Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-12-28
San Domingo,
In the Senate on the 2lst, Nr. Sumner
rose 20 personal explanation:
Mr.. sUMNKR's KNrLANATIoH

=.
rose 20 personal explanation;
/ Mr.. sUMNER's kNpLANATIoN.
. Mr. Sumner obtaining unanimous con-
! sent of the Senate 10 make q personal state
ment forwarded to the Secretary and had
| read portions of an article i'm the morning.
/ issue of the Ddi(Y PqtriDf Washington
/ headed, Efforts To bring about recon-
ciiation between the President and Mr.
/ sumner The article stated that attempts
| had been made within the last ten daysby
mutual friends to bring about a roconcilis
/ ton or ut least a better understanding be-
tween the President and Mr.. sumner, and
that for consultation the President was ap-
preached on the subject by a prominent
New England Senator ltthcn proceeded:
The President manifested a good deal of
feeling, aud utterly refused TO be persuaded
that the differences could be reConcicd, or
even to give his consent TO any move
mont having in view n reconciliation
The good of the party wa5 earnestly urged.
but in vain. The President, i'm response
To all suggestions Of Let Us have peace, re-
piled, cuviously, that Mr.. Sumner had st
tackled him in the executive sessions Sc
Verely; that he had spoken bitterly of him
puhlicly-in the street cars and on public
conveyances and that he had grossly
abused him in Boston and during his re-
cent journey West. The President added
! that ON some of these occasions Mr.. Sum
ner had attributed dishonest motives to
! him, and If he were not President of the
/ United States he should hold Mr.. Sumner
| personally responsible for the Language
/ aud demand satisfaction. This somewhat
startling talk from "A man whom the Re
publicans have almost worshiped rs the
! ConquerOr of the rebellion put peaccmaltcI~
| 10 flight, for il was plain that the olive
branch would not be accepted on any
, terms. The staff officers about the PrcSi-
dent share his feelings in this matter, amt
| one of them, General Babcock, is reported
TO have gone so far as to declare that if hc
were not officially connectcc with the Exc
, cutivc he would subject NJ sumner to
personal violence. This whole matter
creates Il great deal of talk among those
who have been aware of its extent and ma
ture.N
Mr.. Sumner then said, if there were any
, reason to believe that this statement would
| be confined to the newspaper in which l
! find il, ! do not know that | should call
attention to it; but ! was appriscd last
| evening that Il statement Of this character
! would he made by telegraph. and was ask
! ed To give some sanction to it. ! replied ut
once that nobody would have authority
! from me, nor would ! say Il word on the
subject to anybody, and last evening and
the evening before | was approached in
! the same way, and each time gave the
| same answer. ! now find the statement
! published, and, as ] have reason to believe
! that it is already communicated extensive
/ ly over the country, deem it my duty, II,
far ~ ] am concerned, to set the statement
| right.
In the first place, there are allegations
! that Mr. Sumner attacked the President in
! Executive Sessions of the Senate. | APP
I peal To my associates in the chamber, one
| and all. ] appeal to my friend from lndi-
ana, Mr.. Morton, and ask him to say to
the President simply what he said to ms
personally yesterday with regard TO this
allegation. | have never alluded to the
| President in executive session, except in
the most respectful kindness, and | chal-
lenge anybody to say the contrary. / have
| criticised the acts of his administration.
As II Senator | was obliged TO do it. 50
much for that
Then come generalitics, which will
not allude to, simply on account of their
Vaguencss.
proceed 10 the next point of reading
"Thc President added that on some Of
these occasions Mr.. Sumner had attributed
dishOnorable motives to him. Never I
challenge every citizen of the Republic,
from one end of the country to the other,
wherever | may have been. / challenge
every Senator 10 testify on that point. 4
know too we'll his position and my own tr
make any such Impeachment.
Then, rs to what have said about the
Pre- sident. Going back again To his ale
CATION which is 50 vague, | have summon
ed one witness, the Senator from Indiana.
Mr. Morton. | now summon two Others,
and | hope my voice may reach then
wherever they may be. one j. the Secre
tary of State and the other the Secretary Of
the Treasury, both members OF the Cabinet.
And have this 10 say, ! have said and
written TO the Secretary of state words
about the past and his acts as strong at
least MS any have ever expressed in the
most private intercourse | ann inclined 10
| think stronger. have said in society, la
the presence Of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, hard things, and he knows whether
they could, in any way, justify the impU
tatiOn. do not seek in any way to in
volve these distinguished friends, but l
Summon them as witnesses. Let themtelt
the President what have said of him.