The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-16
Sumner and the President. An Excit-
rig Debate.
WASHINGTON, March 10.


SENATE.
Mr.. Howe asked the unanimous consent.
winch WAS given, to suspend the thirty fifth rule
-p that he might present the list of the standing
'onmitieo> Of the Senate. The names were
read, when Mr.. SIMMER asked TO have his name
struck from the Committee on Privileges and
Elections.
The request WIS opposed by Mr.. sherman,
hat the Senate on Vote complied with it,
Mr. SEIZURE moved that further action on the
question of agreeing to the report Of the COM
mittoe he postponed.
Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. in the hope
that correction, might be made before definite
action.
Mr.. Schurz then sall that he wanted further
opportunity to procure its modification. The
country knew by this time that there were diff
tieultir> in the Republican party, which he
wanted to reconcile and to calm the excitement
growing out of tic displacement OF Sumner.
Mr. Wilson -aid that the great interest of the
country would not be promoted by removing
Nr. sumner. He protested against the striking
OF seemingly to strike Il blow at his friend Of
twenty Year, standing and who has dscharg-
et his duties rs chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations with signal ability. How
rycr efficient Mr.. Cameron may be in other re-
~ptctS. Mr.. Wilson presumed that he Cameron
mad no special fitness for the place. Hundreds
Of thousands of pure, thoughtful Republicans
have had their hearts wrung by the dispace-
ment of Mr., Sumner.
Mir. Morrill, OF Vermont was in favor of act
ing on the report Of the committee now. rs all
means of changing the Committee on Foreign
Relations had been exhausted.
Mr.. NchurZ was sorry to hear Mr.. Morrill, say
what WAS NOT truc--hat Mr.. Sumner had re-
fused 10 entertain social relations with the EN-
rcuiVe Department. So far from refusing in
fcrrour>e with the Secretary, Mr.. Sumner had
declared that he was not only disposed to con-
shit with The Secretary, but would regard him
IA some particular measure, and therefore that
the senator should not be on certain commit
lee, was that reason why Senator'S should go
on their knees to him: Mr.. SchurZ related 4
conversation he had with the President. in
which he volunteered the advice that as the San
Domingo project could not pass, to drop it, and
those who have opposed that measure would
llllY round him with carnestncSS. The Presl-
dent did not take his advice, but renewed his
efforts in behalf of san Domingo. The prose
riton Of the san Domingo scheme was at the
bottom of tins acrimonious feeling against Mr..
summer and those who oppose San Domingo.
It was incumbent ON the Senators that they
Should first respect themselves, and when an
attempt was made 10 interfere with their rights,
they should stand on their dignity. Was it the
.uty of The Senators TO disgrace Mr.. Sumner
because j. was objected to by some Of the men,
brrS Of ahe Administration? Was it not time
that they should refuse TO take notice OF public
.tlairs: Should Senators or the Republican
man:
Mr. Edmunls replied that he should he glad
ta have the last question answered. The only
lut il that the majority by law and eXpcdi-
"nry, should have their way; then all would
NE right Tor the senators from Missouri. \
majority OF the Senate are not dsgracing any
senator by removing him from the committee.
so one has 4 right to perpetual service on
committee. The rules provide that there should
De a recast of the committee. 1t was fit tor the
r1l Th,ADo,
for the transaction of public business. including
confidential relations with the Executive 1t
WIS a small matter TO make so much noise
about. lie WAS reminded OF the nursery story
when an alarm WAS given that the sky was
about to fall when only a rose had fallen from
the bush. He rrpuliated the insinuaton that
The President had interfered TO influence the
~0n1te in the composition of The committees.
Mr.. Corbett said be would not have advised
the displacement Of Mr.. Summer, but rs the
majority had declared otherwise he thought it
their duty to sustain the committee. No good
could arise by discussing the question.
Mr.. Scott replied to the remarks Of Mr.
~rhurz a> to Mr., Cameron, who was absent.
Mr.. Schurz di,Hyowcd having made any re-
Elections on the character of Mr.. Cameron.
Mr. Scott wanted TO know what then Mr..
eclurZ meant by the remark that there were
rumors thai in the craftsmanship Of the Com
mltee on Foreign Relations the Executive
brought /" pr"lellin@ power unworthy of the
better 'llNS OF Inc ktlubllt.
Mr. SEIZURE asked whether the senator had
rot heard the rumors.
Mr. scott replied: - Not until the Senator
from Missouri repeated it."
Mr. Scott said he would not enter into A full
defence Of his colleague lCameron) hut As the
remark Of Mr.. Nrhurl applied to all who had a
part in the change in The Committee on Foreign
Relations. he denied and rcpudaed the charge
or insinuati0n that senators had been nIiiPnc-
I'd by Executive dictation IIewas free to say.
If the question was simply between MIR. sum
nrr ana Mr.. Cameron, as TO the Craftsmanship
Of the Foreign Relation Committee, he would
vote tur Mr. ~Nmncr. But the case was other
" lSc when Mr. sumner was not on such terms
with the President and the Secretary of State
as 10 warrant confidential communications
lhr agents of The Senate should be in accord
with The Executive Department.
Mr.. Schur2 explained that he did not charge |
corrupt means on the part of the President, but |
il WAS believed That the President used his per- |
e0ual influence to hrn" about the removal of !
Mr. simmer. Were they to give IN all their |
instincts men and crouch to the President! /
Was this Justice and dignity and independence |
in office: In Il former caucus a Senator from |
New Hampshire O'attcrSon1 was sought to be +,
UnStrd because he was not in accord with the /
President on the san Domingo question, but he |
Was retained, and no attempt was now made to |
remove him. Then why remove Mr.. sumner |
l"ratlSc he, also was opposed 10 san Domingo: |
The reasons assigned for dsplacng Mr.. sum |
President and Secretary of State, was mere |
illnlsy pretcXt. some wears ago Mr.. Sumner |
WAS stricken down in his seat here by South |
rrn rutli;n. and now it was proposed to strike |
tim down in the house of his friends. TAp- |
l,lauSe in the galleries, which the presiding Of /
ircr suppressed
Mr.. Howe said the senator from Massaehu-
~rtt> had refused to give the Secretary of State |
IN answer to an official question.
Mr.. sumner remarked that the question |
l. fti hay. hua io,i
J Laughter.
Mr.. Howe thought that Mr. sumner could !
serve the country better IN some other place.
Mr.. Howe said that he understood that Mr. |
sumner mentioned this himself
Mr.. Summer replied that he knew nothing of /
Mr.. Stewart believed that the business would |
DC more satisfactorily performed by Mr. Cam |
rron tlan by Mr., Sumner.
Mr.. Wilson said Mr.. Summers removal grew
out OF the san Domingo question. But for |
that they would never have heard of Mr.. Sum-
ner'S removal. The people of the country will |
come to The conclusion that the trouble has for |
It's foundation the question Of the annexation OF |
san Domingo. Nnety-nne men out of one
hundred who elected this Administration in !
1865 will aisapprovc of the act Of the majority
of the Senate. Men in Massachusetts. of all |
parties. are indignant and feel outraged to see
IN eminent Senator of - years standing stricken
down because there Is a dispute whether Mr.. |
sumner answered Il question put TO HIM by the |
Secretary of State. Great God. was there ever
such farce played before the world? lie said |
10 his friends that they had better lay this mat
Ter until they had all their forces in front
and moro in the rear They had as much as
they could do 10 uphold their banner without
giving place 10 dissensions. Mr.. Wilson pro-
tested in the name of the great Republican
party against this proceeding which will come
back to trouble them
Mr.. Nyc said that no man had higher re-
card for Mr.. Sumner than he but, said he, sup
pose the Senate had changed the chairman of
the Military Finance or Commerce Commit
tees, would people become deranged. The fact
is apparent and is commented on by every
newspaper in The land, that Mr.. Sumner is as
far divided from the President and Secretary of
state rs the rich man was from Lazarus