Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-03-17
Debate in the Senate.
MIR. SUMMERS REMOVAL,

Mr., Summers NJ length ana Mr.. Howe ros'
to reply;
Mr.. Stewart (aside)--"I would no
answer him."
Several senators-"No don't"
Mr.. Howe said that, on the one han(
he was asked question, and on the 9th
err appealed to not to answer it. and il
Difference to that rule of courtesy which
he had sought to make the rule of hi
life, he would make civil answer to {
civil question. He would briefly state
the reasons so far as he knew them, and
he certainly knew them as we'll as any
senator. No question had been raised a,
to the ability of the Senator from Mass
achsetts, and no pretension had beer
made that he was surpassed in any re
spect by the gentleman proposed to sue.
coed him, but it was known to those WIZ
proposed the change that the personal
relations existing between the senator
from Massachusetts and the President OF
the United States and the head of the
state department, were such as to pre-
clude all social intercourse between them.
In brief, his information was that the
senator from Massachusetts had refused
to hold personal intercourse with the sec
rotary Of state.
Mr.. Sumner-"Just the contrary"
Mr.. Howe continued without noticing
the remark: And that the senator does
not hold any intercourse with the Presi-
dent of the United States. In view OF
these facts it was deemed best that the
committee on foreign relations should
have head who would be on the best
speaking terms with the secretary Estate
and the president.
Mr.. Schulz replied that he was very
credibly informed, aud that from the
best of authority, that the senator from
Massachusetts who was sitting behind
them Mr.. Sumner) had not refused to
enter into any official relations, either
with the president or the secretary of
state.
Mr.. Howe" | ask my friend not to
change the issue. 1 did not speak Of
their official relations; I spoke of their
personal relations"
Mr.. Wilson" Then, Mr.. President,
it comes to this-the Oldest member OF
the Senate, the chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign relations for the past
ten years, is to beremoved from the chair
manship, and from the committee itself,
because of the social relations between
the president of the United States and
the secretary of state and himself" He
(Wilson) was one of those who believed
that it was not the business Of the Senate
what those relations were, of what we're
the social relations between any senator
and the president or any other member
or the government. He thought that
the onl y question was whether member
held proper official relations with the
PRESIDENT, the cabinet and the other mem
bers OF the government. He agreed with
the senator from Missouri -lMr. Shurz)
that the matter should not have been
precipitated upon thu Senate, but it had
been determined otherwise and must, at
all cost, be now concluded, He could
not see blow struck at friend of %
years, with whom ne had co-operated in
minorities and majorities, without a pro-
test, but his opposition in the present in
stance was notsolely for personal reasons
out was because he beloved that the in
terest of the country would not be pro-
NOTED by taking the chairman of the
committee on foreign relations from the
place he has filled with signal ability
In the present condition of our foreign
affairs we needed to retain all the learn
ing and experience we now had there -
lie was opposed to the change because it
was full of danger to the future of the
republican party. There were hundreds
OF thousands of pure, thoughtful and
trusted members of the party whose
hearts would be wrung by the intelli-
gence of this action, and would see Meth.
er justice nor wisdom in it. The party
was in no condition to do that which
would wound or offend hundreds of
thousands Of the purest and best men in
the country. He believed that those who
were persisting in having the matter con-
sldered to-day were committing a mis-
take, and upon them should be the res
possibility. For, one, he washed his
hands of it.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont said he had
opposed the removal of Mr.. Sumner.
and as all the usual means had been ex.
hausted to prevent removal, he thought
it best to adopt the report of the COM
mittee
Mr.. Schurz again responded. Was it
the duty to depose and disgrace Mr..
Sumner because he was objected to by
some members of the administration :
Shall the senators of the republican par