The New York herald., 1871-03-13
S u NJ N E r.
The Effect Of His Displacement on the
Republican Party.
Minister Thornton's Alleged Completely
in the Movement.
Summers Friendly Relations With the British
Commissioners.
His Position in Regard to the
Alabama Claims.
MALICE OF Mr.. FISH.
Heavy Combination Against President
MALICE OF Mr.. FISH.
Heavy Combination Against President
So Grants denomination.

Heavy Combination Against President
s. Grants denomination.
- WASHINGTON, March 10, 1871.
The excitement arising out OF the removal Of
Senator Sumner from the chairmanship OF the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations does not subside as
speedily as some Of those who took part in it
wished and expected. There were those
WHO SUPPOSED 1T WOULD BLOW OVER
like the removal OF Mr. J. D. Cox from the position
OF Secretary OF the Interior, and that In day or
TWO the party would settle down to the old jogtr0t
and nothing more would be heard of 1t. Sumner,
however, turns out to be different man from Cox.
The latter was comparatively obscure man. with
no party In his own State behind him aud no gene
raj following throughout the country. Sumner Is
BACKED BY A FORMIDABLE MAJORITY
OF the republican party In his own State and in New
England. That portion OF the party known as the
anti-slavery element, which forms sort Of SUBJ
strata all over the country to the republican organza
ton, has been stirred to its depths This is shown by
the numerous kilograms, letters and newspaper ar
tices expressive OF Indignation at the action OF the
Senate which Mr. Sumner has received from the old
lights and leaders OF the antislavery party For the
present Mr.. Sumner refuses to allow any Of these
letters or kilograms to be published He is SO fi-
miliar by long experience with the men who
send these messages that he know that
ONCE AROUSED
they will not be easily queted The removal OF Sum-
ner Is still the leading topic OF conversation in all
circles. Men are now beginning to inquire more
seriously into the cause OF his deposition. Nobody
believed at the time OF the debate In the Senate and
nobody believes that 1t was done on account OF
the personal relations said to exist between Mr..
Sumner, the President and Secretary Fish, People
say this is
TOO FLIAsY A PRETEXT,
and they insist there must have been somethin 6
else OF greater Importance. As to the charge thai
at social gathering Mr.. Sumner refused to answer
Mr. Fish when he asked civil question: Mr. Sumner
says he cafh6t reniendbef when or where it was.
ut may be possible" says Sumner "that on some
occasion, when at dinner, Mr. Fish may have asked
me how liked the terrapln the oysters and was
too busily engaged to hear what he said, but do
not remember when refused to give civil answer
to civil question, matter by whom propounded.n
'sIt 10 just possible observed wag Of Senator
who heard Of this 'rhat Fish was offended because
Sumner refused to give his opinion on q branch Of
the piscatortal family, though somewhat remotely
related. Perhaps Sumner afraid to say that the
terrapin was slow sort Of nsn"
1t has been stated that to Mr.. Sumner that some
time ago
THE BRITISH MINISTER
received instructions from his government that 10
long as Sumner remained OF the head OF the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations there was no chance for
settlement OF the questions pending between the
United States and England. The story goes that
Mr.. Thornton, the British Minister, communicated
this intelligence TO Secretary Fish, who In turn laid
It before the President. Mr.. Fish called the atten-
tion Of the President to the fact that Mr..
Summers opposition on the settlement OF
the Alabama claims was antagonistic to
the policy Of the administration, and that no practi-
cable settlement could be made under 1t. The con-
duct OF Mr. Motley, at London was referred TO in
this connection, and Mr.. Fish reminded the Presi-
dent that MIR. Motley was the immediate representa-
tive OF the views OF Mr.. Sumner. The President
acquiesced in the views or the Secretary Of State
and came to the conclusion that Mr.. Sumner ought
to be removed. MIR. Fish, in q subsequent interview
with Sir Edward Thornton, informed him that
THE PRESIDENT AccEDED TO HIS REQUEST,
ana tnat he would use his influence to have Mr..
Sumner displaced from the craftsmanship OF the
COMMITTEE on Foreign Relations. In the meaDtme
m interview was had with Senators Chandler, Conk-
ling and Edmunds and the facts set forth by the
British Minister coming from his government were
laid before them. They conceded at once with the
Presidents views OF the case, and the determination
On the other hand Mr. sumper states that
the report Of his intended speech against the
Joint High Commission published at the tine when
he was an invalid was gross fabrication. He not
only never intended to make such speech,
but he had never thought Of 1t. Whatever may
have been his views as to the propriety Of appOint
ing the Commission to settle the differences be.
tween this country and Great Britain, he did not
suffer himself to mention them to any individual.
He proposed that the Commission should first DO its
work and then, as member of the Senate, he would
be OF liberty to critcise 1t. His
PERSONAL RELATIONS wIrH THE BRITISH MEMBERS
or the Joint High Commission are Of the most
friendly character. He had met Earl dc Gray In
England and also Professor Montague Bernard.
Soon after they reached this city they called upon
him in q body. At that time he was lab0ring under
q severe indisposition. On frequent occasions he
has been invited to dine with them, but his health
wns such that he was forced to decline. as he was
also the invitations OF the Spanish Minister and
many other gentlemen. Last evening for the first
time ne
DINED WITH TIE BRITISH COMMISSION
at the residence Of Sir Edward Thornton. There
was nothing said al the dinner to indicate that
the British Commissioners were In anv way
dissatisfied with Mr.. Sumner. On the contrary,
he says their manner toward him was most
cordial. On many occasions lie mas visited
the English Commissioners at their private resi-
dence and engaged with them in friendly converse
ton. Nothing has ever passed between them which
would indicate tina: Mr.. Sumner was for or against
the Commission. Sumner Is Of opinion that the
stories Of his intended
ATTACK UPON THE COMMISSION
were inspired from the State Department and were
the result OF the personal hostility OF Mr.. Fish.
Sumner says that he proposed to himself when the
result OF the Commissions labors was laid
before the senate to express himself as became an
Independent American Senator. He had done
nothing In advance, either by way Of advising his
fellow Senators or by newspaper report, to preJu-
dice the case nor does ne know whether the British
government instructed its Minister here 10 demand
his removal from the craftsmanship OF the CON-
mittee on Foreign Relations as o condition prece-
dent TO the settlement OF dicnlties with Great
Ia KooA ho do1iif