The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-23
SUMNER ON SAN DOMINGO.

From the N. Y. World.
Wednesday was lively day in the Federal
Senate. Mr. Sumner was twice on the floor,
and each time in role which is mildly cha
racterized by calling it sensational. Early
in the day he rose to a personal explanation
in a matter which seemed big with a sup
pressed duel. The Patriot, the new Demo-
cratic paper at Washington, printed, Wednes-
day morning, statement that an unsuccess-
full attempt to make peace between the Sena-
tor and the President had just miscarried by
the stiff refusal of the President to entertain
any proffers towards reconciliation. He said
that Sumner had trsduced and belittled him
in executive sessions of the Senate, in the
street care, in his leoturing tour in She West;
and that if he (Grant) were not restrained by
his official dignity he would
call Sumner to a personal ac-
General Babcock, one of the Presidents
confidential pets, said that he would chastise
Sumner after the fashion of Brooks, if it
were not for his intimate relations which
might compromise the President. Mr.. Sum
ner took good way to advertise this article,
and supplemented the account with some
very piquant particulars. 1t seems that he
knew of the intended publication two or
three days ago. There was a great prelimi-
nary futter, and a running to and fro by
news-mongers aud quidnuncs to procure a
contradiction to 60 forth with the article.
MIR. Sumner gave these busybodies no satis-
faction, because he had determined to put
forth a denial in more conspicuous and
authentic way. He made it appear that there
is no colorado ground for a duel, and that
the muzzled threats of one had proceeded
upon a misapprehension of the facts. He
appealed to Senator Morton and Secretaries
Fish and Boutwell, to support his assertion
that he had not spoken in unbeftting terms
of the man whose great station enforces a
kind of Difference that could not very we'll be
paid to his personal qualities. All which was
very well managed to put expectation on
tiptoe and draw attention upon the scathing
speech the Senator was intending to deliver
against General Grant at q later hour of the
day.
In due course of proceedings the San Do
mingo job came up, when Mr.. Sumner sailed
into the debate like frowning three decker
with every gun loaded to the muzzle. Broad
side upon broadside he poured into the Presi-
dent, accusing him of initiating Presidents
Pierce, Buchanan, and Andrew johnson in
their worst and most fatal blunders. Sena-
tor Morton, who was the Presidents next
friend on this occasion, kept trying to inter-
pose a word, or a question, to shield his
patron from the cannonade but to no pur-
pose. Sumner refused to be interrupted,
and appealed TO the presiding officer to pro-
tect him in his right to the floor. He told
Morton that if he was the Presidents friend,
he ought to go to him and dissuade him
from the stupendous folly he was striving to
commit Then, rising into a cananauS naa;ora
strain, Mr.. Sumner directed his speech to the
yice-P President in thrilling apostrophe to
arrest General Grant on the edge of the fatal
precipice. TO to him, said Sumner to Colfax
in substance, you who stand next in official
dignity and in the favor of the Republican
party, and warn, entreat, expostulate, remon.
strate, and labor with him, and try, if pos
sible, to save him, the party, the country, and
the national honor, from the terrible plunge
the misguided and stubborn man is bent on
making! This is such an appeal as was never
before heard in the American Senate. 1t is
asking the mate of the ship to seize and bind
the captain and prevent his doing mischief
General Grants namesake, Ulysses of old
caused himself to be bound to the mast by
his shipmates in passing between Scyla and
Charybdis lest the syrens should get the bettel
of him; but even he, wise as he was, would
not have broOked mutiny by the crew to &C
complish the same laudable object
This is war. Peace between sumner and
| Grant there can be none after such a speech