New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-29

Justice, ard in the eyes Of impartial reason IN 'he
great majority OF cases, must be considered ranes 'S
q pardon than a Justification.
But when q member Of a legislative BODY hes
under the impuaton Of aggravated offences, ana Tue
determination upon his cause can operate only 10
remove him from a citation of extensive powers anu
important trusts, this disproportion between the III,
terest of the public end the interest OF the individual
disappears; If any dsproporton EXITS IL ID OF ah
onnosite kind. II il not better that ten traitors
bould be members of this Senate than that one lnno-
cent mau should suffer expulsion In either case, no
doub, the evil would be great. But in the former,
would strike at the vtals Of the nation In Inc lat
ter. it might, though deeply TO be lamented only be
tie calamity Of an individual Il Misc. STATE Papers,
1901
Tie members Of the Committee who reported
against the expulsion of Mr.. Bright should bear
these considerations in mind. While preserving the
qualities which good judge should possess, posse
quea odsrit obsolpere, gaeD non 0derst eondeHnGr
they ought not to lose sight of tie fact that, in their
endeavors to be strictly impartial they may deal cut
Justice with TOO lenient hand. Every good pfin-
cplc carried to en- extreme becomes useless
Now. as TO the defense SET up by Mr.. Bright, that
the letter was given "under circumstances when he
never dreamed Of war" Could this gentleman have
been in total ignorance Of the events which hAd
taken place between the 9Th November, IooO tii'
ito day upon which he wrote the letter! Dulng
that time seven States had " eeceded that u 10
,ay. lad dsowned them obligations under be Ooh'
stutiou Lad ~. Ut defiance the laws OF The Cnited
S;ates. had Instituted quasi governments OF tnelf
own. ana had proclaimed their unalterabe deteinh-
nation 10 rc-., with fire and sword Tie E" Lincoln
desuofism." Within that period they had oisani]ed
provisional Concr-ss, elected PfeSden'' ona'''o
law.-soue Of which confscated TO ne keoe' ""V-
eminent all Northern debts aud property "Iu'ih TIE
lin;s Of these S'ates-and assumed the eAercise o.
all the functions Of legitimate authority. let M
Bright never dreamed Of war
On The 18Th February, 1861, Jefferson Davis de-
vered his Inaugural address, in ihe eonrse OF wmch
he raid: " II we may not hope to avoid war,
We my At least expect that PoSteriy VIII a'qut ns
Of having needessly engaged III 1t. Douby Jnsiihed
by the absence Of wrong our part, and BY wan
ton aggregation on tie part Of ohers here can be 40
ause TO doubt that the courage and patriotism OF the
people Of the Confederate States VIII be found
equal to any measures Of defense that our security
may require
Loyal Mr. Bright, "never dreaming Of war, thr-
teen DAYS after these words spoken gives let
ter, introducing to his EIcelleOcy, Jefferson DAVIS,
- President of the Confederate States," Thomas Is.
Lincoln "a reliable and Trustworthy gentleman
W ho wished to dispose of new and valuable in-
in fire arms. On the 18th February, the
rebels are called on 10 take for their own
dei.nse-on the Let Vi March, Mr.. Bright, "a if IN
direct answer to the appeal, sends to His Excel
lency, man who wishes 10 dispose of new and
valuable improvement in fire arnls.' Why, If he
" never dreamed of war; did he suppose that the
President Of the Confederate States,' of all others
was particularly interested at that time IN any me-
chaniesl Improvements especially OF such warlihe
weapons There is another question, too which
suggests itself TO the inquirng mind-why was tue
letter addressed to His EXoellency, Jefferson DAVIS,
President Of the Confederate satesl' The very ad-
dres, is sufficient proof Of bis moral completely
with the rebellion and Of biz unG,nos " hold seat
in tie senate Of the United States.
oH tic ,v,. day upon which this lettor was writ
Ten. new. came t. ~ d,e treachery OF
Twigg,. and The weakness Of Houston; Sumter was
threatened the Rebel Congress in full blast, the re-
helious State. arming for what they knew TO be the
conflict. II. under such circumstances,
Mr. Bright mover dreamed Of war;" be certainly
considered the rebellion fat aeeompli, the legality
or propriety of which this Government would never
questions, thu. the excited state Of tho public mind
was merely cphemersl and that tho nation could be
divided with ~ much easo IA one would slice AN
apple. Bot the notion that Mr.. Bhghts thoughts
were ster hs fashion il too absurd 10 be entertained
for moment.
The only question 10, whether not the rules of
evidence, as laid down in the law and practice Of
courts, shall be applied in bis case. Mr.. Bright il
aware OF this when be claims, in effect, that such
evidence ID necessary to erpe him from the serats
as would be necesssry to convict him Of reasonable
practices under the Constitution Of the United States
The difficulty may be avoided by the principles
above laid down. There con be no doubt that Dr.
Brigh, 10 morally guilty Of dsloyalty; and why, on
more technically of law, which can have no ap-
pcation TO the present Gaze permit Senator to TO-
tain his seat when the interests of the country and
Of the reopls and Of justice, demand his removal