The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-11
GheQateuiqetrter:
The war on Mr.. Sumner.

nishcd the pretext for it, is greatly to be
regretted. Whatever any one may choose
to say OF Mr.. SUMMERS personal foibles,
land they are not many nor graveO it can
not be denied that in general scholarship,
grasp Of intellect and range Of information,
especially in his knowledge Of our foreign
relations, he is not surpassed, II he is equal
led, by any man in either house Of Con-
gross. As to lis Rcpublicalism, II is his
highest vindiCation TO say that tho Repub-
lican party Of the country has come up TO
the high ground, in every particular, on
which he took his stand many years ago,
and where he has steadfastly maintained
himself AS personal purity and incor.
ruptible integrity, Mr.. SUMNER sustains a
character above suspici6n-and that is
more than can DO said Of some Of his as
saiants.
We arc notawarc that Mr.. SUMNER has
any difference with the President on any
question which the platform of our party
has made party question. The San Do.
mingo project Is certainly not one of tho
tenets Of the Republican party. The
President has no authority to make ii one.
II he attempts to do 1t, so much the worse
for the party and in the end for himself
0fCourse 1t is proper. iOr tho Senate to
depose Mr.. SUMNER or any other Senator
from the head Of u committee, II 1t DO their
pleasure, but in doing so they must be
Judged by their reason for doing It. Mr..
SUMNER lMs been removed notoriously
because he does not favor the anneXa-
tion Of San Domingo, he holding differ.
ent opinions on that question from those
that govern tho action Of tho President.
The Constitution Of the United States
makes the Senate an advisory body in
such cases, and treaties for the aCQuisl-
tion ofterritory can only be acquired by
their "advice and consent" This pre-.
sumes freedom Of opinion and action.
Yet here Is demand that the Senate
shall conform its.opinions TO those of the
President, and shall constitute its com.
mitteeS so that they will be the mere
echo Of the executive will. If this Is
right why consult the Senate atallS Why
not put tho treaty.maklng power into the
hands Of the President alone?
1t would be very unfortunate at any
time for an administration TO seek thus to
bend a co.eQual and coordinate body tC
its will. 1t is peculiarly rlyunfortunate to dc
so in matter open to so much objection
and suspicion Us the San Domingo scheme,
at a time when the tendencies Of the
administration party are towards disrup-
ton rather than unity; when nothing is
so much needed as a disposition to culti
vate harmony among political friends
and under circumstances that necessarily
degrade and disgrace one Of the mosi
illustrious and honored leaders the party
has or ever had. The friends Of the Ad'
nlinistration ought to be, the friends o.
the Republican party; but they do the
party no good, and do the Administration
much harm when for objects Of punish
ment and degradation they remove
CHARLES SUMNER from the head Of the
Foreign Relations Committee, position
where he honors both himself and the
country, because he entertains views ol
national policy and personal duty which
he has a right to entertain and express
both as a Senator and citizen, views which
in no wise dtsquallfy him for his position
on the committee, and views, as we think
that do credit to his sagaCity as a public
man.
AS We have said before, II CHARLES
SUMNER is to he driven out of the ad,
ministration party for such reasons as un-
derlie this action, so much the worse fol
tho party. he can do without It bettel
than it can do without him. Out of the
Republican party he cannot be driven
while that party Is true to its principles
pure in its practices, and just and enlight
encd in its aims.
When Mr.. BUCHANAN demanded and
procured the displacement of Senator
DOUGLAS as Chairman OF the Committee
on Territories, because the latter did MOI
agree with his peculiar policy in the mat
ter Of Kansas and Nebraska, it was tht
great mistake of the BUCHANAN admins
tration. A similar mistake has, We fear
been made by President GRANT. Wher
an incoruptible, man like SUMMER Il
driven ont and a notorious jobber ant
corruptionist like SIMON CAMERON put q
the head OF the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, we can only deplore the blindnes!
and perVersity that led to the unfortunate
step, and apprchend the worst results. W.
are glad to see that Senator BoREMAN
voted to retain Mr.. SUMNER, and we be
lieve the Republicans Of the State gener
ally will endorse his vote. r.