Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-11


mistake, and upon them should be the respOn-
sibility. For one, he washed his hands Of it,
and now moved that the further consideration
of the subject be postponed till tomorrow.
Mr.. Wilson said that Mr.. Howe was gentle
man of high personal character and ability, but
he believed Mr. Howe had given no reason for
the removal of Mr.. Sumner that could convince
the country. The reason for the removal had
not yet been given; yet there was a reason for
it, which hardly ought to be avowed anywhere.
The removal grew out of the San Domingo
question But for that they should never have
heard of Mr.. Summers removal He wished
this question had never risen. Men in Massa-
chusetts Of all parties are indignant and feel
outraged TO see the eminent senator of twenty
five years standing stricken down because there
is dispute whether Mr.. Sumner answered
question put to him by the secretary of state
Great God! Was ever such farce played be-
fore the world? Mr. Wilson protested, in the
name of the great republican party, against this
proceeding, which will come back to trouble
them.
Mr. Scott said he would vote for the report of
the committee, because he believed the best in
tereSis of the country demandedit He admitted
that, as between Mr.. Sumner and Mr.. Cameron,
his choice would be in favor of the former.
The report of the southern OutrageS inyestga-
ton committee was received at this point and
ordered printed.
Mr. Logan said he did not expect that any
thing he could say would change the result, as
that was a fOregone conclusion He merely de-
sired to give the reasons for what he had done.
He differed from the majority in the change,
and now differed as to the reasons assigned for
it. He did not believe the change had been
made merely because the time had arrived for
reforming the committees. There should be
good reason for any change, and the reasons
given in the present instance he thought would
not suffice.
Mr.. Sumner had not been direlect in ability,
nOlitipaI OTupinlp NJ What ba
SOM 1t was because he failed to answer pri-
vate question, or declined to attend dinner
party. Must the Craftsmanship of committee
be changed every time the chairman happens to
be personally distasteful to the executive or to
member of his cabinet2 This was not in accOr-
dance with the idea of the independence Of the
legislative branch of the government. He said
that Henry Clay was chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations, when jackson, to whom
he did not speak, was president, and that Sum
ner as chairman of the committee on foreign
relations when Andrew johnson was president,
made a speech in favor of ratfying the treaty
for the purchase of Alaska, which secured the
appropriation.
Mr.. Logan also said that when Gen. Sherman
entered the city with his, magnificent cohorts,
he refused to recognize Secretary Stanton, with
whom he was not on pleasant terms, yet Gen.
Sherman was not dGposed, but was afterwards
promoted. The speech of the senator from
Massachusetts on the Alabama claims, from
which the seal of secrecy has been removed, was
accepted by the whole country as the test upon
which these claims were to be settled; and now,
when the high commission is here, we were to
come down from our position and to say to
these gentlemen: eve have dcposed this gen
tleman from the head of the committee on for
eign relations" He (Logan) would ask if there
was nothing in this? Why was not the chair
man of some other committee changed2 Why
was it that only one chairman, that of the COM
mttee on foreign relations, is Claurcd2
AT 4:25, P. M, Mr.. Upton moved to adjourn.
Not agreed tO-2S to %.
Mr.. Upton then addressed the senate He
said he knew, some time ago, the intention TO
array the president against the senator who had
led off against the San Domingo iniquity
When the senator from Connecticut, Mr. Ferry,
had made motion to investigate the imprison-
ment of Davis Hatch, it was charged that he
was attacking the administration, and at that
time, it was asserted by the senator from New
York, Mr.. Conkling, that the senator from Mas
sachusetts, Mr. Sumner, must be deposed. The
attempt was first made to displace the senator
from Missouri, Mr.. SchurZ, but that was ADAM
doned on account of the fighting qualities of
the German troops. lLaughter.) Then, the sena-
tor from New Hampshire, Mr.. Patterson, was
to be struck off the committee on foreign rela-
tions; but the senator stated that he intended
to hold the man to account who was at the bot
tom of the movement Mr. Upton then said he
had taken down in yesterdays proceedings, in
the republican caucus, words which fell from
the lips Of the senator from Wisconsin, Mr.
Howe, as the reason for this change. The
words were, that a majority of the senate is in
favor of the annexation of San Domingo and
majority of the committee on foreign relations
were opposed to it, and that was the reason for
making the change,
Mr., Sherman interrupted Mr. Tpton, and
asked il he did not feel some computations of
conscience in divul9ing che secrets of a party
caucus
Mr.. Upton said he might have experienced
some such feeling had he not seen the whole
proceedings Of the caucus in the morning pa
pers, with the ayes and nays and his friend
Sherman's name among them.
MIR. Sherman remarked that perhaps his
friend Upton has revealed the proceedings,
Mr.. Upton replied that the senator did not
ask that question in good filth; that senator
had too much respect for his, Iipton's, integrity
and honor to intimate that he would do any.
thing of that kind.
MIR. Howe then repeated what he did say in
the caucus. 1t was substantially, that there
was one parliamentary reason why, in his judy
ment, the.rlght to alter the committee on foreign
relations should be exercised, and that was he
understood majority of the senate 10 be in
favor Of the annexation Of San Domingo, and
majority of the committee to be opposed to it,
II was ~ accordance with parliamentary usage
to reconStltute committee in accordance with
the sentiment of body But this was not in
ltoClly iStloOh lOl Tue Hbtu OIL conn
mttee, because the adverse majority might very
well be corrected by removing any other mem.
Der Of the committee; and if that had been the
only difficulty with the committee on foreign
relations it might he waived hereafter, as it had
been heretofore.
Mr.. Upton did not see any material
difference in this statement from what he had
said. He did not acknowledge that majority
OF the senate was in favor of San Domingo an
neXatiop, The vote stood Is to 2S, as stated in
the newspapers, and this he knew to be true.
tLaughter)
Mr.. Edmunds rose to question of order and
said although it might be lawful for a senator
to betray private confidence, he submitted that
il was clearly out Of order for him to divulge the
proceedings of the executive session.
The chair, Mr.. Pomeroy, said the senator was
certainly out OF ORDER in stating the proceed
ings of the executive session,
Mr.. Upton then said, to be in parliamentary
license, he would say that the senator from Ne
bTaska, naming himself, had seen no reason to |
question the correctness of this statement in
the papers, He concluded his remarks with |
the assertion that he protested against this
movement in behalf of his constituents aud of
the republicans of the country. lie washed his
hands Of the whole transaction.
Mr.. 1rumbull said that, sixteen years ago, he |
came into the senate. 1t was a perpetual body, |
and its officers seldom changed Not more than |
three or four different clerks had sat at that |
N'NSh
all the time he had been here, until now, the |
chairmen of the committees have never |
been changed by his political friends, |
except at his own request. This was
the first time it had been done. Has
it come to this that the composition of a
committee of this body is to be determined hy
the personal relations Of a senator with any one
under heaven? He, Trumhgll, had differed with
the senator from Massachusetts at times and,
he was sorry to say, sometimes bitterly; but he
had, and always would, insist upon Justice be-
ing done to that senator. He stood by the sena-
tor when he was struck down by the advocates
of slavery, and he stood by him to-day when the |
blow comes from those who have been put into |
power as much through the insuumentaity of |
the senator from Massachusetts as any other |
man living. applause in the galleriesl
Mr.. Sherman thought this change uniustifa, |
BILE. He had heard no adequate reason as vet, |
but, as it had been determined upop by ma
iority of his political friends, he deemed it his
duty TO concur in their determination.
Mr. Cragin was opposed to the chance, and |
believed the day would come when the men |
who were instrumental in it would regret it, |
but he was impeled to stand by the majority |
of his party friends,
Mr.. Morton denounced as untrue the state
ment that San Domingo had anything to do