Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-02-14
a CAREER ENDED.

y
ceased TO be Senator Of tho United States.
Tried BY bis peers for an act of constructive
treason, with able defenders aud with tho
opportunity &c defending himself on the floor
of the Senate chamber, he has yet been found
guilty, and the Senate decided to ezpel him
By vote of thirty-two 10 fourteen. Even
those who voted in bis favor-arneng whom,
We are sorry to say, was Senator Cowanz of
PennsylVania-did so, not because they ex~
eused his offence in writing the letter he ad>
dressed last March to the President of the
rebel confederacy; but because they thouebt.
the act bad been ropented and atonec for, and
that Mr.. Bright was really loyal.
The Senate has done itself honor by this
decisive condemnation OF treason among its
members. There are several others among
the minority, who have been as great traitors
as Bright, or greater; but the written cVi-
danoe, over their cwn signatures, does not
exist, or is nos in possession of the autbori-
ties. 1t was necessary, therefore, that Bright
should be made on example. The balf doz-
en- lovers OF JEFF. DAVIS, who, like Bright,
gave him and bis associates all the aid aud
comfort in their power, will not forget this
example. Il cannot purify their characters,
but ii will effectually check any projects they
may have sor communicating with the rebels
in arms against the Government.
AS is probable that Jesse D. Bright has
uow retired from public life forever, few
facts as to his history may be mentioned. He
was born in Norwich, ChenaDgo county, New
York, December 18th, 1912. He received
good education at an academy and then studs
led for the bar. He removed to Indiana when
quite a,youug man, and being clever both as
lawyer and politician, be sOon became
prominent man and held successfully the cfi-
ces of Circuit Judge, State Senator, United
States Marshal and Lieutenant Governor Ia
1945 be was elected United States Senator.
and has been twice re>electeG since then. The
term for which he was last elected would have
expired on the 4th of March, 1863 He
wrote his reasonable letter TO JEFF. Davis on
the 1st of March, 1861, and he was expelled
from the United States Senate on thu 5th of
February, 1862. Mr. Bright bad reached the
age of forty-Eine years, one month and twcu-
ty-four days, when bis political death occurs
red.
As some of our eaders may have lost sight
of the letter which led TO this abrupt termi-
nation of senatorial career, We reproduce it
here as follows:
w AsHLNGTON, March i, 1861.
SHY Dear SIR: Allow me to introduce to
your acquaintance ny friend Thomas 3. Lin
coin, of Texas He visits your capital, main
ly to dispose Of what be reg ards as a great
improvement in fire arms. l commeud him
to your favorable consideration as gentleman
Of the fret respectability, and reila6ie IN eu-
ery respect. Very truly yours,
"JESSE D. BRIGHT.
s'7o His Ereetiency, jefferson Davi', Pres,>
dent Of the ConfedeTats STATES"
The italics in the letter are not Mr.. Brieht'g;
but they indicate the emphatic points where
his treason showed itself. The letter was
written three days before Mr.. Liucoln's inaug-
uration, but after the rebellion was fully or
ganized, after the Star of the West had been
fired on, after Anderson had been obliged to
take refuge in Fort Sumter, and after JEFF.
Davis, as President of fhs Provisional GoyS
ernment, had avowed bis determination to re-
sist the authority of the United States through.
out The States that had been dragged after
South Carolina into rebellion. Il is not ne
cessary to explain to any sensible being how
great Is the perfdY of such letter written at
such time and amid such circumstances.
The Senators Of the United States-those,
~ Aeaet1 bUO Daa5 tue uisb5SS heHs6 OF non
or aud patriotism-e9nid nor, with deeency,
sit 10 the same chamber with Jesse ID. Bright,
after he had written such a letter. We re-
joiee that they exercised their tight of decid.
ing who should sit among them. We rejoice
that the case was brought up at an early day
in tho session. We rejoice that the proceeds
ings were all digni6ed and grave; AMI We re-
jalee, above all things at their issue Bright
: eases to be Senator of the United States.
The blot on him is indelible. He may not
have REACHED the exalted height of treason ats
tanned By hrnold and aimed at By Burr; but
his name and character cannot be purified
His public career Is ended. He may go and
,ast his fortunes With us friend JEFF. Davis,
and in a community where ell the politicians
are traitors, he may become Distinguished above
The rest. But while he remains in the ftees
and loyal States, be is man dishouoged ana
PhaLa Ruifetia.