The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-03-16
The REPUBLICAN SPLIT.
GRANT vEnnUs SUMMER.
Debate In h U. g.. senate-RemOvaI Oi
9umner.

Last week in the Republican caucus OF
Senators at Washington there was a fierce
contest over the disappointment of Sena-
tor Summer, Of Massachusetts, as chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Relations
The contest was long and bitter in caucus
and the final vote stood 81 for Sumner to
% against. 1t is said Sumner had friends
enough absent to have saved him.
On the 10th the fight was transferred to
the Senate. As soon as that body con-
vened, the adoption of the committees
was moved, with Mr.. Summer omitted en-
tirely from the Foreign Relations Commit
tee, and Cameron named as its Chairman.
Mr.. Wilson at once mterposed one or two
dilatory motions, but coon withdrew them
to enable Mr.. Schurz to move to postpone
the matter. Mr.. Sumner, OF whom all
eyes rested, arose at this stage and asked
the Senate to excuse him from serving as
Chairman of the new Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections. He did not propose
to be transferred to the head of commit
tee, Of whose duties he knew nothing,
from one where he had spent ten years in
its service. Mr.. Schurz then opened the
discussion by asking Mr.. Howe, as Char
man of the Caucus Committee, what were
the reasons for displacing Mr., Sumner. a
smile of satisfaction at the inquiry, and
hesitancy with which it was met, run
through the crowded galleries, but a very
unsatisfactory answer was made to the
effect that Mr.. Sumner was removed be-
he vas not on speaking terms with
the President or Secretary of State. Mr.
Sumner calculated from his seat that this
was not true, and Mr.. Schurz proceeded to
characterize, in a keen way, the reason
given as a fimsy pretext, without justice
or precedence, and only meant to owe
up the real reason-Mr. Summers hostility
to the San Domingo job. Mr.. Schurz in
timated his belief in the umo that the
President had instituted this proceeding,
and wound up with a burst Of applause
from the galleries for his denunciation of
q blow struck at the oldest Senator by his
political associates. Mr.. Wilson made an
earnest protest against the step, defended
the course of his colleague, denounced the
discipline which certain friends of the
President were constantly inAicting on the
Republican party, and warned its repre-
sentatives on the Senate floor to be guided
by that fate that overlook the Democracy
when it slaughtered Douglas under the
same circumstances. With the utmost
harmony m the Republicans party he de-
clared thatit would require every man to
the front to win the next Presidential
contest. General Logan, the new Senator
from Illinois, denounced the step as un-
warranted and dangerous. Mr.. Upton, of
Nebraska. put it oil the broad ground of
Presidential interference, and said it was
bat the fulfllment of the attempt made
early in the session by the President to
remove Patterson and Schurz, and thus
pack the committee in the interests Of San
Domingo M. Trumbull, in one of the
most rigorous speeches he over made, as
sailed the movement and the reason for it
as most contemplate and unprecedented,
and directly charged the President with
the responsibility Howe, Morton, Nye,
Morrill, Of Vermont, and Others, in their
speeches put the change on the ground
that it was necessary to have q Chairman
Of personal terms with the Administra-
tion. Finally at six Pm, a vote was
taken, and, by So TO 9. the committees
were organized and Sumner was left out.
Sixteen Republican Senators were absent
or refused to vote. Assoon as the Senate
adjourned. theavast throng6led out Of the
Capitol; bpt4 If was noticed that nine or
ten were 46ndi in. their denuneiations Of
Grant and the action Of The Senate.