Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-25
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20

the following:
SENATE.
WAsHISGroS, jan 20.
Mr.. Wade, OF Ohio, introduced a bill authorizing the
Secretary Of War TO appoint assistant Sc.
cretres. The bill provides for the employm of such
assistants for one year. Referred
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, Of Massachusetts, the bill
to amend certain articles Of was taken up. The
bill provides the penalty OF death to spies aud persona
forcing the safeguard OF the army lis further eopsde
| ration postponed till 10 morrow.
The report OF the Judiciary Committee on the resold
toa TO eIpel Senator Bhght-to wit that there no
sufficient cause for such eIpulsion-was taken up.
Mr.. Wilkinson OF Minnesota said that, presenting
the resolution his regard for Mr. Bright influenced
by personal feeDg but the exigencies Of the tmes
imposed painful duties at some times. He believed
that Congress must act up TO its duty ard save ihe
country for every other department OF the Gogernu en
had sgnaly failed TO act with sufficient courage and h.
roism. He referred 10 the letter Of Mr. Bright address
ed to "Hs EIceency JEFF Davis" on the lSt of March,
1851, introducing friend to DAVIS, who had valuable
improvement in firearms TO dispose Of, aud ssked II
thai such a letter that honest and loyal
Senator should writer Yet the Senator from Iadians
has avowed In the Senate, In the debate about the adc
sion of the Senator from Oregon that be bad done not
ing which he would not do over again under the
circumstances Al the very time this letter wrtteD
Davis preparing for attack on the fort In OhaIls
ton hsrbor and the Senator from Indiana lends his aid
10 who is trying to aid the rebel Government with
| q valuable improvement In firearms. He quoted from
the speeches Of Wgfa and Toombs declaring that tho
| war had commenced and contended that Mr.. Bright
have known that such the when he wrote
his letter. Yet, he assumes that when he wrote
that letter be did not know that il reasonable 10
send valuable Improvement Of fire to the rebels.
II there be war why should be send firearms 10
the South He argued that this action shows on lis face
that Mr. Bright was in completely aud sympathy with ths
rebels these firearms to be brought into the held
against the brave men Of bis own State shoo: down
his mr. Brights constituents. BE referred aso
the letter Of Mr. Bright to Mr.. Fitch written the 7Ih
OF September 1851, in which he i'd he was opposed 70
the coeiciye policy of the Government and Abolonists
He Mr.. Wilkinson, considered this last letter
Objectionable than the first When the war had Assumed
its most gigantic proportions and every loyal heart
enlisted in the Of the Government then the Sen
aor from Indiana boldly declared that he opposed
to "the coercye policy oil the Government" Believing
as he did, that the evidence before him conclusiyely
proved that the Senator from Indana eynpsthzes with
the enemy, he would never consent that the Senator
should take part in the deliberations Of the Senate
| Mr. Bayard, of Delaware said if the Senate
quired expel the Senator for writing letter. It should
take into consideration all the circumrtan ses o. no Vase
/ Mr. Lincoln to whom the letter was given, had been a
very old friend aud client of Mr. Bright for than
twenty years. and had given him letter OF introduction
from the Secretary Of War hero He then simply gave
him letter Of Introduction to Davis, and gave Davis the
tile which he claimed without admitting his rgft
| or in any way intending " aid DAVIS In the wa
against the Government. He Mr.. Bsyard) did not
believe that the war would ever eG.ct restoration
of the Union. he alwsys meant TO claim the right 10
/ crticse administration and speak freely what DO
thought. he apoke this 10 Split Of defiance or ari
factious opposition 70 the viii Of the mSority. Ee al
Ways thought corcilson potent than force to
back men, and had yet seen 10 reason to change
this position.
1.-THE Senate took the ground that Il was disloyal to
oppose Aboitonism-whioh he thought wes one Of the
principal evils that had brought the country TO It's pre-
sent satet would be necessary 10 eIpel several Others
besides the eeustor Ieoal 4ncIaaL.
Mr. Morrill, of Maine eontended that st the time this
letter was written actually IN state Of clyii
The so called Confederate foYernmenl bad been
| established and Davis elected President 10 february
anu on the let Of March was engaged 10 trying TO oSsf
throw the Government The act Of aid 10 Davis In this at
tempt treason. lie contendsd that the Senator by
addressing letter His Ercellency Jefferson Davis,
President Of the Confederate States reco0oizad him ss
such In an oHcAi capacity 10 well In feadiY mlnhsr
was not only the language Of frendship, but Of dplS
macy and the letter, byii fair Interpretation alb
solltey t3asonable, The Senator from Indiana knew
taat Davis vas traitor, snd that this nan Lincoln
going 70 the aid Of Davis Yet the honorable Senator
gives him letter, commencing Lincoln to Davis az ''s
friend reliable In s respects" He also marked the let
/ ter "private aud confidential"
| Mr. Bright said he wanted to say word. The letter
not marked and the chairman OF tie judiciary
| Committee would bear him out in the statement
Mr.. Trumbul Of Illinois, said the committee had
sworn copy OF the original letter. and on that copy these
words did not appear.
Mr. Bright said be had stated repeatedly that be hai
no recollection Of vring this lester until IL pub
sbed. He wrote private and confidential letter..
He had given another letter Mr. Lincoln introducing
him TO Captain Franklin who then 10 charge OF the
extension Of the Capitol and the phraseology of both
| letters was very similar.
Mr. Trumbull said he yas IN tie minority In the cam
mittee on this subject and the majority had seen 6.
to bring all the facts before the Senate in It's report Ne
read the affidavit Of the officers who arrested Lincoln Ia
Ohio for treason and copies of tho letters TO Captain
Fnakn and Davis. This man, Thomas D. Lincoln stood
to-day charged with treason. Before the LIST OF March
had been actually declared against the Government
the Star Of the West had been fred into the treasury
robbed the gedera forts seized and this capital threat
ened By traitors and TO the chief OF these traitors ~
Senator from Indiana wrote letter commenting Ia.
friend who under arrest for treason, and bis fire
arms 10 bis opinion the Senate should Lot suffer the
Senator to remain after having thus aided the traitors to
| his country.
Mr. Pearce, of Maryland, thought the Senator was
trely mistaken in saying that the country In state
Of when the letter written He quoted from the
State dispatches TO foreign ministers as showing that DO
war existed. He thought the letter written in such
terms common and usual. foe should still DO
/ civil.
Without concluding the matter the seaate Adjourned.
HOUSE. OF REPREsISrArITIs.
| Mr. Davis of Massachusetts,, from the Committee On
Elections reported resolution that Josspbh Segar was
entitled Representative from the PIrft
district OF Virginia Laid for future ontderation
Also resolution, which was adopted, that, pending
the discussion Of the above SUBJECT Dir. Sesar be per-
mitted 10 occupy seat the door and have leave 10
address the House on the merits Of the question.
| Ga motion Of Mr.. Daily, delegate from Nebraska, it
was resolved that the State Of Alabama has tr,a
ABLY entered into the rebellion, the Committee on Pus
lie Llnds be instructed to rqure into the eIpedency Of
coniscang certain lands in Nehrnk selected by that
State under Law Of Congress- and that tie same be az
piled to the Of & seminary in operation in that
| Territory.
| On motion OF Hr. Moreresd, Of Pennsylvania, tho
Secretary was directed furnish the House with tie
names OF those who distinguished themselves at the
| cent brilliant affair at Dr4nesviile.
Mr. val.andgham, OF Ohio, gave notice OF bis intn.
ton ask leave to introduce bill to abolish the Post
| Office DEPARTMENT