Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-01-30
xelmunt Chronicle.
37th Congress--lst Session
WAsHiSaroN. Jan. 20, 1862.
SENATE Ffh


Ssuate---that no sufficient cause existed to
do so--was taken up ~ e.a'
" Mr.. WILKINSON rep, Minn., said
that Ia presenting his resolution in regard
TO Mr.. Bright, he was influenced by no per
sonal feeling, but the exigencies of the time
impose on tis painful duties sometimes. He
believed that Congress must act up to its
duty and save the country. The Govern
nseht had signslly failedt to act with suffi-
cieut cournge and heroism. He tWilkiDson)
then referred to the letter of Mr.. Bright
addressed TO his Excellency, jeff. Davis, on
the lst of March, 1861, introducing his
f1end to MIR. Davis, who had valuable im-
pr0yenent in firearms to dispose Of He
asked If that letter was such as an honest 4
loyal Senator should write? Yet the SEN
stcr from Indiana had aSowed in the SEN
ate, in the debate about the admission of
the Senator from Oregon, that he had done
nothing which he would not do over again
under the same circumstances At the very
time the letter was written, JEFF. Davis was
preparing for an attack on fort in Charles
too hArbor, aud the Senator from Indiana
lends his aid to tho man who is trying to aid
The rebel Government with valuable i'm
provement in the firearms. Mr.. Wilkinson
-qaeted from the speechesof Messrs. Wigfall
and Toombs, declaring there would be war,
and contended that MIR. Bright must have
known that war would follow when he wrote
the letter, and it would not do for him to
assume now that he did not know ii was
reasonable to send valuable improvement
, In firearms to the Rebels. If there was TO
be no war, why send firearms to the South?
,He tWilkinson) argued that this action
shows on its face that MIR. Bright was in
completely and sympathy with the Rebels.
Those firearms were TO be brought into the
field against brave men Of his own State and
to shoot down his (Bright's) own constitu.
snts. Mr.. Wilkinson also referred to the
letter Of Mr.. Bright to Mr.. Fitch, dated
september Z, 1861, in which he bright
said that he was opposed to the coercive
policy Of the Government and to the Aboli-
tiopistA He (Wilkinson) considered the
last letter Of Mr.. Bright as even more OBJ.
iectionable than his first. When the war
had assumed gigantic proportions, and every
loyal heart was enlisted in the success OF the
Government, then the Senator from Indi-
Ana boldly declares chat he isopposed TO the
eoeruive policy OF the Government. Believ-
ing as be (Wilkinson) did, that the evidence
before him conclusively proved that the
Senator from Indiana sympathizod with the
enemy, he would never consent that the
Senator should take part in the secret delib-
srstions Of the Senate.
~ Mr.. BAYARD Dem, Del said that il
the Senate was going to expel the Senator
tor writing letter, they must take into con-
alteration all the circumstances Of the case.
Mr.. Lincoln, TO whom the letter WI given,
WAS very old friend and client Of Mr..
Bright's for more than twenty wears He
bright had given Mr.. Lincoln letter Of
introduction to the Secretary of W ,r here,
and simply gave him an introduction to
President Davis. He tBright) gayc him
Davis theletter which he claiinc,l without
admitting his right to any such title, or in
eny way intending to aid Mr.. Davis in the
var against the Government. He (Bayard)
did not believe that the war would ever Of
feet the restoration Of the Union. and he
alwsyA meant to claim the right to criticize
the course OF the Administration. and speak
freely what he thought. He said this in no
spirit Of dsdance or from my factious op-
position to the will Of tho majority. He
bad always thought that conciliation was
more potent than force TO win back men,
aud should continue TO think so still. In re-
gard 10 the other letter of Bright he bay
ard) hoped that the time had not yet come
vhsp II was disloyal to oppose Abolitionism.
II was one of the principal evils which had
brought the country to its present deplor-
able state. IL the Senate took that ground
for the expulsion Of the Senator from lndi-
an. they would have to expel several Others
Mr.. MORRILL, (Rep., No. contended
that at tho time tho letter was written we
were actually in state Of civil war, and u
so-cnlled Government had been established
and Davis was elected President in February,
and ON the LIST of March he (Davis) was en-.
gagged in trying to overthrow the Govern.
msnt Aiding Davis in such an attempt
was treason. He (Morril) contended that
addressing letter to his Excellency, Jeffer-
son Davis, President of the Confederate
States, was recognition Of Davis officially.
1t also recognizes Davisin friendly man
nsY. The language Of tho letter was not
only that Of friendship, but Of courtier !;
and on fair Interpretation, it was absolute
ly treasonable. The Senator from Indiana
knew that Davis was traitor, yet the hon
orable Senator gives letter commencing
Mr.. Iincoln 10 Davis as friend trust tworthy
IN all respects. and the letter is also marked
private and confidential"
Mr. BRIGHT Dem, Ind. said he
wanted TO say only word. The letter was
not so marked, and the Chairman of the
Jpdidary Ccrmitteo would bear him out In
this statement
Nj. TRUMBULL [Rep., I'll. ! said ,ha,
the judiciary Committee had . sworn copy
Of tho original letter, and on that COPY
these words did not appear.
Mr.. BRIGHT said that he had stated no.
peatsdly that he had no recollection of wri.