Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-02-12
The Expulsion of Bright.

On last Wednesday, the L. s., Senate
Expelled Hon. Jesse d. Bright. meml er OF
hat body from the sovereign State Of Iudi-
ma. by an almost strictly partisan vote
This is the first instance in the history of our
Of the expulsion of Senate while
his seat and defending himself
Mr. Bright sometime, we believe, last March.
gave Mr.. Lincoln, who claimed t. have
made an important discovery in the manu>
iacture Of fire arms, letter Of introduction
to Jefferson Davis. in which lie addressed
him as his - exccllency" and as = President
of the Confederate States" This occurred
previous to tie commencement Of the civil
war. and about the time President Lincoln
allowed rebel commissioners TO remain un-
molested in Washington citya also about
the time, Harvey, Lincoln'S miuistcr to
Portugal, was carrying on reasonable
correspondence with the rebels. Mr.. Bright
denies that he entertained any reasonable
designs in writing the letter, and asserts
that every pulsation of his heart is and mas
always been true to the Union. We have
no disposition to become the apulogist Of
Mr. Bright. The letter il question IS, to say
the least Of it, not such a one As a prudent
and sagacious statesman would write at
such period Of public excitement. But
whether it constituted evidence sufficient to
warrant jury Of Mr.. Bright's peers. (for
The members Of the Senate in reality actcl
As jurors, in deciding the question Of his ex-
puIsion,) ) in pronouncing him guilty of the
crime Of treason, is question which pos
terity must decide 1t cannot even be fair
Iy discussed. much less fairly decided, at
this time, when lash Is held over the press
aud those who control it and, Wien GLOW
my visions of a dreary dungeon in Frrt
Lafayette, rise up before those who dare to
talk like freemen, and stem the tornado of
Abolitionism, now sweeping over the land.
During this period of excitement. men must
applaud the expulsion cf Bright, in order to
prove their patriotism. it matters not wha.
their private views with regard u the mat
ter may be. When the reign of terror Is
over when sweet peace once more presides
over our country, then many a deed Will
wake TO praise, that long mas slept in blame.
and many will be censur,d that are now
applaud ed. Then it will he fairlyI decided
as to whether or not the Senate vas right in
eXpeliing the Representative Of a sovereign
State. and sending him forth to the world.
bearing the brand Of treason on his forehead.
Two Republican Senator's, Cowan Of this
State. and Harris Of New York, vo,ed nm
on the question OF expulsion. For doing
this, the curses Of the opposition
Press against them are both loud and deep.
This Is unjust; for whether right or wrong.
tLey followed the dictates Of their unbiased
judgment in casting that vote
1t IS a fact worth noting. that Willie Mr..
Bright was sustained by two prominent and
patriotic Republican Senators. his principal
accuSers were such men aS Senators Sumner
Of Massachusetts,, and Wilmot Of Pennsvl-
vania. the viIest traitors liviug-uicn. who
by sustaining and disseminating the p,inci
pies Of Abolitiouism, have done their ut.
most TO bring about the resent unhappy
civil war. Granting that Mr.. Bright wa,
gail;y Of treason, for them To- appear as his
accusers, could scarcely find ft parallel
save in Satan appearing as the accuser o
a subordinate fend. of rebellion against hi,
God. Sumner before the breaking out o.
the rebellion. asSiduouSly cnde1vored 10 fan
the fires of civil diScord. and since the wa,
commenced, has been laboriug to change II
from war for the preservation of the I'm
ion. into remorSeleSs. relentless crusad,
against slavery. He Is arxious to see =
servile insurrec.ion ir the South and III,
emancipation Of the slaves. in open violation
Of the Constitution. And vet this inhumar
wretch, this advocate of-the wholesale mur.
der Of weak women and helpless children
by the half civilized African slaves, has
the efflortery to stand forth as the PRINCIPAL
accuser of Of one Of the REPRESENTATIVES. oi
the sovereign State of Indiana in the I. s
Senate. Of the crime of treason. Well nav
we eXclam while heho'ding thiS-Oh the
times, the manners! If the people of the 10y
al States consent to regard such fcnds incar
nate as Sumner and Wilmot. as tie embodi.
mcnt CT patriotism and as tn ,ir party lead
ers, 1t will not be long until every true
American patriot will he compelled to ex-
claim in the the words of the Scottish chief
tain, mourning over the degradation of his
country beneath the tyranny of Mac Beth
"Alas poor country.
Almost afraid!to know Itself it cannot
BE called our mother but our grave. -