The New York herald., 1862-01-25


Mr.. svE.s (rsp.) Of Mass said that he did not un.
aerstand there was such but that Jsn Davis and
ms confederates had levied against the government,
and they were traitors.
was the intention OF Mr. Bright the there
could be no doubt OF his treason The rst fact TO
slder s was there state OF the time the letter
parties in the United States One Of them believed
secession Another party did secession,
YET thought II the States actually seeded we had no
right TO force them back At the head Of this party
James buchanan. Another party thought that the
states had gone ON in their secession move
ments until March, and had formed q government, 1t
was impolitic now TO them Another party op-
posed secession and was willing take any what
ever 70 put down. He Mr. C0wan) understood that
Mr. Bright belonged to the party which did not believe
IN secession but thought mpoltic attempt coercion,
Union At the nrst ali that the South asked was that
Ine United states troops should be withdrawn from their
and at tho time tho letter Of the Senator from
Indiana was written, the Southern Commissioners were
mere mere treating, indirectly, perhaps, with the &C.
vernment, for such withdrawal II there was
at that time communication between the North
and south, and II the Senator from Indiana thought
the rebellion was not contaminated and there was to
90 no war was not treason to write the leter he did
III regard 10 tho subject OF the letter. II there be
new government formed there could be no harm in send
ing such letter. He M Cowan) thought that did not
Of the circle in which he lr brightly moved Ho (Mr
Cowan) was willing admit that tho writing of such
MIGHT Tss nsvs great io Su ne thought that Mr. Bright
point ana ne Mr Cowan( was not willing 10 afix the
stigma or treason from such doubtful testimony.
Mr. HARRIS, (rep OF Y, said-Mr President, IL any
thing can say in the few remarks propose to M
shall have tendency to bring the attention Of the SCI
To the question pending shall be entirely satisf
The discussion has taken very wide range and manv
subjects calculated perhaps prejudice the public mind
against the Senator trial have been discussed But
nave properly appreciated the equestiop before the
senate lies within very narrow compass The Scna-
tor from Indiana is trial for high crime-for the
very highest crime known to tho laws OF this or any
other country; and the Senate by resolution now
under consideration, is called upon to nct upon tho
senator from Indiana tho severest punishment which
IS able to nfict upon any human being 1t is to con.
vict him of treason It has we'll been said by the
Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr Cowan that it treason
or nothng Up to the called session OF July last but
single Senator has beon expelled for
OF century In the early history Of government
mad engaged IN seducng several tribes of
attempted to attach them the British government
For that high msdemeano il is called inconsistent
with the performance OF has duty the record states
he was expelled. Another Senator was supposed some
time after that to be engaged in the Burr conspiracy
the Senate. But constitutional vote was not OBJ
tanned, and he subsequently resigned. But, sir,
body been nearly
constant and impressive memorial Of the extent and
character OF this treason which has oply
desoated this Senate but whole country Now sir,
weare called upon to take another step were
peod because they openly adhc-ng the enemies
sr al 'ne country ana giving them ad and comfort Now
presents himself here claims and occupies his scat dis
charges the duties Of Senator, and processes be
F,I
judgment s great stride beyond what we have already
DONE The Senator from Kentucky has found another
PEELED. He Is satisfied, and apprehend some other
Senator'S are satisfied, may feel themselves satisfied
nay called upon TO vote for his expulsion merely on
the ground that the Senator has been guilty Of treason
but hs ground that he entertans and avows political
doctrines not palatablo to tho Senate and tho country
He says-sThc gentleman takes tho position and an.
nounces Il in speech that no opposed to every mca-
sure aud the whole policy Of by which sbmis
sion to the laws to be attained that not default
n np1nv "A Qona frov
in this chamber, Il have lost my reason"
ur DAVIS connected with that the utter failure Of
those measures which he proposed to defeat to put
Mr. HARRs-Still tho Senator docs not disavow the
opinion that the Senator ought bo expelled because
isoppcscd TO coercion have little sympathy with
the political views and sentiments Of the Senator from
Indiana as any othcr Senator on this floor. For many
years have watched his course has scarcely ever
met my appreciation and have above all sympathy Tor
his doctrine Of noncosrcon Tho senator from Kentucky
thought with little self-oompacsncy Congratulated
himself that he had risen above the contracting and
dwarfng influences Of tho loyal profession which some
times operate on the minds OF men, and has been able
rise u tho higher spcc Of what he called large states
manship: 1 might envy that Senator, II wore unable
to do this on question OF staesmanship, but when
Senator Is on trial for crime, whatever
may be my political preferences prejudices feel
bound TO soc that that Senator, IL he my bterest
foe. has rer and equal justice meted ou As under
stand II, Senators are now acting judicial tribunal
determining upon the rights OF Senator and they arc to
bc governed by no such principles sublmated they
may DO, those suggested by tho Senator from Ken
tucky e told that the Senate was TO be controlled
by no common law or parliamentary usage but
decide whether not this Senator trial was unfit for
parliamentary duty. Ia well for this Senate that this
doctrine had not been promulgated at earlier day If
the Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr. Sumner) would
never have beon permitted TO hurl his polished
burning shafts against the barbarism Of slavery,
and tho clarion Md yO,eo Of tho veteran soma
long since havc ceased to rosound in this hall And there
other Senators who have long been being
too much imbued with certain unhealthy doctrine to
have held their seats by any certain tenure, the Se
nate had been allowed TO expel Senator's because the
judgment OF the Senate they unit for
duty. Tho great question now on trial in nation Is
whether i. shall ive or whether, because tho fingers Of
treason outched at Its throat, it shall exist
In times like those, which stir overy patriots heart
thero Is imminent danger that may be led 10 do
act, in like this. which will fix a pro-
cedent which shall DO pernicious In its influence
hereafter. Thcre Is no more meancholy teaching
in the history OF English Jurisprudence than the
facility by which, from forced and arbitrary
constructions tho best men OF the times innocent and
patriotic men, of whom neither the their coun
try worthy, condemned for The Sid
neys the Russcs the Hampdens and other worthless like
these furnish admonition that we should be eau
tious Harris then referred To tho letter claiming
that IL the clause about firearms had been omitted h
would havo been harmless that Lincoln had gotten up
this rearm, and II was put in at LDcon's suggestion
and the letter was simple letter OF introduction and
if Sumter had not been attacked and thore had been
no war, the letter would not have been no.
ticed,. and closed follows:-lt seems to me-
il the Senate to expe this Senator without coming
to the conclusion that no guilty Of treasonabe do
sign would bo guilty OF tho greatest injustice toward
Senator and toward the Senate. have painfully et
that taking the feel constrained 10 take am
opposing tho Vows wishes, preudiccs and feelings Of
many friends. We're II political question: should not
hesitate to vote with them. But regarding myself as
standing here judge called upos to decide according
TO tho rules OF law and evidence uYn the guilt inno
Of Senator trial, my honest conviction is that
the evidence not sufficient in view Of all tho facts sur
rounding the case, TO authorize me TO vote that no
guilty Of the offence charged.
Mr.. Ten EYcK (rep.) OF NJ j., had not tho acquant-
ance OF the Senator from Indiana beyond speak
ing ono but that should not alter his this case
The simple fact tho finding of letters on the
person Of Thomas d. Lincoln, written by tho Senator
from Indiana OF which addressed 10 his Excel
loncy Jcl Davis Mr. Lncolns treason could not bo OF
the darkest kind he had only been held 10 bail the
crme The District Attorney OF Ohio very careful
10 retan letter. evidence Of Mr. ncons treason
and II found tho person Of the latter i've and
half months after had been written Was II do
liverod JEFF DavsY He quoted from the Presidents
inaugural address to show that the government
plated warthat the Southernes must be the agres-
sors II war Nlowcd. Hc (Mr. Ten Eyck) uphold that
grcnt principle OF law which resolved all doubts
for the benefit Of those arragncd and should against