Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-02-06
Mr. WILM0T. Mr.. President, I shall be

Before proceeding TO speak of the case,
desire to say that my relations with the Sena-
tor from Indiana are of such a character that
| shall with pain vote to expei him from his
seat in his body. Seventeen years ago we met
in this Capitol both young men, and both
members of the then dominant party Since
then we have differed widely, touching public
men and measures yet through all the heat
and bitterness of political warfare for the past
fifteen years, | have remembered with pleas
ure our early acquaintance and intercourse
sincerely regret the position in which the
Senator is placed. A sense of public duty
alone, constrains me to vote for his expulsion
from the Senate.
What is the case presented against the Sen.
stor from Indiana? 1t rests upon no disputed
or doubtful facts. Every important fact in
the case is admtted-full confession is made
in open Senate The Senator from Indiana
tells us that he would, under the same circunl-
stances, do again the act complained Of Mr.
President, the Senator's views of duty and my
own differ so widely, that what he regards as
innocent and natural as proper courtesy to an
old friend to me has the features of dislOyalty
not to give it the harSher name of treason.
What, sir are the facts and circumstances Of
this case? The shareholders of the nation, relying
on human slavery as the bond Of their unity
and strength, unwilling that the free men of
the Republic should assume the management
of Government affairs, set on foot rebellion
in the southern and slaveholdng States of the
Union When this letter was written it had
been carried forward to the organization of an
independent government the machinery OF
that government was in active operation
Armies were being organized, disciplined, and
equipped, to maintain the rebellion by the
power of the sword. Every reasonable hone
of settlement was past. The Senator from
Indiana k0ew all this nc man knew it better
1t is true, from the timidity-I almost say
complicity-of the late Administration, no
blow had been struck at this formidable rebel
lion still those concerned in it were no less
traitors for this cause The cowardice or even
treachery of Mr. Buchanan could in no degree
excuse Davis and his co-workers in treason
The forbearauce of the Government towards
the traitors cannot be pleaded by them in ex
tenuaton of their crime cor can their aiderS
and abettors shield themselves behind the weak
ness or treachery of those then in power Yet
here rests one of the strong grounds of defense
taken by and for the Senator from Indiana
The Government had done nothing against the
rebellion 1t had brought no armies in the
fold had fought no battles "A fear that
betrayed like treason" had paralyzed the exec.
utive arm. and the Government was sinking
into imbecty and contempt! How does all
this change the character of the rebellion, or
extenuate the crime of those involved in it p
The Senator from Indiana admits that he
could not have written the letter with inno-
cence after the proclamation of Pre-ident Lin
coin calling for seventy-fve thousand men,
Why not, if he could do so before Did the
proclamation change the position OF Davis to-
wards this Government? Did it involve any
one in guilt who, up to that time, was inno-
cent Was it innocent for Lincoln to go upon
his erraud with an improved fire arm to the
confederate government before the proclama-
tion, and reasonable to 60 afterwards ? 1t
is idle to look here for any extenuation of the
case whatever The proclamation of the Pres
ident in no way affects it.
Jefferson Davis was the chosen chief Of the
retel government He was every inch trai-
tor. The Senator from Indiana knew the
damning treason of his friend and former as
sociate. His crime was a wicked one-the
most so Of any of which man can be guilty
the deepest dyed and blacklist 10 the catalogue
of crime.
To me it seems that many gentlemen of the
late Democratic party are afflicted with a
moral obliquity iu the view they take Of this
wicked rebellion and its authors The leading
traitors so long dominated over the Democrat
ic party that the fragment that now remains
seems to connect the rebellion with struggle
ior democratic ascendancy, aud the leading trai-
tors as friends having strong claims on their
sympathy. Evidently the Senator from Indi,
ana was strongly possessed of this view of the
treason and the traitors
To Judge rightly Of the act of The SeGator,
we must look at the rebellion and its chief as
they truly are-the one as reasonable revolt
against just Government, and the other as
the chief of traitors. He was no other than
a rank traitor, a great State criminal, that the
Senator addressed on the first of March as
"his excellency, the president of the confede-
rated states" commencing to his confidence as
reliable in every respect" one who sought
Che rebel government on reasonable errand
What was the errand on which the Senator
from Indiana commended his friend to the
usurper and traitor at Montgomery 1t was
no other than the sale of ON alleged improved
hre-arm. Have | stated the case too strongly
against the Senator from Indiana | would
not do so. To me, sir, it has the complexion
of a great crime. l will not call it treason,
although it might be difficult to find more
appropriate name for it.
1t was well said by the Senator from New
York, Mr. Harris, that if the letter had not
been written, or if its essential part were TAX
en- away. it would be very Innocent thing,
and no Senator world think of expelliDg the
Senator from Indiana from his seat. Unfor.
tunateIy, the letter pcds written An indict.
ment for murder, permit me to say to the
Senator from New York, with the homicide
clause cut, would be very harmless piece of