The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-03-18
The 0rant-Sumner Imbroglio.

affairs in the L. S. Senate continues to be the
subject of angry discussion among the radical
newspapers, and of universal condemnation
by the democratic press. 1t is not because
there is no other senator as competent as sum
ner to fill the position. With democrats par
ticularly Sumner has never been a tavorite.
Though no one has ever questioned his in
corruptibe integrity, he has, as a radical pol
itician, been intolerant, oyerbcaring, bigoted
and merclless. OF that long series of meas
ures ranging under the general head of ''re-
construction Legislation" numer-
our acts as wicked and atrocious as they are
wholly without constitutional warrant there
was none so infamous but received Summers
prompt and earnest support. In short there
Is no man IN the senate against whom the
honest democrat can recite a longer catalogue
of political sins than against Chas. Sumner.
1t Is not on account of the man, but OF the
reason for his taking off that the democrats
and two-thirds of the republicans object. The
question is not, is Sumner the only compe
tent man in the senate, or even is he as com.
petent as any other for the position from
which he was ousted but was the reason for
oustng him a justitabe one! That there is
room for grave doubt on this point is evil
denced by the hesitancy shown by the " con-
spirators' against Sumner to give the reason
in open senate. When Senator Shurz asked
Mr.. Howe, the chairman of the republican
caucus, to state the reason for Summers pro-
scription, the audacity of the question stunned
the "conspirators," and they cried out, don't
answer him." Mr.. Howe lacked the nerve,
however, to pursue that line Of tactics, and
stammered out an unsatisfactory sort of an
swer, to the effect that Mr.. Sumner was re.
moved because he was not on speaking terms
with the president, (Which Sumner ejacula-
ted from his seat was not true.) Mr.. Shurz
soon tore off this tilmsy mask, and in his keen
way, proceeded to denounce the reason given
as shallow pretext, without justice or pre-
cedent, and as only meant to cover up the
real rcason-Mr. Summers hostility to the
San Domingo annexation job; and Mr.. Shurz
intimated his belief in the rumors that the
president had instituted this proceeding sole
ly on that account
And here the whole principle is indicated
which gives the proceeding its reprehensible
character. The President from motives, the
rectitude of which is at least not above suspi-
ciOn. desires to consummate treaty for the
purchase of San Domingo. 1t is the business
of the President and Secretary of state to ne
gotiate this treaty, and then to submit it to
the senate, which is as much a CO ordinate
and Independent branch of the government
as the Executive is. But if the President,
before he negotiates his treaty, can come into
the senate and pack the committees to secure
its confirmation, what becomes of the indie
pendence of the senate' 1t might as well be
part of the Presidents cabinet. President
Grant has not only insulted the senate by thus
undertaking to trample under foot its prerog-
atives but he has further insulted it by insist
ing that the place of the sturdy and manly
Sumner shall be taken by the infamous Came
and for the position, of all men in the senate.
about the most incompetent
TO the democracy, though as honest men
they are compelled TO denounce 1t proceeding
which gives such favorable indications of
leading to the total disruption and dcmsrali-
cation of the radical party, is not without its
hopeful and pleasant features The only
thing to be regretted is, that it occurred so
early as to justify a fear that it will defeat
the denomination of Grant for the presidency.
Next to the nomination of a strong and popu.
lar man by the democracy for that high posi-
ton, there is nothing they have prayed for
more ardcntly for some months past, than
that the radical candidate in 1872 may be
Gen. Grant.