The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-21
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Expulsion OF Jesse ID. Bright,
Personal Sketches of Senators-DAvIs of Ken.
lucky !; HARRIS of New York; CowAN of
Pennsylvania BAYARD of Delaware, and
the ExPELtED SENATOR.

Correspondence of the Pioneer f. Democrat.
~ WASHINGTON, Feb. s..
The interest 10 the Bright question cul.
minated today in that Senator's expulsion.
The galleries were crowded uncomlortably
many not being able to gain entrance.
The Senators ceased their usual routine Of
business and allowed their letters and pa.
pers to remain unopened before them-giv.
ing their whole attention to the expulsion
case. Those most prominently engaged in
the discussion today were Garret Davis,
Ten Eyck, Cowan, Ira Harris, Wiley,
Bayard, McDougall and Andrew Johnston.
Que of the most perseveriDg advocates for
expulsion has been (iarret Davis, the new
Senator from Kentucky. He has made Elk
speeches since the commencement of the
trial, in all of which he has denounced
Bright as an unmitigated traitor. During
the discussion Of the case.side issues sprung
up on the question OF slavery, on which he
wrangled with Sumner and others, but the
idea Of expulsion he followed up with un-
wavering consistency to the last. He does
not read bis speeches, as is usually done in
the Senate, but delivers them in unpremed.
itated language, which gives them an inter-
est they would not otherwise possess. He
always gesticulates 10 the direction of his
opponent, talks at and moves a few PAGES
towards him, sometimes in quite threat
ening manner, and particularly so in the
case of Mr.. Bright, when be spoke of him
as another Benedict Arnold. He is a
small spare man,about sixty years of age, of
apparently frail constitution and exhausts
himself physically after an hours speaking.
He is scrupulousIy neat in his person and
is evidently gentleman of the old school
imbued with chivalry and honor. He and
John J. Crittenden seem to be warm
friends.
Considerable surprise has been manifest
ed with regard to the course pursued by
Mr.. Ira Harris of New York, and Mr..
Cowan of Pennsylvania. They voted
against the expulsion, although the legisla-
lures Of their respective States have just
been taking some action to instruct them to
vote in the affirmative. Mr.. Harris is of "a
large frame, pleasing expression and Sir
Harcourt Courtly in manners, with one re-
servation-he lounges in most upgainly
fashion when sitting. His voice is beauti.
fully moduIated, rich and deep, and his ar
ticulation distinct. Provocation of any
kind never seems to disturb his pleasing
equanimity. He is as impossible as Sew~
ard, who is said to be second only to Tai.
leyrand himself in that respect. He is a
lawyer, and as be said, regarding the ques-
ton in legal point of view, he could not
vote otherwise than in the negative.
The other Senator, Mr.. Cowan, who
also voted in opposition to the views of his
constituency, is also lawyer and took the
same ground as Mr.. Harris. 1t Is believ-
ed that Mr.. Cowan consulted with the Re.
publican delegation from Pennsylvania
about the casting of his vote, and that they
requested him to use his own discretion in
the matter, regardless of the action of the
Legislature. 10 bis speech, he was vehe.
ment in expressing his determination to
vote in accordance with his own sense of
Justice, however disastrous the consequen.
ces might be to him personally. 1t was
plucky, and defiant towards the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature. He was so firmly en-.
trencned in the position be assumed, it
would have been impossible to influence
him. Il he had known to certainty that
his political 'decapitatOn would have fol-
lowed after the casting of his vote, it would
have made no difference. However much
his friends may differ from him on this
question, they must admit that he is an
able, fearless man, who dares to perform
what he conceives to be bis duty in the face
of en- unprecedented pressure.
Mr.. Wiley, OF Virginia, as the crisis ap>
preached, seemed bewidered in doubt, and
gave MIR. Bright the benefit of it. The
proceeding of Wiley presented contrast
to that of Cowan and Harris, who acted
from conviction and with frmness, and
gave as a "reason for the faith that was
in them" strong lawyer-like range of ar
gument. ~
Mr.. Bayard made speech in favor of
Bright, to which but little attention was
paid, as be seldom rises above the level of
a dull mediocrity. Mr.. len Eyck made
very patriotic little speech in defence Of his
negative vote, which seemed intended as
peace Offering to bis constituency.
: The great feature of the day was Bright's
defence. As be knew pretty well yesterday
what the vote would be, it is thought bis
speech was prepared for the people Of Indi.
ana. with view of being re elected 10 the
event of expulsion. The leading quality of
the speech was it's pathos. A great many
of the ,dies had recourse to their monchoirs,
and even some OF the gentlemen. Mr..
Bright is a stout, healthy looking man with
Teuton face. He is rough in appearance,
and provincial in bis language. While
the voting was going on. q perfect stiffness