The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-02-12
the BRIGHT CASE.


of posteriiy will pronounce proscripiive
and tyrannous exercise of power. We al
lnde, Of course to the expulsion from that
body OF the Hon. Jesse D. Bright, one ofthe
Senators from :he State OF Indiana The
offence imputed 10 him was ireasunabie
correspondence with the rebels, and the
proof was found in the following letter:
WASHINGTON March 1861
sMT DEAR Six Allow me 10 nirodnce
to your acquaintance. my friend Thomas B
Lincoln, of Texas He visits your capitol
mainly to dispose OF what he regards a
great improvement in fre-arms. recon-
mend him 10 your favorable consideration
as gentleman of the irst responsibility,
and reliable in every respect.
:'Very Truly Yours,
JESSE D BRIGHT.
"To his Excelency, Jefesson Davis,
President OF the Confederate States"
This letter, it will be observe ed. was writ
ten on the fist dag Of Nareh, 1861, when no
overt act OF resistance to the authority Of
the Federal Government had yet been com.
mitted-when Congress were still delibera~
ting upon measures for the adjustment of
the matter al issue between the North and
Southland when few believed that the six
States that had then passed ordinances OF
secession would carry their attempted re-
belliou to the point of actual war. With
this important fact as 10 time before us, Mr..
Bright's letter is substantially nothing more
than one OF simple introduction, such as one
acquaintance would, upon request, write 10
another, without hesitation, and without a
sinisier thought or design 1t would have
to be 50 considered by every unprejudiced
mind, were it not that il addresses Jefferson
/ Davis by his assumed official little, and thus
seemingly recognizes The lawfulness OF the
rebel government OF which he is The head.
But t,.wiihout undertaking, as we might do
TO explain il by reference to The common
praciice-so common that almost every one
who writes a letter has fallen into it-of
claimed by them, with no idea of recogni
zing their right 20 them in an formal or off,
cial sense; we submit: whether the use of
that address, accompanied by no express
sions or acts TO show completely with the
rebel leaders, is sufficient evidence upon
tailt of treason. Ii mag, at the time have,
indicated a feeling OF sympathy with the
sece essionists-al:hough we doub. even that;
but The laws do not hold men criminally
answerable for their sentiments, and no pow
er except that which springs from the spirit
Of persecution, has ever attempted TO pun
ish them. There is no such thing as con.
siruceye treason recognized by the Ameri-
can government. lis founders rightly con-
sdered that too grave crime 10 be charged
upon ciizen for any trivial or doubtful
cause, or 10 be committed in any way short
of an overt act of war against il; and there
fore, in the Constitution, they defined clear.
ly in what only treason should consist, and
upon what proof only an accused person
should be convicted Here is the cons,l-
tutional provision-and nothing could be
more clearly expressed:
ARTICLE III.
SECTION g. Treason against the United
Stats, shall consist only in levying War
against them, or in adverting 10 their Eue-
mics, giving them Aid aud Comfort No
person shall be convicted OF Treason unless
on the Testimony OF two Witnesses to The
came overt Act, or on Confession IN open
Court
Now, with this provision of the Consiiu-
ton before him, can ahy man-can any
Senator, with the obligation of an oath 10
support that Constitution in all its parts,
resting upon him-conscientiouslv say that
Mr. Bright, in writing The letter above
quoted, was guilty OF treason 2 We would
willingly believe that the Senators VITO vo-
ted for his expulsion were actuated by
pare and single desire 10 rid their chamber
of all disloyal faint, or even of The SUSPICION
of it; and that their votes were cast in obe-
dience to the promptings OF an honest aud
zeaIous, although, it might be mistaken pa
triotism. But,-with the fact before us, that
Mr.. James E. Harry, the Republican ap-
poIntee as Minister OF the United States 10
Portugal, who has been proved 10 have car
Tied on reasonable correspondence with
Judge Magraih, of Charleston, and actually
communicated to the rebel authorities OF
South Carolina the intention of the Admin
isiraIion TO provision and reinforce Fort
Sumter-Whih int0rmaftan led 10 tie overt act
Of treason that inifioted The i1ar-with tie fac,
before Us that this man is retained in his
position, without even so much as vote
of censure being passed upon his conduct;
We are compelled to regard the proceedings
against Mr.. Bright as partizan in its origin,
parlizan in its prosecution, and partzan in
It's objeci-as proscriptive exercise OF po-
litical power against Democrat who has
hitherto siood high 10 The confidence and
honor of his party and OF the people, for
the purpose of casting odium and infamy
upon the party itself. Mr.. Bright's own
Slate had no doubt OF his loyalty, else would
she not long ago have requested him to va
cate his sea, and falling that, appealed 10 his
peers to expe him The Senate's Judici-
AIRY Committee, composed of distinguished