The Van Buren press., 1871-03-21

full and trusted members of that parry
whose hearts would be wrung by the in
telligence of this action, and who would
see neither 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
considered to-day were committing a
mistake, and upon them would rest the
responsibility For one, he washed his
hands of it, and now moved that further
consideration of such subject be post
poned until tomorrow.
Mr. Morrill,, Vermont, hoped the SEN
ate would 60 on with the reorganization,
now that all the usual means of opposi-
ton had been exhausted
Mr.. Schurz was sorry to hear the SEN
ator from Vermont express the opinion
that all opposing means were exhausted,
and that nothing was lett but qnet sub
mission to that which great many con-
sidered not only 4 wrong, but blunder.
He, Schurz, did not give up SO easily
Supposing it be true, as asserted by the
Senator from Wisconsin, (Howe) J, that
the personal, and not the official rela-
tions between the President and Secreta-
~ Of State on one side and the Senator
from Massachusetts on the other, were
very unkind. Was that fact of any con-
sequence? Was the American Senate to
be governed by the personal relations
between Senator and Minister or the
Executive Department of the Govern
ment? Must the Senate, before appoint
ing the chairman of committee, ask a
President or a Secretary of State how he
likes so and so and whether he likes to
dine or sup with that man? Must there
be precise understanding between them
about cookery or any other details ofso-
cial relations?
Mr. Schurz then denounced as true the
assertion that Mr.. Sumner had refused
10 entertain relations Of any kind with
the President or Secretary of State. He
asserted that, on the contrary, the gen
tleman had, on q noted occasion, most
emphatlcally declared that in spite of all
that might have passed between them he
was at any moment ready to receive Sec
retary of State Fish as an old friend and
to transact with him such official business
as might have to be transacted between
them. But this want of cordial relations
between Mr.. Sumner and the President
and Secretary Fish is not the true cause
Of this proposed change--it was but a
flmsey preteXt. 1t was on account Of
his course on the San Domingo scheme
that he must be removed from the For
eign Relations committee
Attributing the present difficulty to the
determination Of the President to prose
cute the San Domingo scheme, and urg-
ing the Senate not to yield to Executive
dictatiOn, he went on to say that there
were rumors abroad, and there was al
ready too much ground to believe them,
that in the change proposed the Presi-
dent had taken the propelling power,
which was rather stronger than had here
tofore been deemed compatible with the
dignity of his office. 1t was, perhaps,
now time for the Republican party to
consider whether they were ready to sac
lifce their cause to the whims of one
man.
The debate was continued at great
length by various gentlemen. Mr.. Will
son asserted that the charge was instiga-
ed by the President, and grew out of
Mr.. summers course on the San Domin-
go scheme, which nineteen twentfeths of
all Republicans were opposed, and which
he feared would yet prove the death of
the party. He was followed to the same
effect by Messrs. Trumbull, Logan and
Upton.
The vote was finally reached and the
caucus nominations of the various COM