Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-27
GsIrsnpbit sltlus.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHlNaros. January 20.

WASHINGTON, January 90
SENATE-The report of the judiciary com
mittee on the expulsion of Mr.. Bright of Indiana
was taken up. Mr.. Wilkinson referred to the
letter Of Mr. Bright, addressed TO JEFF Davis and
asked if il was such as an loyal and honest Sena
tor should write. Morrill,, Bright and TrumSull
spoke. But without action, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.-Wm. Hall, Representative of the
Sd Congressional District of Missouri, appeared
and was sworn.
Mr. Dawes, from the Committee on Elections,
reported resolution that Joseph Segur is not
entitled TO the seat as Representative from the
LIST District of Virginia. Laid over.
Also, resolution, which was adopted, that,
pending the discussion of the subject, Mr.. Segur
be permitted to occupy a seat on the floor, with
leave to address the House on the merits of the
question.
Mr.. Kellogg, of Illinois, introduced bill, au-
thorizing the Secretary Of the Treasury to settle
with the States for supplies furnished to their
spectiye troops. Referred to the committee on the
Judiciary
On motion of Mr.. Daily, delegate from Ne
braska,) il was resolved. that as Alabama has
reasonably entered into the rebellion, the com
mittee on Public Lands, inquire into the expe-
diency of confscatng certain lands selected by
that State under the law of Congress and that
the same be applied TO use of a seminary now in
operation in that Territory.
On motion of Mr.. Edwards. the Committee
on the Judiciary was instructed to inquire wheth-
er further legislation is necessary to secure to the
relatives of volunteers, killed dead, the bounty
provided by the act of July last
WASHINGTON, January 81.
SENATE.-Mr Summer. from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, reported back the resolution
to allow certain officers to receive presents from
the japanese Government
Tne neresolution was passed by vote of yeas p,
nays IA.
Mr. Browning offered resolution that the
Committee on the Judiciary inquire into the ex-
pediency of so amending the naturalization laws
as to confer the rights of citizenship on foreign
ers who may serve in the present war.
Mr. Trumbull offered bill to regulate the
compensation of District Attorneys.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the bill to complete
the deienses of Washington taken up, and
the amendment Of the House agreed to-
Mr. Wilson offered new section repeating the
act allowing the discharge of minors, and provi-
ding that no persons hereafter shall be mustered
into the service under eighteen years of age, but
the enlistment shall be conclusive to age.
Agreed to.
Mr. Nelson offered another amendment alter
ing the articles of war, by providing the penalty
of death to persons found lurking spies.
Agreed to. He also offered an amendment pro-
viding the death penalty for any person forcing
safe guards.
until to morrow.
Mr.. Trumbul presented memorial from W.
c. Jewett, of Colorado, protesting against imme
date action on the slavery question, as having a
tendency to prevent peace, claiming that the sen
timents of the people either North or South were
not represented in Congress and proposing joint
action by the North and South for amendment
to the Constitution providing for gradual eman
cipaton of the slaves in thirty years.
On motion of Mr.. Wade the bill TO authorize
the Secretary of War to appoint two assistant
secretaries was taken up.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment as a substi
tute, that the President with the consent of the
Senate, appoint two additional assistant secreta-
rles of War at a salary of $4,000 each. The Of
fee to last one year.
The amendment was agreed to and the bill
passed.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution regulating the
val officers.
The report Of the Judiciary Committee on the
resolution to expel Mr.. Bright, was then takeu
up.
Mr. Sumner said that the expulsion of Sena
tor was one of the most solemn acts, but our du-
ties must be performed. especially when the good
name of the Senate and the welfare of the coun
toriously the friend and sympathiser of Davis
and Slidell in their schemes in favor of slavery,
and always voted with them. He (Sumner) COM
mented on the address of the letter which to
his Excellency Jefferson Davis, President of the
Confederate States, and claimed that it was as
far as possible the recognition of pretender as
President of the rebel States.
The letter in its general character was CORES
ponding with public enemy as traitor and was
a kind of moral aid to the rebels. 1t was letter
of friendship and sympathy all the way through
and showed that there was one person who for
getting what was due to the country and due 10
the rebellion stretched forth his hand in friendly
salutation. A person who is so mixed up in the
rebellion must be a traitor. But again the writer
of the letter on the 7th of December, 1861, puts
| forth another letter to Mr. Fitch defending the
first letter, and again in debate in the Senate he
declares he has done nothing that he would not
do over again under the same circumstances.
| He would give him the benefit of manly
avowal, but when the letter was written, his col
league must have known that war must result
from this uDholy, unprovoked, mad and accursed
rebellion. War was actually levied upon the
Government at that time. Before the LIST of
March, the rebellion was inaugurated, and JEFF
ferson Davis was elected at its head. At
such time. a letter written BY a member of
the Senate to the arch high priest of the rebel
| lion addressing him bv the very title which we
to-day are resisting The letter might have been
written carelessly, but of all things else il was to
introduce fire arms. If there was to be a war.
why shoul Davis want improved fre-ar.nsf
| Mr. Lane of Indiana said that he should say
nothing on this subject but for the interest he
felt in his State. He referred to his contest for
a seat here with Mr.. Bright three years ago, but
he said he had now no memory of the outrage
perpetrated on him and against the honor of In
diana He had no personal ill-feeling toward
his colleagues He would do him the justice to
say that on the first day Of the session be came
to him and told tim that he (Bright) desired and
demanded full Investigation of the charges
made against him.
He (Lane) believed that the letter unexplain-
ed was sufficient evidence of treason, and sending
! improved firearms was aid and comfort TO the
enemy, but he (Lane) considered the second let
ter to Mr.. Fitch much worse than the first
| He (Lane) had nothing TO say against abolition
ism, for if the Senator from Massachusetts sum
ner) let that pass he (Lane) had nothing at all to
add But in that letter to Mr.. Fitch his col
league said he was entirely opposed to the coer-
| con policy of the Government.
He Lane) was in favor of all the coercive pol
| icy of the Government and would tax every dol
| lar to carry on the war. He would carry on the
war Until every individual was bankrupt. He
would give the coat off his back, even lie IN pau
| pers grave and be buried BY the hands Of charity
rather than close the war Applause in the gall
leries.
The Vice President ordered the galleries TO be
cleared at the right of the chair, which was done
Mr.. Lane was for the coercion of the rebels and
he thought we have perfert right to confscate
the property of rebels, even slaves.
Mr. Bright said if he had known be was TO be
arraicned for treason and bringing war on the
country, he would have employed counsel
| If he had known there was to be regular par
ty organization against him and letters and
speeches. presented he would have been better
/ prepered. If slander could have driven him away,