New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-11
SsL. XXX.....No' 9,33S.
MIR. SUMMERS REMOVAL

THE STRUGGLE OVER THE COMMITTEES
A SIX HOURS DEBATE IN THE o,Ixsr
sprrc,rrs ny scurRz AND WILSON A'Ai,9-
suvNER's REMovAL-THE PRESiDi"''
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHAN"h
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TElBoNN'
w,,.oroS March 1O.-Snce the memora-
authorizing the appointment OF
Oe eN' commissioners, no more painful or
asorscetnl scene has occurred AZ 'ne O"p''''
s, discussion in the Senate to-day 0"
.-.,..,,ent Of the Standing Committees ana SINCE
=, tho Civil Rights BILL there has not oeen SO eA-
- aud absorbing scene for those VINO
a. Galleries and filed the vacant space
.,o floor Of the Senate Chamber The
nature Of the debate, involving only the question
.h transfer Of Mr. Sumner from the Craftsmanship Oh
~, Foreirn Relations Committee, made 1t unusually per
, and as the interest increased, scarcely Senator
.noke without indugng in recrimnation and nvecuVe
unbecoming the dignity Of that honorable body.
Having failed in their attempts TO delay action on the
report Of the Caucus Committee, Messrs wilson ana
schurz opened the discussion the champions OF Mr.
Sumner. Both spoke with great feeling and insisted
that the proposed action surrender on the part OF
the Senate of its independence, in changing the com
position Of its Committees the demand Of the President
orofhis Cabinet Wilson, especially showed great emo
tion and begged and mpored his political friends not to
eopsummate the action which he asserted to be adverse
70 pneteenweneths of the Republicans of the country
Mr.. Trmbull, whose own personal differences with Mr..
Sumner on matters Of public policy are well known was
scarcely less emphatic than the personal friends Of Mr.
Sumner in denouncing as wrong his removal from the
Committee. Of which he has SO long been the head.
Messrs. Howe, Nye, Edmunds, and Morton positively
denied that the President had made any request to have
Mr. Sumner removed from the Committee, and repeat
ey asserted that 1t had been done by the majority Of
the Republican Senator's solely because they believed
tina; the true interests Of the country and of the party
could best be served by such action They also called
Senators to account who having taken part in the Re
publican caucus, refused to abide by its decisions
Mr. Wilson. in his defense, was very emphatic in
denying that he could be bound by any caucus decision
which lie did not believe to be right.
Messrs. Sherman, Cragin Corbett and Morrill, Vt) all
entered their protests against tho removal Of Mr. sum
ner, the ground that there just cause for it,
but added that, having done this they considered it
their duty abide by the will OF the majority OF their
party and Mr.. Nye with one eye on the reporters
gallery again took the occasion to express his dstin
gushed contempt for the opinion Of the press Of the
country the subject ntimang that the conductors OF
the leading journals ignorant Of the usages OF the
Senate and had no right TO NEEDLE with subjects that
did not concern them. An rreverent correspondent in
the gallery heard to remark that the Senator from
Nevada like his namesake immOrtalzed by Bret Harte
may yet find in the press of the country his "heathen
Chinee" Mr. Upton asserted that deny it who would
the given in the for the removal Of Mr.
sumner the opposition Of that Senator to santo
l,fa loVp
Mr. Upton charged with revealing private confer
eucer and the proceedings Of the Senate in Executive
session when he reOred that the proceedings OF the
caucus were all published in tOdays newspapers and
the fact that the vote on the Santo Domingo treaty
stood % TO 2 was printed all the country that the
report had never been denied, and that he ChptOn
knew it 70 be true When again called to order
Nj Upton said that he would not deny It, The galleries
appauded and the presiding officer threatened " have
them cleared.
Mr.. Sumner took part in debate except merely to
put in denial Of the ofrepeated assertion that be had
refused TO hold intercourse with the President and the
Secretary To tins denial Mr. Howe opposed the
assertion that he had been told by the Secretary and
Senator that Mr. had in public place. refused
10 answer civil question put by DR. Fish, and Mr. Sum
ner only shook his head and said that must have been
in the "hghtest possible whisper" He, however, in
sisted that his name should De omitted in the Com
mitee Oh Privileges and Elections TO which he had
been assigned as Chairman. All motions TO post
pone were voted down by small majOrities, the
Democrats voting with the Republicans, who sustained
Mr. Sumner The evident determination Of the
majority OF the not to adjourn until the ques
ton settled; and finally at O'Clock a vote was
reached when the order adopted by vote Of 80 10 g.
those in the negative being Democrats. number Of
Republican Senators left the Chamber just as the vote
was to be taken, and among them were Messrs Logan
twLo made his maiden speech to-day in favor of Mr..
snmueD, S0hurz, Trulnbull, Upton, and Wilson. Mr.
Patterson not in the Senate at all to-day. Mr.. Cam-
oron came into the Chamber at about o'clock but
seemed 10 take interest in what going and did
not vote either The Democrats did not participate in
the debate at an except TO explain their votes
TIE ympGtlies Of the great thrOng in the galleries
entirely with Mr.. Sumner, and demonstrations Of
applause constantly made at every complimentary
slusion 10 him. When the subject finally disposed
Of, tie Senate adjourned until Monday