Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-03
The Bright Case-DiscussiOn I'm the
Senate-What Republican Senators

Senate-What Republican Senators
Say.
We give, annexed, extracts from the speeches
of Senators CowAN, of nnsylvania, HARRIS. of
New York, and Ten EYCK, of New. ersey, all
Republicans maintaining the right of Mr.. BRIeHr
to hold his seat, upon the ground that the
alleged for his removal are insufficient, and that
the Senate has no right to put upon trial, much
less expel, one of its members for his political
opinions. We have not had personal or political
association with Mr.. Blight for the past five
years, and are therefore prepared to speak with
no prejudice in his behalf The Senate Judiciary
Committee, with all the facts in the case before
it, reported adverse to the expulsion of Mr..
BRIGHT. A majority of this Committee, in fact
nearly all Of them, arc Republicans, entertaining
no political affinity with Mr. BRIGHr. This fact,
of itself, should be evidence to tie country that
there is not sufficient cause for the extreme
measure which is proposed. The Senator from
Indiana, with every American citizen, as long as
the Constitution is recognized as the supreme
law of the land. has the right not only to enter
tain but to express his opinions on all political
QueStiOuS Anu OchdeOfs "Ouiu
be fathless to himself if he failed to give expires
sion to his convictions upon questions of public
policy. If those opinions are averse to the pop
ular sentiment Of the day, it would show lack
of moral courage if he should conceal them.
WORTH of the high position he occupies. We
say this without passing judgment upon the views
entertained by Mr.. BRIGHT, whether right or
wrong. Neither is this an issue for the Senate
to pass upon Mr.. BRIGHr is alone responsible
10 the constituency he represents for the opinions
he may entertain upon all questions of public
policy, and it is their province alone to approve
OF condemn. The Senate will not injure
Mr.. BRIGHr by expelling him. An act Of that
kind will make him a political martyr and
will give him prominence which he cannot
otherwise attain Besides il will be establishing
a dangerous precedent, the right of majority
in legislative body to expel a minority for po-
litical opinions. which may return to plague the
inventors. There is an old and true adage that
courses, like chickens, come home toroost, aud
there another equally applicable. that 'revolu-
tons never go backwards" 1t will be well for
the hour for the acts of the past ten months will
be reviewed by the people, We hope dispassion-
stely, but it may be under reaction of feeling
as intense and bitter as any we have experienced
during that period. t
TO the following remarks Of Senator HARRIS,
of New York, we especially direct the attention
of the reader as well worthy of consideration at
the present time by all who desire 10 preserve
constitutional liberty and to preserve the institu
tons which have made us great and happy
people: ttta3 sf5 Hl1
"The Senator from Indiana is on trial. He is
on trial for high crime-the highest crime known
TO the laws of this or any other country; and the
Senate, by the resolution now under consdera-
ton, is called upon TO infict on the Senator from
Indiana the severestpunshrnent IL is able to inict
OH any human being II is TO convict him Of
treason; for. as has well been said by the Senator
from Pennsylvanix il is that nothing.
up 10 the called session of this bcdy in July
last. but single Senator has ever been expelled.
For three-quarters Of a century but single
Senator has ever been voted out of this body. In
the early history Of our Government one Sena-
tor whose name was BIonnt. had engaged in
ducing several tribes of Indians from their al