Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-01-22
TH1RTY.sE SEVENTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
WAsHTEuroy. January q

WAsHIEdToN, January 81.
sENATE.-MC Sumner, from the committee
on Foreign Affairs, reported back the resou
tion TO allow certain officers to receive presents
from the Japanese Government.
The resolution was passed-yels %, nays
ID.
Mr.. Brown offered resolution that the CON
mittee on the Judiciary inquire into the expe
diency of go amending the naturalization laws
as to confer tho rights of citizenship on foreign
ers who may eerVe in the present war.
Me-, Trumbull offered bill to regulate the
compensation of District Attorneys.
On molten of Mr.. Wilson, the bill TO COM
plete the defenses of Washington was taken up
and the amendment of the House agreed to
Mr.. Wilson offered a new section, repeating
the act allowing the discharge of minore, and
providing that no persons hereafter shall be
mustered into the service under eighteen years
OF age; but the oath of enlistment Shall be con-
elusive as to age. Agreed to.
Mr.. Wilson offered another amendment, al
tering the articles of war by providing the pen
atty of death to persons found lurking as spies
Agreed to. He also offered an amendmeet pro-
vidlng the death penalty for any person forcing
safeguards.
After further discussion the bill was laid over
until tomorrow.
Mr.. Trumbull presented memorial from W
G. Jewett of Colorado, protesting against i'm.
mediate action on the slavery question, as hav.
ing tendency TO prevent peace, claiming that
the sentiments Of the people either North OF
South were not represented In Congress, and
proposing joint action by the North and South
for an amendment to the Constitution providing
for gradual emancipation OF the elsyes in
thirty years.
On motion Of Mr.. Wade, the bill to authorize
the Secretary Of War to appoint two additional
Secretaries was taken up.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment as sub
stitute that the President, with the consent OF
the Senate, appoint two additional Assistant
Secretaries OF War, at salary Of $4,000 each,
the Office to last one year.
The amendment wss agreed to end the bill
passed.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution regulating the
compensation of Collectors of Customs and
Naval Oficers.
The report OF the judiciary committee on
the resolution to expel Mr.. Bright was then
taken up.
Mr.. Sumner said that the expulsion of Sen.
ator was one Of the most solemn acts; but our
duties must be performed, especially when the
good name of the Senate and the welfare of
the county Ia at stake. Mr.. Bright has ALWAYS
been notoriously the friend and sympathizer Of
Davis and Slidell in their achemes in favor Of
slavery, and always voted with them.
He (Snmner) commented on the address of
the letter, which was, "To his Excellency, JEFF.
Davis, President of the Confederate States.'
and claimed thai 1t was as far as possible the
recognition of pretender as President of the
rebel States. The letter, In Its general charac.
ter, was corresponding with public enemy or
traitor, and was kind of moral aid to the
rebels. Twas letter of friendship and SYM
pathy gil the way through, and showed that
there was one person who, forgetting what was
due to the country and due to the rebellion
stretched forth his hand In friendly salutation
A person who is so mixed up in the rebellion
must be q traitor.
But again; the writer Of the letter, on the
7th Of September, 1861, puts forth another let
ter to a Mr.. Fitch, defending the first letter
and again in debate in the Senate, be de-
clares be has done nothing that he would moi
do over again under the same circumstances.
| Mr.. Lane of Indiana said that he should SAY
nothing on this subject but for the interest ht
felt in bis state. He referred to his contest fol
a seat here with Mr. Bright three years ago
but he said he now had no remembrance of tht
outrage perpetrated on him and against the
honor Of Indiana; be had no personal Ill feel
ing toward his COLLEAGUE; he would do him tn,
justice to say that on the first day of the session
he came to him and told him that he bright
desired and demanded full investiga OF thl
charges made against him. He would give hin
the benefit of manly avowal; but when th,
letter was written his colleague must hav,
known that war was to result from this unholy
unproVoked and God-accursed rebellion. Wa
was actually levied on the Government at tha
time.
Before the lat of March the rebellion was in
augurated, and Davis elected as lite head. A
such time letter was written by membe
of the Senate to the Arch High Priest Of th
Rebellion, addressing him by the very It'll
which we are to-day resisting. The lette
might have been written carelessly, but Of al
things else, 10 was to introduce firearms,
there was to be no war, why ahould Davis wan
to provide frearms7 He (Lane) believed tha
the letter, unexplained, was sufficient evidenc
Of treason, and sending improved firearms wa
aid and comfort to the enemy. But he (Lane
considered the second letter Of Mr.. Bright, I
Mr.. Fitch, much worse than the nni. n