The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-15
Mr.. WILSON, don't know whether

the administration. He simply desired to
be just, and therefore.he said that the ad.
ministratiOn was seeking progress In the
right direction, although good deal
more of it was necessary. He was not
one OF those Republicans who thought
the Democratic party was dead, but he
expected TO encounter them in full force
next year, and he warned his friends
against relaxing their efforts in any
degree in the vain hope that they would
meet no VirginiQns in sppositiOn in 1879,
Mr.. kYE opposed Mr.. TRUMBULL's
resolution for certain gentlemen in the
Republican party who thought tho Pres
ident was becoming to boa popular de.
vised scheme Of civil service reform, and
under that cry they were now attempt
ing TO revive tho old committee with all
extraordinary powers Of sending for per.
sonc and papeas.
Mr.. THURMAN-The Senator objects
to sending for persons and papers. Where
was his voice on the memorable ocCa-
sion, when a committee Of the House OF
Representatives was examining into the
conduct and affairs Of the Senators to
discover whether they had not been
bribed to acquit ANDREW JOHNSON, and
were ransaCking the telegraph offices to
get at something that might compromise
those Senators.
Mr., NYE-Just where II Is now. Give
mo another such set OF circumstances
and will vote for 1t again. But there is
no such occasion now. There Is peace in
the ranks now save with ono here and
there, who would be greater than his mas
ter. Laughter
Mr.. SCHURz replied 10 Mr., NYE, and in
the course OF his remarks said that the
legitimate speech OF comedian Is gener-
ally within the walls Of tho theatre, but If
the Senator is satisfied with the role he
plays here nobody else has reason TO be
dissatisfied. Those who defend n bad
cause always resort TO certain line Of de.
fensc. They attempt to throw suspicion
on the motives ot those who attack so.
The Senator from Nevada (NYE) like 9TH
or Senators here, makes no attempt TO dis.
approve any Of the facts that | stated
yesterday In regard to tho New York GUS
tom house, but simply throws aspersion
on my motives and accuses me of insinuA.
ting that Mr.. LeGts' service In the army
should prevent him from obtaining en-.
ployment in the civil service Of the gov.
ernment, and that the President had
something to do with tho cortage business
In New York. wish to say few words
in reply 10 tho Senator from New York
(Mr. CONKLTNG) lie said yesterday that
the investigation of the New York custom
house was closed up by the Committee on
ltetrenChment last year. The committee
did undoubtedly believe that the case was
closed, for II had reason to believe that
when such scandals as II exposed were
laid bare the administration would jump
ut the chance TO put an end to the dis
grace. But II turns out that they were
vastly mistaken, for the same sCandalOus
system of robbing exists down to this day,
in spite OF the exposures made by the
committee. The Senator also asked why
we have proposed in legislation to remove
these abuses, because no legislation was
necessary. Tho abuses were created by
executive action in the administration Of
the custom house, and they could b0 done
away with by executive action.
Tho Senator objected to what | said OF
tho power which sustains this system. l
did say-having laid tho evidence before
tho SCnate-that when tho most respect.
able merchants Of New York had protest.
cd against this system Of robbery; when
the Secretary Of the Treasury had time
and again pronounced against 1t, and
when still 1t was sustained and kept alive
down to this very day-l did say, in view
OF this evidence, that there must be some
mysterious power sustaining that system
stronger then decent regard for public
opinion, and stronger than the Secretary
oi tho Treasury himself. Mr.. PArrEl-
SON here interpOsed TO make an eXplana.
tion and reply to remark made by Mr..
TRUMBULL l do say that there arc in
spectors in tho custom house in New
York who stated before tho committee,
under oath, that in violation Of their
official oaths, and In violation Of the laws
of the land, they had taken 'bribes, and
that they took bribes every time they dis.
charged vessel; and | say further, that
the agents OF the Steamer Company told
me they could not get their vessels dis
charged without bribing the officials.
Mr.. SUMNER-AI should like to know
whether those men arc. continued In
Office. w
Mr.. PATTERsoN-I have no knowledge
OF their ever having been removed; l
know nothing about = .,.,
Mr., SCHURz-Thc Senator from Indi-
ana (MoRToN) says that my remarks yes
terlay cast a reflection on the Republican
party. How sOH Do not we all profess
TO be In favor Of q reform, and yet when
a member OF this body attempts to lay
bare the gross abuse, tho cry is raised that
he Ia trying to injure the Republican par.
ty. My motives have been reflected upon,
and |, and those with whom act, have
been asked what object we pursue lam
ready to tell the Senate My object Is to
uncover, denounce and to try to have cor.
fected any and every abuse wherever l
can lay my hand upon II, without regard
to how II will effect tho interests or ad-
vantages Of q party, and without regard
TO whether this or that person may like 1t
or not Iam In favor OF q reform, aud /
am in dead earnest. I do not mean to de-
nounce abuses on the other side TO shield
the abuses among my own friends. l
want to put these on TO the very bottom
of the sore, and unless we do that we do
nothing.
Mr. TIPToN followed in support Of Mr..
TRuMBULL's proposition He cited Mr..
MoRToN's statement OF yesterday that
the objects Of these who befrendCd that
proposition was to show that great cor.
fuption exists under the present admins.
tration, and said it was exactly what lie
wished the people to understand. It's to
the other branch Of MoRToN's charge
that this movement was an attack on the
Republican party. 1t was not true that
he [TPToN made no attack on the he.
publican party; on the contrary he desired
TO redeem that party from the curse that
had cnynn ,,nnn Il thrntlgh mistakes in the