Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-04-08
The Sumner Imbroglio.

10 the discussion OF tne quarreI Octweeu
Sumner and the President, which resulted
in the removal of the former from the
Craftsmanship of the Committee on Foreign
Relations at the instance Of the latter,
in which the President is decidedly con-
demned by nearly every leading Republi-
can paper, in such terms as to show con-
clusively that breach has been made in
the party as wide and irreconcilable as that
between Mr.. Douglas and President Buch-
anan. We copy few of these expressions
merely for the information of our readers
in regard to the condition of affairs. The
New York Post says:
TIE LAST Victory OF GEN. GRANT.
First Wells, then Cox, and now Sum
ner. Fish is to follow soon, it is reported
and thus. one after another, the Presi.
dent rds himself of those advisers who,
being men of acknowledged experience,
wisdom and knowledge in their departments
of the public service, seem to be peculiarly
offensive to him.
Thus lie has eliminated from his coun-
| sellers, first the man who had most ably
and thoroughly mastered the question Of
taxation and revenue; then the man who
had most clearly and honestly urged upon
him the conditions of the needed civil SER
vice reform; and now the man Of whom
Senator Schurz very justly said, that he is
Of all the Senate most emincntly fitted by
study and training, to fill the important po-
si,ion of chairman Of the Foreign Relations
| Committee.
Aud in place of these truly eminent men,
men whose requirements aud high personal
character the whole country respects, who
are the Presidents coniidants? Morton,
Cameron, Chandler, Butler. Is any com
mcnt needed? Could any criticism be
more stingng than the mere juxtaposi,ion
| of these names Of the Presidential favor
ties with those of the men whom he has
wilfully and ANONYMOUSLY cast away.
Mr.. SUMMERS SUCcEssoR.-The Port
land Aderrtiscr says: On tho records of
the House of Representatives may still be
read the following resolution passed on the
3o,h Of April, 1862, three mouths after
Mr.. Cameron resigned his seat in the Cab
inet:
Resolved, That Simon Cameron, late
Secretary of War, by investing Alexander
Cummings with the control of large sums
of public money and authority to purchase
military supplies without restriction, with
out requiring from him any guaranty for
the faithful performance of his duties,
when the services of competent public Off
GERS were available, and by involving the
government in vast number of contracts
with persons not lcg;tmately engaged in
the business pertaining to the subject mat
ter of such contracts, especially in the
purchase Of arms for future delivery, has
adopted policy highly injurious to the
public service, aud deserves the censure Of
the House."
This resolution passed body at that
time almost two-thirJs Republican, by the
decisive vote of 70 to Is, and this is the
man who is put forward to supplant Mr..
Sumner as chairman Of the most important
committee of the Senate. This proceeding,
it is perfectly understood, is dictated by
the President, who unquestionably has
made great mistake.
Col. John W. Forney, than whom no
man has keener appreciation Of an APP
preaching change Of wind, or more readily
trims his sail to the popular breeze, turns
his back upon the President and espouses
the cause Of Mr.. Sumner, as he did the
cause Of Douglas against his old leige,
Buchanan. He says:
However considered, the removal of
Senator Sumner from the chairmanship of
Foreign Relations is something more than
blunder. 1t will certainly not help the
San Domingo scheme. Many Republicans,
the Press among them, have favored that
project, but have not thought less of Mr..
Sumner for opposing it. That was his
right as an independent statesman, and to
punish him for it is deliberate insult to
the hundreds of thousands who honor his
character aud career. I.a.. .u. ....
The last exhibition of this sort was the
removal of Stephen A. Douglas from the
Committee on Territories by the democra.
cy, because he revolted ut the attempt to
force slavery into Kansas. We all know
how that resulted. 1t divided and finally
destroyed that great party. 1t was resent.
ed by honest democrats as unprovoked iutol-
arence, aud it gave Douglas a stronger
hold than ever upon their affections.
The Philadelphia Post says:
IF We take the, best men of the party
throughout the entire land, those who are
free from any interested political bias, it
will be found that for Charles Sumner
there exists profound and intense regard.
To depose him from the position which he
has filed with signal ability for twelve
years, upon matter of difference with the
Executive in the administration of the
government, will arouse feeling of bitter
and hostile Indignation. And thousands
Of the other firm, true friends and ardent
admirers Of Y. S. Grant will join in stern
displeasurc If this act is consummated.