Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-02-13
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
THE EXPULSION OF SENATOR
BRIGHT, OF INDIANA.


This act Of justice will meet the uni
versal appreciation Of the loyal people.
There could have been no hesitation ia
this purgation Of the Senate, il the tone
Of loyalty had not been demoralized 6y
treason in every department. Of the Gov
ernmen, up to nearly the close OF the
Buchanan Administration, and open and
treason in the Senate. SEN
ators and Representatives were permit
ted to get up in their places and pour
out reasonable harrangues, and the
tone of fidelity had sunk too low in
Congress to relieve itself Of treason.
The standard was let up somewhat by
the withdrawal of Southern Senators
and Representatives. but even then, sf-
ter they had openly taken up arms,
there was not courage enough in Con-
gress to formally expeT them. The
people will look upon this IS positive
act toward elevating the standard Of e.
deity to the Constitution and to official
oaths.
The case Of Mr.. Bright has been fully
stated in the arguments which we have
published on the question Of expelling
him. The chief point Of the evidence
is, that after the South had been several
months in open rebellion, after the seiz-
ure Of our forts, arsenals. arms, Gus
tom-houses. mints. public money and
vessels, and after the Provisional Gov
ernment Of JEFF. Davis was in full op-
eraticn, Senator Bright addressed 8
letter to JEFF. Davis, as His Excellency,
the President Of the Confederate States.
introducing his friend, Thomas B. Lin
coin. Of Texas, who desired to dispose
OF great Improvement in firearms.
As this letter is brief, we publish it
here:
WAsHISGToN. March /, 1861.
My DEAR SIR: Allow me to intro
duce TO your acquaintance my friend,
Thomas B. Lincoln, OF Texas. He Wis.,
its your capital. mainly TO dispose of
what he regards great improvement
in firearms. commend him to your
favorable consideration as gentleman
Of the first responsibility. and reliable
in every respect. Very truly yours,
JEssEE D. BRIeHT.
To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS.
President OF the Confederate States.
What did Jsssee D. Bright suppose
JEFF. Davis, President Of the Confed-
crate States. wanted of firearms. ex-
cept to turn them against the Govern
ment, against which he was then openly
at war? All the acts of war had then
been committed by the rebel orgsniza-
tion and TO this enemy in the field,
armed to overthrow the Government. a
Senator of the highest council in the
Nation, sends a friend who wishes to
sell valuable improvement ia 6re-
arms.
Mr. Bright now says he did not then
expect there would be- war Then
what did he suppose jeff Davis would
want with firearms But he snew
that wa then existed, and he cuUld not
have expected peace, except by the
surrender Of the Government.
The bombaYdment of Fort Sumter
was no more an act Of war than the
seizure Of other iorrs and arsenals by
armed force no more an act Of war
than the march Of large armed force
upon the Navy Yard at Pensacola, on
the f2lh Of January no more than the
firing upon the Star Of the West, which
had been prevented from supplying
Fort Sumter before this senatorial letter
rounded BY rebel batteries. All the
acts Of war had been committed, and
their purpose no man could have been
ignorant Of. for il was published by pro-
nunciamentoes. If it would be trea-
sonable act for Senator Bright to send
an improvement in 6re-aSms to JEFF.
Davis now. il was so then. Nothing
hiss taken place tochange the character
Of the act.
MR. BRtGHT now asserts his attach
ment to the Union, and declares that
he never gave sectional vote. He
also announces his intention 10 appeal
to the people Of Indiana. Unfortunate
ly professions OF loYe for the Union
have been so moulhed by traitors that
they have ceased to have any meaning.
The question is whether he stands by
the Constitutional Government. and
for crushing Ire rebellion. The Union
which Mr.. BRIeBT means is Union
subject to rebellion and treason; and
what he means by never having given
a sectional vote. is that he never gave
a vote that was not sectionala and south
ern. The people OF Indiana will very
willingly try Mr.. BRIeHr's case on bis
appeal. There is an additional moral
retribution in this expulsion, in the fact
that Mr.. BRIeHT was never honestly
entitled to bis seat in the Senate. He
procured it illegally. and his holding it
was virtually disfranchisement Of the
State Of Indiana in the state Senate.
[For the Gsllipolis Journal.)
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