The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-10
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON.
Grant vs.. Sumner-RuptureO Of the
Radical Party Feared.
WASHINGTON, March S.-Great ex.
citement was caused this evening by a
rumor that majority Of the Senate
caucus committee had voted to depose
Sumner from the Craftsmanship Of the
committee on Foreign Relations, which
position he has held for ten years con-
secutively. The rumor was that Howe,
Nye and Pool had voted for this, and
Thurman and Morrill,, OF Vermont
against it. Investigation showed that
the rumor was true, and unless some
thing occurs to change the result, this
report will he brought into caucus to-
morrow. The debate in caucus will be
as animated and bitter as the debate on
the removal of Douglas from the Chair,
manship of the committee on Terrific,
ries in Buchanan $ time. lfthe com
mittee's report is sustained, Sumner s
friends will transfer the controversy to
the open Senate, and argue the right OF
the Senators to independent judgment
on treaties before the country. The
most discreet Republicans look upon
this movement as fraught with the most
runous political consequences, and
likely to result in schism in the party
and the ultimate triumph Of Sumner.
1t is barely possible that the caucus
may postpone action till the December
session, but the present intention is to
depose Sumner and put Morton in his
place
New YORK, March 9.-The Tri-
J,ms'S Washington correspondent tele'
graphs that there is great excite,
ment in political circles tonight in
regard to the action of the committee
appointed by the Republican,. caucus Of
the Senate to propose revision of the
Senate committees. The committee
were in session Tuesday afternoon and
all day yesterday, but voted to keep Sc
cret the result Of their deliberations.
There are a hundred rumors afoat,
however, in regard to the most import
ant changes which they will propose,
the majority of which agree that rev
olution is TO be made in the Foreign
Relations committee. The report most
commonly believed is that Sumner is to
be removed from the head OF the com
mittee and from the committee itself,
and Morton or Cameron, probably the
former, is to be promoted to the chair
manship Frelinghuysen, it is said,
will also be placed on the committee, in
order to make up its quota. For this
proposition the committee is said to
have stood three to two, the majority
being Nye, Howe and Pool, and the
minority, Thurman and Morrill,. An
other rumor, not generally credited, is,
that the majority will report in favor of
allowing Sumner 10 retain his present
position.
A caucus is called for 10 clock to-
day, and the report Of the committee
will no doubt give rise to very warm
and bitter debate. The friends Of Sum
ner will fight the change with the
greatest opposition, and if they fail in
caucus they will continue their opposi-
ton in open Senate 1t is said that
one of the oldest Senators has called
on the President and advised him to so
increase the number of members Of the
committee as to place Sumner in the
minority, but the President would not
consent to anything short Of Sumner 5
removal. The principal argument in
favor of this change is the assertion
that Sumner is not on speaking terms
with either the President or Secretary
or Assistant Secretary Of State.
As to the general framework Of the
other Senate committees, but little
change will be made. 1t is reported
that Senator Scott, OF Pennsylvania
will 90 on the Finance committee in
place of Cattell; General Ames in place
Warner, Of Alabama, and the new
Senator from Iowa in place Of Williams.
The first three members Of the com.
mittee will he Sherman, Morrill, and
Fenton.
The committee were unable to agree
in regard to recommending new com
mittee on Elections and Privileges, and
will leave that question with the caucus
to decide.
The Thing Consummatcd-Sum
Superseded by Cameron.
! The caucus of Republican Senators
met at ii o'clock. with full attendance
The committee appointed to arrange
standing committees reported that they
had performed their duty and submitted
a report Senator Cameron was placed
at the head of the Foreign Relations
committee, and Sumner is made chair
man Of the new committee on Elec
.tions. Mr.. Sumner Immediately arose
and declined the proffered chairman
ship, and challenged criticism upon his
conduct during the twelve years he has
served upon the committee on Foreign
Relations. Mr.. Sumner spoke for few
minutes and then withdrew from eau
Gus. 1t is not known what influenced
the caucus committee to change the
arrangement agreed upon last night
which was to make Senator Morton
chairman in place of Mr.. Sumner.
i The Senate adjourned at twenty min
utes to one o'clock, and the Republican
Senators again went into caucus on the