The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-14
Scene in the Senate on the Expulsion OF
Senator Bright of Indiana
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

! Correspondence of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S, l862.--The fine.
ness of the day and the anticipated conclu.
| sion of the long considered and stoutly-
argued case of the Indiana Senator flled
the galleries of the Senate today to reple.
ton. Every nook and corner where stand
| ing room could be had was crammed, ano
the doorways were choked with would-be
| spectators, who could be barely listeners
Senator Anthony delivered an earnest invo
cation to the Senate to discharge their
solemn duty without fear OF hesitation IRON
personal considera ions.
He was followed by Judge Harris, who
| Expressed total disregard tor the eXpIod-
| ed system OF legislative instructions. He
| said" st this very hour the Indiana Sen
| ator is on trial before the Legislature Of
| New York. What that verdict may be |
know not, nor is it important that | should
know" He concluded with finely word
| cd hypothesis" That when the Senator
shall be driven from this Senate, if be shall
| se at heart traitor, be will soon be found
among the enemies OF his country, in active
rebellion against it; but if be shall be the
loyal man [ balieve him to be, he will again
return to take his seat in this Senate"
| This is based on the understanding that
MIR. Bright will return to his State, and
be again candidate for seat iu the Sen,
| ate.
Judge Harris had no sooner taken his
seat than the invincible Davis Of Kentucky
sprang to his feet, with tart reply in ref
erence to his speech. The solemnity of the
occasion was for moment ruf1ed by
suppressed laugh, as he concluded by say
ing, When any Senator desires to meas
ure swords with me, he shall have Gus
TONER" Speeches were made by Messrs.
Foster and Bayard, and the debate was
continued by the defense of Senator Bright
himself. His remarks were committed to
paper, and lay upon the desk before him.
He spoke clearly, and apparently without
other feeling than bold defiance of hos
tilty which he denounced as the manifesto
tion of party spirit.
His voice, always loud and clear, was
especially so today. He reviewed the cir,
| cumstances of his acquaintance with Thom>
as B. Lincoln, the holder of the letter of
introduction on which the charges are laid.
He denied every charge of dis!oyalty with
an uncompromising arrogance, the result
either OF Conscious innocence or the most
audacious efrontery. He riveted the clos
est attention of the immense audience iD
the galleries, while every Senator occupied
his seat, and the benches on the floor were
filled with Representatives and ex-Senators
Viewed in all its personal aspects, it was the
most solemn and affecting scene ever wit
messed in the Senate chamber. Every eye
was fixed on Senator, who bad served in
the Senate for seventeen years, about to be
expelled for the highest offense known to
| the laws.
In the ladies' gallery the Secession ele.
ment OF Washington society, which still
remains unsubdued, took no pains to con-
ceaI itself. The natural independence OF
| the female heart was manifested by encour-
aging smiles and approving mods through
the progress OF the speech. His remarks
lasted nearly an hour, the session being ex-
tended until after five o'clock. He was
followed by MIR. Ten Eyck, of New Jersey
| in defeDce OF Mr. Bright.
Mr.. Bright, when be concluded, gathered
| up his papers, and went out at the nearest
door to his seat. The House having ad
jourued, the members crowded over and
stood around the sides, eagerly listening to
every word.
| SENATOR COWAN TAKES THE FLOOR.
Senator Cowan again took the floor, and
declared that be would vote to retain him,
because be could not lay his hand on his
| heart and say that he thought Mr.. Bright
| 49, L., r. L, %
answer and would satisfy himself and take
| the consequences.
TIE EXCITEMENT INCREAsEs.
1t was now growing dark, but the
| crowds remained undiminished and the in
| terest increased. Carl Schurz, who had
| just returned, took seat near the door, and
was greeted by many members and Sen.
| ators.
| SENATOR NJ 'DoUGALL TAKES THE FLOOR.
Senator McDougall OF California, took
! the floor to make speech, but the interest
then seemed to flag, and IA buzz seemed to
run through the floor and the galleries. He
spoke but few minutes.
SENATOR WILEY.
Senator Wiley of Virgioia, who has
been doubtful all along, then rose; atten-
tion was drawn to him, and the house quiet
ed down. 1t was soon found that he was
going to vote for Mr.. Bright's retention.
Though he was not satisfied with the ex-
PLANTATION of the Senator, he would give him
the benefit of doubt, that he might be
| innocent when he wrote it.
AN EXCITING SCENE.
Vice President HamIin announced that
the vote would be taken on the resolution
expelliDg Senator Bright. All was in q
moment hushed; people leaned forward in
the galleries; Senators turned their atten.
ton to the Clerk, as he called "Anthony."
| WAvel" came in a nr0mnt reanonse.