Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-05-06

and Mr.. Summer led to the removal Of
Mr.. Motley, who sided with Sumner and
unquestionably intensified the feelings
that had arisen from tho San Domingo
treaty. &
AS to- the last named treaty. it was q
conceded fact that be fore the President
had become publicly committed TO it he
| had, waving his official rank, sou Sht
the advice and counsel OF Mr.. Sumner,
was evidently misled as TO Mr.. Summers
views on this subject. The subsequent
debate in both open and executive ses-
sion led to Mr.. Summers taking the most
extreme and active opposition to the
treaty, in which he arrayed with great
severity the conduct Of the naval officers
the Secretary of the navy, Mr. Fish, and
the President. This was aggravated by
public conversation with Mr.. Sumner by
! interviewers," in which the motives of
the President and Others were impugned.
| In the meantime social relations between
the Secretary of State and Mr.. Sum.
ner had become impossible and consid-
ering human passion, prejudice and feel
ing, anything like frank confidential com-
nlunication between the President and
Mr.. Sumner was out of the question,
1t must be remembered that on both
these important topics majority of the
! Republican Senators sided with the Pres
inent. We generally agreed it was false
pretended neutrality and n too hasty
proclamation OF neutrality, that gave us
an unquestiouable right to demand in.
delnnity from Great Britain tor the depre-
dations of the Alabama and ,ther English
AL 4 II
treaty., large majority of Republican
Senators had voted for it--though did
not and nearly all of us had voted for
the commission of Inquiry, Of which MIR.
Wade was the chief member.
When we met in March, it was known
that both these important subjects would
necessarily be referred to the committee
on Foreign Relations, and that aside from
the hostile personal citations OF Mr. Sum-
Ser and the Secretary Of State, he did
not, and would not repre- sent the views OF
the majority of his Republican CT leagues
and that majority of his committee
agreed with him. Committees are ard
ought to be organized TO represent the
body, giving majority Of the members
to the prevailing opinion, but fairly REL
resenting the views of the minority. IL
Mas been the Gus. ON in the Senate to al
low each party TO choose its own repre-
sentative in each committee, and in pro
) portion To their numbers
In the Republican Conference the first
question that arose was as TO Mr.. Sum-
ner. He was the oldest Senator in con-
secutive serviHe- lie was eminent, not
only as the faithful representative of Re-
publican principles, but as especially
qualified to be chairman Of our ForeigI,
Relations. He had long held that posi-
ton, and it was not unusual in the Senate
TO change the committees, but to follow
the rule of sen ority, placing the Senators
Of the majority party in the order of
their coming into the Senate, and those
of the minority at the foot of the list,
In deciding Mr.. Summers case in view of
the facts have stated, two plans were
urged:
First-.To place him at the bead of the
new and important committee Of privil.
eyes, and leaving the rest OF the commit
tee TO stand lib the precise order it had
been, with one vacancy to be filled in
harmony with the majority.
Second-To leave Mr.. Sumner to stand
in his old place as chairman, and to make
a change in the body OF the committee bv
promoting one OF it's member to another
con,mittee, and fill the vacancy by
Senator in harmony with the majority.
My own opinion was and is that the
latter course was the most polite and
just but the majority deci,led, afseS full
consideration and debate, upon the first
alternative. 10 has been the sui ioct of
complaint that Mr.. Cameron, aud not
some one else, was left at the head of the
committee. But he was next on the list
and by uniform usage, became its chair
man, unlass he volnmtatily declined.
S,sch are the leading facts, and / state
them without any desirsto Justify my
own opinion erto arraign others OF
one thing I am clear, that after this pure
ly domestic controversy was dechled in
Republican conference, it was highly
improper to allow our political adversa-
ries TO review il. lie must have narrow
mind who cannot perceive enough here
for an honest difference ofopinion, on who
can find in this question n pretense for n
schism in great political organization.
Very truly yours, JonN SHERMAN.
AssIHTANT ASSESSOR UDELL informs us that
his return of the annual assessment was made
to Assessor IIARRNGToN about the middle Of
The last month. The business, in all cases, is
not completed when such returns are made,
as there are always some who cannot be reach
ed, and others, who, for good reason, are ac-
Gommodated with more time. The changes
and additions, however are noe very great.
The amount Of revenue from Incomes in the
county over which lie has jurisdiction may be
Judged fsom the fact given us, that this return
only shows two Income returns in the county
Thus 1t will be seen the most of the revenue,
as thslaw stands, is derived fromspeclal taxes,
and the use Of stamps.