The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-03-16
OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEES
DEPOSITION OF SENATOR SUMNER.


ance with the programme of a caucus OF
the Republican members of the Senate
held previous to the time of the Senate's
action. A committee bad been appoint
ed by the caucus to make nomina'
tions. This committee had left Sumner
who had been for ten years Chairman Of
the Committee on Foreign Relations, of
that Committee and had substituted Cam
eron in his place The caucus, after a
stormy debate, carried the nominations of
the Committee and on Friday he CoLl
mittees were appointed by the Senate
but not without open opposition by
ma ny LerUbGtsIs. Mr.. Howe NOV
cd to proceed 10 the election If tn,
of the Standing Committees Of the Senate
and the motion y > carried He then
submitted IA resolution with the list Of
the standing committees determined upcn
by the Republican caucus. Mr.. Sumner
being left off the Committee on Foreign
Relations and put as Chairman of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
moved that his name be eliminated from
that committee. After some discussion
the motion was agreed to. Mr.. Schurz
moved to postpone an / Mr. Wilson urged
its adoption as atfording an opportunity
for rect flying any errors that may have
occurred in framing the committees,
The mot GA was lost 10y 81 to 26. Mr..
Scharz gave his reasons for moving q
postponement which had reference. to
Mr. Sumner being removed as Chairman
Of the Committee on Foreign Relations
and Mr.. Cameron appointed in his place.
Mr. Howe gave as the reasons that it was
known to those who proposed the change
that the personal relations existing be
tween Mr.. Sumner and the
Pre- sident and the Secretary of State
were such as to preclude all social rela
tions between them. A number of Sena
tried to prevent Mr.. Howe from giving
any reasons, but he was too courteous not
to answer civil question. A lengthy
discussion followed in which many Sen
ators took paIt. Senator Bayard IN owed
that the title of the Committee be chang
ed from Committee on Foreign Relations
to Committee on Personal Relations
This motion was no5 carried. The reso-
lution appointing the committees was
carried by 33 to 9-23 being absent or
not voting. @Df3E H
Various reasons were assigned why Mr.
Su inner was not re-appointed Chairman
Of the Commute on Foreign Relations
All admitted that he was well qualified
for the position, except IN his relations to
the President and the Secretary of State,
his opposition to the acquisition of San
Domingo, and his not agreeing with the
majority of the Republican Senators in
she conduct of Foreign Relations. That
the Senate had the right for good rea
son to make the change, thnre is no ques-
tion. That there was good reason is very
questionable.
His personal relations with the Presi
dent and Secretary of State, not preclud
ing his official relations with them unless
made to do go by them is not good rea
son. If III 8, the President and Secretary
might dictate the appointment Of all COM
mi5tees by refusing to hold official rela
tions withthem.
His opposition to the acquisition OF
San Domingo is not good reason. Pres
ident Grant has no policy in opposition to
the will of the people. And as the pee
pie have not yet decided either in favor
of or against its acquisition, and rs the
President is bringing all the Information
he can before the people in favor Of it
Mr.. Summer has the right to bring oil
ihs information he can before the people
against 1t. And it is desirable that the
Senate and the people should obtain al
the information they can from both, anG
from all sources, to enable them to arrive
at just conclusions.
His not agreeing with the maj ority o.
the Republican Senators in the conduc
OF Foreign Relations 10 the best reason as
signed either by those in favor of or op
posed to the change. But even this i
not good reason. The Chairman Is TIT
servant and under the control of III,
Cnn,mittae as the Committee ia tha ser