President. made precisely
the same statements IN relation to the gentle
mans record and votes the other dav that / have
made on this OCCASION. and made them express
" thai he might set me right Il i vas wrong IN
relation to the facts.
Mr. Blight did. SIR ] rose at the conclu-
sion of your speech and corrected YOU.
Mr. D.tvis-1he gentleman misstates me now
when he saws that | uiisrepresented him. did
not represent him at all except from report.
stated then distinctly that ! had not examined
his record, but stated What bad been informed
was the effect of that record. When | made
these statements IL VAS with view To give the
gentleman the opportunity 70 place himself right
upon the record
Mr Brght-Will tie honorable Senator yield
me tie floor for mementr
Mr. Davis-No--no. sir.
Mr.. Bright-Very well, sir, | will take it at
ter YOU then
Mr Dlyis-Nery good.
The Wee President-The Senator from Indi-
will come To order.
Mr. Dlvis-Now. sir. there Wa a series of CO.
ercise measures passed by Congress at the extra
session I ask the gentleman this question. ana
| will give WAY fOT m TO answer u, II tie chooses
% do 20; will he name winch oil these measures
of coercion he voted tori viii he do THAR
Mr President, ! was present lew days ago
when the resolution offered in this body
piedgipg it rtse $3.50, 00o. 900 by rlxation.
The gentleman was IN his seat few minutes
before that vote taken; but when that vote
was trken, If | recollect arght ne was out of
his seat
The gentleman had his senatorial duties here
to perform: and when the Government was rs.
sailed by hostile arm q. and the Constitution
was about To be put down by Il great rebellion,
nay understanding OF his duty upon which IN
tend % give my vote Was that 1t was his duty 10
vote men and money To repel that assault upon
the Constitution and Government in some form
OF other
Mr. President. have no enmity against the
gentleman from Indiana. | would have been re
joiced if he could have shown a vote in favor OF
every necessary measure To raise men ana money
TO enable ms Government 10 defend itself ana
now, it he will tell me specifically what bill to
raise armies, what bin to levy taxes. what bill to
borrow money, what bill to issue Treasury notes
he voted for-he knows: | do not: and have
not had the opportunity TO examine, and not
disposed to DO sO-if he will tell me which and
every one of these measures he voted for, | at
least will give him full credit
Mr. Fessenden-Whl my friend allow me to
make one suggestion to himl | have been ex
smining the record, not fully. but well As |
could, and il accOrds with my recollection so far
as i have examined, that the yeas and nays were
not taken upon any one of those bills; they
passed sub siieRfIO. by general consent.
Dir. Bright-lf the honorable Senator will al
low me, while our Chairman OF Finance Is upon
the floor, desire to put question to him which
j regard very appropriate. | know il may be
considered, 10y some, IN bad taste for me To inter
feTe ia this debate. but the Senator from Name
has risen. and he Is OF opposite politics with my
self and have no personal claims on him, /
will put a question to him 1t is accidental that
] am thrown OF the Committee on Finance. that
has charge OF the money operations Ot the Gov
eminent 20 far as this Chamber is concerned. /
have met with him. | be ieve, as often with
any other member of the committee aud will
ask him what has been my course in reference TO
the business of the body at the last session and
the present in regard 10 the money measures OF
the Government
Dir. Fessenden-I will say, with the permission
of the Senator from Kentucky. that. according to
my recollection. ia the Committee Finance,
whenever the Senator from Indiana Was there
and believe he pretty constant in his at
tendance-all those necessary measures not only
received no opposition from him, but had his full
lest concurrence
MIR Bright have asked that question, if the
Senator from Kentucky will allow me 10 say so,
not that acknowledge his right 70 catechise me
as to what my votes. either in committee or in
this body, are-they with me and my cOuStit-
uents-but to relieve him from great deal OF
trouble that | think he Is borrowing in reference
To my course
Mr. Davis did not cl,im the right to cate
chise the gentleman, and put him upon an exami-
nation of his record | told him thar he knew
his record better than did. and left him TO re
fer TO rs record or not When the gentlemen
awaiting himself OF an opp rtunity which |
gave ~ him to make 4 personal explanation, he
commenced au attack upon me- and told him
that II II was his purpose To carry the war into
Africa. he would find me ready to defend myself
| meant that. rs he had chosen 10 make the war
in that form. | would defend myself IN that form
! did not make any threat or menace against the
gentleman at all intended II in the sense in
which the gentleman himself stated tin which
he commenced the war upon me Ii the gentle
main Ieel> any further explanation, he can get IT,
! m sde no menace.
Dir. bright nave no explanation 60 make |
am not 4 man OF war, sir; ! am man OF peace
and desire peace.
Mr. Divis-So am | Well. Mr. President |
will proceed nov with this explanation Here j.
the language oi the gentleman ia his letter OF the
9Th ct September:
"llnve opposed. and so long a my present con
viction, last shall continue 20 oppose the entire
coerciVe policy OF the Government
Is nut that position broalr Dbl not the gentle
man IL; least IN his vote, IN hi- refusal to vote
the other il, act Up to that position. Has he
hot here declared himself in the most distinct
terms slui~t coercion2 The gen 'leman says, as
many gentlemen ~ to u, that are against coer-
ciou. a. am agaiu>; secession. but how Is seces
sion to be put doen except by coercion2 When