The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-26

nothing which he would not do over agaiuj =
who has since declared no regret for so DONG
exhibits no remorSe of conscience or ccnfeS-
sion Of guilt, but stands up in the Senate bold
and defiant and says ''genileman, VIII 40 II
again if have the chance J! And here To-
night say these halls have been desecraIed
by having the name of Jesse ID. Bright spoken
OF with communication.
| In conclusion, allow me to saw one word in
regard TO the question of perjury and trial oy
Jury which has been so often referred TO mere
! in this debate ] do not understand. Mr..
Speaker, that the United States Senate IN act
/ ing upon this question. is in the position OF Il
court determining a Judicial question. 1t Is
rot as understand provided III tie conSt-
tuition that they shall sit rs judicia! body in
lie expulsion of a member. An act might
Sub,ec "A member to expulsion which would
not subject him 10 Il judicial trial Then why
talk of this as judicial question only.
Now it has been urged that Senatorwouid
/ he guilty of perjury if he should obey instruc
! lions til. were contrary to his own opinions.
/ If gentleman believe IN the right of represent
Iatun--if they believe that members are sent
to ii legislative body to express the wishes OF
their constituents. they must cnncede the right
! of instruction on the part of this Legislature
| to our Senators in Congress. In thls affair a
member may consider that his constituents
are wrong in desiring certain legislation yet
does he lmmit perjLry in obeying their eX-
press wishes 10 secure such legislation! do
not understand it so. There have been some
minor questions since have Teen ii member
/ of this body, on which | have believed differ
entity .um the mass of my constituents; yet
/ meyer believed that their wishes, when
clearly EXPRESSED, would be dISregarded by
! their representative here. never have nor
never will disregard them. My constituents
are intelligent and know their interests as
well us do. To express their wish Is that
| Tor which | was sent here. This obedience
/ of the representative to the Will Of his con-
>tituents IS the principe of our republican
Igovernment-the will or the majority express
ell through thcir representatives. 30 1t Is
! with our senators in Congress Ii is not their
/ personal wish or will tn 1t is TO prevail, bu'
the will of their constituents Though Mr..
! Cuwau may have expressed an opinion rs 10
the innocence Of jesse d. Bright, yet he is
/ net the gentleman to make light OF the wishes
/ OF this body.
| In concluding will merely say again, that
above all things to be deplored in this discus
sion. is to treat it question Of politics. a
! question of party. / srn pose the gentleman,
| Nj ZtigIcr. meant to affirm HAT because The
party to which he belongs had been able to
destroy this government, they would be able
to bnild another. yet think hin greatly mis-
taken ! say dcpore such party questions
and hope they may never be brought up
again at IA crisis like this. and | also hupe that
Jesse d. Bright, a co onSpiraIor of Jefferson
Davis, shall not again he spoken OF in prai e
and cummendatlon in these halls, nor that q
gentleman shall ever again be found standing
upon this floor, speaking words Of comfort or
cons olation to traitors. whether in the United
States Senate or elsewhere. | believe from
the evidence that Jesse D Bright is a traitor
ut heart, and trust in God that we here hall
express our emphatic condemnation of hin
and his kind and that he Will be expelled
from the Senate of the United States.