New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-25
XXXVIITH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.

r-iqte eig Oij for he expenses Of the Committee o.
tie House in regard TO contracts made by any pe-
partment Of the Government
The bill was passed. I'm
Nr. SHERMAN Rep. Ohio introduced OH
creating two new bureaus in the Navy Depart ''
Referred. t;u nm.
Mr.. GRIMES Rep, Iowa. introduced OIL yr g
vitIng charter for certain bailhs III ''0
Columbia Referred. ,...;.Ia
Mr.. DAVIS I'm, Ky.) presented tne creuenu"is
of Roller Wilson. appointed Senator from Missouri,
10 FIJI the vacancy caused by the EXPULSION Oh MI
Polk. ne, ..., ., -.e,.
the raden,sIs and certain papers he had 10 the judi
ciatv Commi.tse. lie (Wikinson) said he bad The
rer6r, Of a certain meeting held about the LIST OF
Nsv. and Mr. Wson was one Of the Committee
who r.porled set OF resolutions, two OF which were
R,,rd That We the people here assembled declare or
festy Hd sympnhy with the Sodh ana o' t-' Pio!e,
Ke.aised z ba we condemn rhuman and dsNoical he
waeed by the Federal Government against 'Ae
Mr. DAVIS said that Mr.. Wilson had no par; in
the resolutions, which were entirely without BIS
Wilsonsj sanction i'll any way. Mr.; DAVIS 'len
had a PAPER read, signed by GOV. Hall and Others
attesting to the loyalty of Mr. Wilson; also letter
from MIR. Wilson 10 Mr. Davis, asking that thor
Ough investigation into his loyalty might DC hAu'
that the country might be satisfied. ~.
Mr.. POMEROI rep, Kan said ne kne" ma;
Wilson, and that he had the reputation OF 2ood
Union man. 1t was 70 good that he (Nll:onl had 20
go round through Iowa to get home, he being hunted
Ike the rest # Union men.
Mr.. WILKINSON (Rep., Mimi withdrew his
Mr.. WILSON then took the oath.
On motion of Mr.. TRUMBULL, the bill relating
70 certain Judicial Districts of the United States C-
cult Courts was taken up. -.
Tie bill was passed as reported by the Committee.
The case of Mir. Bright was then taken up.
Mr. DAVIS lUn XVI made an explanation OF
what Mr.. Harlan bad said IN regard TO the law
sezlinst teaching slaves Where he DAVIS hved
they had schools and Sunday schoOls where the
slaves were taught 10 read. His own slaves, when
born were baptized according TO the rltes OF the
church to which he belonged, and female slaves
were given in marriage just the same as white peo-
pie. Mr.. Rhett himself, who owned q large number
of slaves built q church and specially employed q
preacher for their edicaton. One great cause OF
the rebellion which he omitted 10 speak OF yester-
day, was the division Of the church North ana
South
Mr.. HARLAN rep, Iowa. said that on former
occasion In debate on this subject several Senators
from tie South stated essentially the same facts,
but were rebuked by the Senator from Virginia
iason) with the declaration that 1t was the poicy
of the South not TO teach the slaves. lie iiarhhJ
was glad that the slaves of the Senator DAVIS Were
Taught and given in marriage; tut would moi the
law Of hs State permit him to separate man ana
wife But be llIsilan) maintained that Tue Govern
ment had az much right TO the service OF the slaves
as il had to the white men, and no other Govern
ment would neglect SO wise provision az TO EN-
ploy them. He (Hsrlau) cited the example of
England, who had regiments Of blacks enrolled ID
the s-rvice.
Mr.. COWAN REP, Pal said that he had a very
slight personal Acquaintance with the Senator from
Indiana and rad always opposed him lii his pOii'l-
cal dogmas. lie lCowanl was as mnch IN favor OF
putting down the rebellion as any one lie GAINED
That in examining Ibis case the Senate must be gov
erned by the same rules il they were jurors.
The charge against the Senator from Indiana Is tDat
OF treason. There cannot be any halfway charge
or halfway guilt. The Senator must be guilty oi
treason or nothing. II there was war between the
North and the South, and the Senator from lnOlahd
aided the South, he would OF course be guilty Of
Mr, SUMNER REP, Mass.) said that he did rot
understand there was such war, 9ut lhat Jen
Davis and his eonfederates had levied war agdns
the Government, and they were traitors.
Mr.. CONAN replied that If 1t could be pro'eC
that il was the intention Of Mr.. Bright TO ald tl'
traitors there could be doubt OF his treason HE
first fact TO consider is there state OF war AT
the time the letter was written. There were then
three or four parties in the United States. One Of
them believed in Secession. Another party ala bot
believe n Secession, vet thought If the States ac-
tually seeded had 10 right to force them back
Al the head Of this party was James Bucbanan'
II Another party thought that as the Southern States
had gone on IN their Secession movements unlll
March, and had formed Government, 1t was In
politic now to coerce them. Another party opposed
Secession and was willing 10 take any meansi what
ever TO put il down. lie ,COwau) understood that
Mr.. Bright belonged 10 the party which dld not be-
ieve in Secession, but thought IL impOllc 10 attempt
coercion as il would only serve to more completely
discover the Union. At the irs, all that tie South
asked was, that the United States troops should be
Withdrawn from their States and at the time the let
ter Of the SenatOrfrom Indiana written ne South
ern Commissioners were here treating incorrectly per-
hans with the Government for such withdrawal. II
there was at that time communication between INC
North and South, and if the Senator from lhulans
thought the rebellion not contaminated, ana
there was to be 10 war; 1t not treason to wIlte
the letter he did. In regard TO the ect OF the
letter if there was lie new Government l0ri ca
there could be no harm in sending such letter. lie
{Cowan thought that nd not amount TO much, az IL
was simply following the example OF the circle II
which be Bright moved. He Cowau) was willing
10 admit that tie writing of such letter was great
folly. but he thought that MI. Bright might nave
look ed at the matter from another standpoint, ana
be (Co@an) was not willing 10 aihM the Stigma OF
treason from such doubtful testimony
Mr. HARRIS Rep, y. 1.)-MT. Plesldent, II
ANYTHING | can say IL the lew remarks propose to
make shall have tendency TO bring the attention OF
tbs Senate to tie question now pending j shall be
entirely satisfied. The discussion has taken very
wide range and many subjects calculated perhaps
10 preindice the public mind against the Senator now
on trjal have been discussed. But II Lave propeIl!
appreciated it, the question before the Senate he'
within very narrow compass The Senator iron
Indiana is on trial for d high crime-ior the very
highest crime known to the laws OF this any Other
country; and the Senate, by the resolution now
under consideration is called upon 10 lnct upon tht
Senator from Indiana the seyeret punishment which
IL il able 10 lnct upon any human beng lis 10 con
vict him of treason for it has well been SAID 10y the
Senator from Pennsylvania Mr. C0wan) that 1t il
treason or nothing Up TO the called session OF July
last but single Senator has ever been expelled for
three quarters Of century. In the early history OF
our Government q Senator lad engaged IN seduclng
several tribes of Indians from their allegiance to ouI
hala apnEfA1 n