The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-22
General Schenck Nominated for the
English Mission.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81, 1870.
Excitement in the Senate-fhe Rupture Be-
tween the President and Senator Sumner
War TO the Kui Q Against Sumner.
The misunderstanding known to have existed be-
tween the President and Senator Sumner ever since
the negotiation of the ST. Domingo treaty has at
last eliminated in bitter personal quarrel. Several
weeks ago few prominent gentlemen, friends OF
both the Senator and the President, undertook ito
arrange the difference between them and to
bring about reconciliation Tie most active In this
capacity of peacemakers were Secretary Boutwell,,
Senators Wilson and Anthony aud Colonel John w.
Forney. These gentlemen soon discovered that
neither the President nor Mr.. Sumner seemed in the
mood for reconciliation, The Senator refused to
retract what he Is reported to have said about tho
President IN executive session While the ST.
Domingo treaty was under consideration by
the Senate. The President refused to have
anything to do with Mr.. Sumner while the Senator
maintained this position, and indeed he did not
snow disposition 10 cultivate him on any grounds.
He accusep Mr. Sumner of breaking faith with him,
and Of going back upon his pledge. This haa rcre.
rencs to promise which, it Is said, Mr.. Sumner
made the President before The ST. Domingo treaty
was sent to the Senate The story is,
mat soon after the treaty was prepared
ana General Babcock had returned from
81. Domingo the President, General Babcock, Secre
cary Boutwell, and Colonel Forney met at Mr. sum.
ner's residence one Sunday evening for tho pur-
pose OF considering the treaty. At this meeting the
President and General BabcocK explained very fully
TO Mr.. Sumner the nature Of the treaty, the manner
In which 1t was negotiated and the Cd.
ject sought to be accomplished. 1t is said
that Mr.. Sumner. after hearing all that
nod IN
support the treaty at all events They lett the resi-
dence OF the Senator with that impression upon
their minds. MI. Sumner admits that he gave them
grounds to suppose that he would support the
treaty; but he offers "a an explanation OF his subse
quent opposition to 1t that the President and General
BabcocK did not furnish him all the facts and cir
cumstances connected with the treaty and its nego
tiatlon. Mr. Sumner says he was not then
aware Of what he terms the "jobbery'' Of
the treaty. As soon he discovered this lie claimed
that he had the right to break his pledge with the
President, because, as he says, he was led to make
1t under false representations. The President and
his friends on the other hand, say that Mr. Sumner
was put IN possession Of all the facts at the time,
and that ne subsequently allowed himself TO be de-
ceived by listening TO the stories Of parties who
were interested In defeating the treaty. 1t is
known that In the executive session OF the
Senate MI. Sumner took occasion to refer to the
President and General Babcock, in connection with
the treaty. in terms which led many Senators to sup
pose that he intended to impeach the integrity OF
both the President and General Babcock Mr.. Sum-
ner termed this as criticism OF the Presidents
action, and intmated that he referred more particu
larry to the conduct or General Babcocg, who nego.
tiated the treaty. The President however shoulders
all the responsibility OF General Babcock's conduct,
and it will be remembered that he wrote letter to
that effect to the chairman OF The special committee
charged with the investigation Of the Babcoc -Hach
matter.
Since the defeat OF the st. Domingo treaty the re-
lations between MI. Sumner and the President
have grown more unfriendly every cay. Ger
tain OF the Presidents friends In the Senate
carried to him all that Mr.. Simmer said
about him, while Mr.. Summers friends were
not slow to perform similar office for him. Gen.
era Babcock, who was greatly incensed at the Ian
guage OF Mr. Sumner, is reported to have spoken Of
the Senator In terms more iorcible than elegant.
Whether he simply uttered his own sentiments or
reflected those Of The President Is not known. Ac-
cording to newspaper statement which Mr. SUM-
ner mad read in the Senate 1t would appear
that the President was as hostile to
Mr.. Sumner as Babcock was. gentleman
with whom General Babcock talked since the OPEN
ing OF the present session. represents him saying
that II Sumner was not Senator and he (Babcock)
an officer Of the army, he would have pulled the
Senator's nose; and further. that he would do 1t as
1t was II Sumner was not "damned coward.n
1t appears that this reached the ears of the
Senator, who regards General Babcock as beneath
his notice. In the Senate to-day Mr.. sumner rose
to personal explanation Immediately after the
reading or the journal, and sent the Clerks desk
to have read the article. which Is as follows:--
Within the last ten DAYS an ATTEMPT has bee n
made by mutual friends OF the President ard Mr.
Sumner to bring about reconciliation or at least
q better understanding, and after consultation, the
was New h oa uS
Senator. The President manifested good deal
OF feeling and utterly refused 10 be persuaded that
the differences could be reconced, or even to give
concllation. The good OF the party, &C., was
earnestly urged. but Ia vain. The President IN re-
Spouse to all suggestions OF 'e rs have peace,u re-
pied emphatlcay that Mr. Sumner had attacked
that ne had spoken bitterly Of HIN publicly,
IN street cars and other public conveyances, and
that he had grossly abused him In Boston and dur.
Ing his recent journey West. Tic President added
trloqted dishonest motives to him, and If he were
not President OF the United States he should mold
MI. sumner personally responsible Tor his Ian
guage ana demand satisfaction OF him. THIS
th republicans have almost worshippcd as
.n n, con,queror OF the rebellion put the
peacemakes TO tight, for it plain that tic
U n etagSn would not be accepted, no matter by
dent share his feelings in this mattep ana one Of
mem, Genefat Babcock. Is reported 10 have gone SO
Iar as 10 declare that II he were not officially con-
s sco",a WIN a ,,e Executive he would subject
Whole matter creates great deal of tax