Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-13


the following extracts from prominent jour
nails: g.
From the Boston Journal.
But one view will be taken of the motives
| concerned in this step. 1t will be of no use to
say that Mr.. Sumner is in such i'll accord with
the executive and the department of state on
| foreign questions generally, and the Alabama
| claims question in particular, as to impede the
progress of business now inhhand. The joint
| high commission has just begun its work, and
| no man now knows to what conclusion it will
come, or whether it will not receive the hearty
| support of Mr.. Sumner As to other foreign
| questions, there is no pretence that Mr.. Sum-
ner differs from the executive, except in rela-
| ton to San Domingo-and on that there is no
evidence that he does not command the sympa-
thies of the country. To punish him, therefore,
for his position on an issue not yet made up
and particularly to punish him by infiicting an
injury on the interests of the conntry--is TO as
sum a responsibility which most men would
have been slow TO impute TO the President, who
declared that he "never should have policy to
enforce against the will of the people" What
is to be gained at this time by opening such
serious discussion among the supporters Of the
administration as is sure to follow the attempt
to degrade the foremost republican in the Unit
ed States senate.
From the Boston Advertiser
Mr.. Summers service for many years at the
head of the foreign relations committee, and his
NOhNCuCu uCCbllpllsullNlls lOI ludl pOSly 6HIlllC
him to better treatment. The republican sena-
tors who are pursuing this matter have taken
upon themselves a serious responsibility. The
senate is not anew body like the house of repre-
sentatives, and its usages have something like
the force of law. This extraordinary violation
of usage, whatever preteXt there might be for it,
will stimulate discussion and faction, not in
| Washington alone but in tine country, where it
| does not exist, and where nothing but folly can
| create it.
From the Boston Transcript.
| Executive influence has triumphed. Mr..
Sumner is removed from the craftsmanship of
| the committee on foreign relations, at the in
| stance of the president Of the United States!
| This is sufficiently humiliating for many rea-
| sons: First, that the senate chamber is uncon-
| stitutionally invaded by the dispenser of presi-
| dental patronage, to foreStall legislation or
mould it in its incipient stages. Second, that
one of the most eminent men of the senate
| should be sacrificed for consistently performing
| his duty to bis constituents and the country.
Third that the opportunity is thus afforded for the
presentation of schemes which the enlightened
| Judgment of the nation has already condemned.
| Other elements, which might be recounted, en-
| ter into this dearly-bought executive victory,
| achieved by, it may be, the permanent aliena-
| ton of the moral and religious classes forming
| the backbone of the republican party.
From the Springfield Republican.
1t is in vain to pretend that the present con-
traits. These are not such, it must be admit
ted, as to make a reconciliation easy after in
suits have been offered,-but the country has a
better memory than the president and his coterie
of young army officers, and remembers that Mr..
Sumner opposed the policy of Abraham Lincoln
ten times for once that he has stood in the way
of Gen. Grants measures,-and retained the
| confidence of that great man till his death, and
| was one of the most loyal and influential sup
| porters Of his administration. And people will
| ba tn, nhar hot otI,
| who was SO carried away by hostility to Mr.
| Sumner, that he accused him, in an incorporate
| speech, of trying to provoke assassination. The
| worst that Gen. Grant has to say against our
senator is that he is not on speaking terms with
| the White house and the state department,-an
accusation that falls as heavily upon the pres.
dent and the secretary Of state as on anybody
| yet the followers of Andrew johnson were
scarcely more bitter against Mr.. Sumner than
| are the hangers-on Of the present executive.
From the New York Evening Post.
Thus the most important position in the prac-
teal business of the senate is the Craftsmanship
| of the commtte on foreign relations. 1t re-
quires. more than any other trust IN .h~ ssift
| the senate, sagacious craftsmanship, extensive
| learning, and the confidence of the peOpl9. In
| der the administration of the last three presi-
| dents, it has been occupied, to the satisfaction
| of the country, by Mr.. Sumner; and it is admit
ted in the senate and out of it, that there is no
| other senator so well qualified for the position
as he. The actual choice of the head of COM
| mittee, by the vote of the senate is not a mat
ter upon which any external influence can prop
| erly be brought 10 bear.
But, unfortunately for the senate, the MAORI
| ty have not only determined to remove Mr..
Sumner, but they have made notorious their rea-
son for the act The reason is, that the president
the other branch of the executive, in its control
over our foreign policy, does not find in him a
man whom he can shape TO his will. The pres
ident has scheme OF his own; one which
very great part of both houses of congress, and
nearly all the people of the country, regard as
personal, not national; and senator Sumner OPP
poses the use of powers not granted the eX-
ecutive by the constitution for carrying out this
scheme. In short, the president, for ends with
which he has fully identified himself, but of the
wisdom of which he cannot satisfy the country,
demands that the senate will allow him to die
tate to it the appointment of its own committees
From the New York Times.
There can be no doubt that the removal of
MIR. Sumner from the committee on foreign
affairs is very unfortunate event-but republic
can senators, no less faithful, if less distin-
guished than Mr.. Sumner himself have arrived
at the conclusion that the step was absolutely
necessary, and therefore it is nonsense to at
tempt TO saddle the president with the whole or
even the chief, responsibility for it. Mr.. Sum
ner, it has been positively stated, had refused to
speak to the secretary of state; but yesterday
the statement was qualified, and it was alleged
that Mr.. Sumner has not declined to hold official
communications with Mr.. Fish. An important
part of the business of the country would be
seriously embarrassed if the chairman of the
committee on foreign relations persisted in
maintaining an attitude of irreconcilable hostil-
ity to the secretary of state and the adminstra-
ton. Mr.. Sumner is not man of partial likes
or dislikes. He does one or the other with his
whole heart. Other senators, certainly, ought
to be allowed some freedom Of choice in making
up their committees, and TO suppose that they
have submitted TO the imperous dictation of the
president on the subject is to insult the senator's
and to take very improbable view of the whole
case. 1t is evident, however, that large section
of the republican party will regard Mr.. Sumner
as martyr to his opinions, and for that reason
alone we cannot but regret that republican SEN
ators should have felt themselves compelled in
duty to find another chairman for the committee
on foreign relations.
From the New York Tribune.
| The impolicy of removing Mr. Sumner from
| the Craftsmanship of the committee. on foreign
| relations without better pretext than his dis
cordant social relations with the white house
and state department must now be clearly man
ifest to the dullest official at Washington. No
debate since tine Santo Domingo commission
was authorized has aroused so much feeling or
elected such strong language as that of yester-
day on the election of the standing committees
of the senate. Ii seems palmer than we could
wish, from the line of the debate, and from the
language of the influential journals of the coun-
Try from Wnlcn we queue, tnat new cause OF
dissension has been needessly forced upon the
republican party.
From the Philadelphia Press.
However considered, the removal of Senator
Sumner from the Craftsmanship of foreign rela-
tions is somewhat more than a blunder. II will
certainly not help the San Domingo scheme.
Many republicans, the Press among them, have
favored that project, but have not thought less
| OF MIR. Sumner for opposing it. That was his
| right as an independent statesman, and to pun
| ish him for it is deliberate insult to the ham
dreds of thousands who honor his character and
| his career.
From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.
We have not been among Mr.. Summers wor-
| shippers, as we have not been worshippers Of
any man or set of men, at Washington or else.
| where; but his summary election from the for
eign relations committee is uncalled for, and it
| will be sure to injure Others more than him.
| His opposition to the San;o Domingo scheme
has been shared by a vast number of republic