Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-02-04
COMPRESSION | L.

On Wednesday, the 9th ultimo

On Wednesday, the 9th ulfimo
The Senate having resumed the consideration of Mr.
WILSON'S resolution to expe Senator DAVIS. of Ken
lucky the question being upon the amendment of Mr..
HOWARD oensure instead a expelling the Senator
Mr. MORRILL, addressed the Senate, in reply to the
Senator from Maryland, (Mr JoHNsos) He charac-
terzed the CITED by him yesterday of opposition
to Executive policy inappropriate 10 this case. No
body proposed crushing the Senator from Kentucky
for crticsDg tho Government to his hearts content ia
debate He also referred 10 the arragnmeat by Mr..
DAVIS of his compeer for dsoyaty and said the Senator
from Kentucky would not stand moment in the Senate
judged by the rule he would have applied to him. lie
also referred to the resolution of Senator DAVIS passed
before the emancipation proclamation which no said gave
full power TO reduce the States to subjugation.
Mr. DAVIS, 10 reply, said that he only meant in cases
where the people repudated the Government aud refused
TO set up Government for themselves Then it was the
province Of the military commanders to establish tenn
porary State Government
Mr. MORRILL, said the Senator had introduced more
bills for the punishment of treason and the oyertunng of
dsloya State Governments than any other Senator this
floor and was absolutely too late to set up for him such
defence that set up for him by his disclaimer These
resolutions were not words spoken in debate. There
was no question the Senate when they offered
He adverted to authorities to the rxtent oil privileges
allowed debate contendng that the resolutions offered
were offensive to those privileges
Mr. HALE said that all efforts to establish rule limit
ing debate had and would fail He looked upon this
an Indirect effort do that which the Senate had hereto
fore refused to do directly. He had sympathy with
the resolutions of Mr. DAVIS. but declared himself uoal
teraby attached free discussion He thought the amend
censure was always followed by resignation When the
freedom of speech curtaled III this body no man
would express honest opnl here unless under the
fear OF expulsion He felt sensitive on this subject hav
inc come here some sixteen years ago with scarcely
sympathzing friend the floor, and If the proposed
had been adopted for the honest expression IN dis
approval of the acts Of the majority he would have been
expelled Within few years there had been others who
had occupied his position The Senator from Masachu-
setts (Mr SUMNEK had occupied position less obnoxious
than himself not because there any great difference
THAR hutb AS
the oldest sinner Great laughter Mr.. ID also refer
red the Secretary of State who for years was in mi
nority here, but WAS bold and frank in his sentiments OF
hostility to the policy of the Government He would class
him as who almost persuaded to be chris
tian." Great laughter
Mr.. HALE said that we must forgive something to the
spirit of American liberty Freedom OF speech, Web
ster said, home grant-a hreside right-and he
would leave richer heritage to his children We should
responsible here to power but the power that gives
us the power of speech In saying this he did not
that the Executive the Senate could be wantony
suited He had listened to tbe able arguments of the
Senators from Michigan and Name but they had failed to
convince him that the Senate should expe Mr.
DAVIS II declaration of the apostle of American
Democracy that should be left Tree provided truth
were left free to combat it, Truth the proper Soma
toal weapon to against the resolution Freedom OF
debate should be maintained at all hazards
Mr.. POWELL gratifed at the language of the
Senator from New Hampshire. The proposed action
calculated strike down free speech, and free press
When the matter fully sifed it would be found there
occasion for the dismissal or rebuke of bis col
league unless indeed il because he entertained opn
ions nimca to those of the dominant party The Senator
who feared to sound the alarm OF maadmnistraton the
part of the Government less than vassal and de-
served no seat here. Mr.. POWELL then proceeded in
lengthy analysis the resolutions Of Mr. DAVIS, contend
ing that the policy therein recommended inaugurated,
would be of all others the most dlstasteu to the rebels
He anmadyered also to the policy OF the President that
tenth of The peope should shape future State
ment subversve of the principle that MAORI
ties should rule. He contended that the States were
already in the Union.
Mr. ANTHONY said that it was the great misfortune
of the Senator from Kentucky, (Mr PowELL) in being
Democrat to have become imbued with the pestleDt
theories of Calhoun and that he naturally fell into assoca
ton with who incucae doctrines leading directly to
rebellion His colleague broughtup in different and
better school, and he DESTROYS to shake hands
with who magned in life aud nsuited in death the
memory of the Senator's departed leader And yet he did
not think that the Senator should be expelled
bound to accept his disclaimer While he considered the
resolutions improper and ndecorous, he did not think
they sufficient for his expulsion, censure,
which tantsmount to it, The Senator would find in
h regrets in the future for his acts penalty than
| equal to his expulsion censure here.
Mr.. FESSENDEN announced his intention to vote
against expulsion He regretted that the at
tempt had been made to do either Senators did various
things here to gain Immortality offer petitions,
memorials, resolutions some orations The Senator
from Kentucky did all of these. which he had right to
do though it tires the Senate sometimes He did not
think the resolution advising revolt against the lead
ers taken whole subject to the construction put upon
it, though 1T might be made Reasonable. If it were often
sve the disclaimer of the Senator enough. He felt
bound look the Senator's previous history Judge Of
his present convictions He believed him to be loyal
man He considered the resolutions of the Senator
very violent and Incorporate stump speech against the
Government, but to expel him would be acknowledge
ment of inability TO meet and. rente his arguments
He would give the largest liberty to comment the acts
of this or any other Administration.
Mr. LANE of Indians, said he had known the Senator
long be had known himself He true and brave,
and he would take his Interpretation of the meaning and
purpor Of his resolutions in preference to others He
would not vote for his expulsion He would
strike down free speech here The party in power
owed their position to free speech in the Kansas coDtro-
versy He did not fear free discussion The beet way
dispose of the resolutions to debate them and lat the
country decide upon action The resolutions did not
contain dsloyalty whole. He had seen the Senator
hundred miles from home withsa musket his shout
der drilling to fight his rebel neghbors, and be was to-day
object of per secuton at his home for his loyalty
He knew his vote here would be at hoe
but he had higher object here than TO conciate home
sentiment.
The Senate without taking any vote upon the ques-
ton went into Executive session. and when the doors
were re-opened, adjourned
On Thursday, the 18th ultimo-
The Senate again proceeded TO the consideration of the
resolutions offered by Mr. WILSON, Of Massachusetts, to
expe Senator DAVIS, of Kentucky the question imne-
datey pending being motion to modify the proposition
| by censuriog the said Senator.
Mr.. CLARK thought the resolutions of Mr. DAVIS very
incorporate in language and in statement If
not intended, they well calculated to lead con
sequences which he would be injurious If the
Senator from Massachusetts (Mr WILSON, thought them
calculated TO incite to TREASON he justified in Offering
n. IT,. mn. e.