The New York herald., 1871-02-26
Senator Sumner Declares War
Upon the Administration.
Report Of the Senate Committee on
Southern 0utrages.
TEE INDIAN FRAUDS INVESTIGATION.
Fate of the Southern Pacific
Railroad in Doubt.
Material Reduction Of the Omnibus ApprO-
prlatOl Bill.


WASHINGTON, Feb. IS. 1871.
Senator Summers Healrn-War be Made
Upon the Adrinis.raIior
Senator Sumner has so far recovered from HIS re-
cent Illness be able entertain several of his
friends al dinner this evening. 1t is understood
tina he mas prepared very elaborate and very
bitter speech against The policy OF the President in
sending certain vessels OF war to the West Indies.
THIS IS the basis or the speech, and 1t is to be de-
livered when the Naval Appropriation bill
comes up Tor consideration IN the Senate
M. Sumner, however, Will be very general in
Ms remarks, reviewing the whole course or Grants
administration ana uenouncing the nepo,sm which
he alleges has characterized his official appoint
ments It's said nothing that the Senator has ever
uttered against Andrew Johnson will exceed In Bit
terncss his coming phuippic Grant. Due notice
having been given Of this speech five Of the
administration Senator's VIII oe ready 10 reply TO It.
This Will be another defeating the appro-
priation bills.
Investigation of Southern Outrages-Power of
the Ku Klux Order.
The Select Committee OF the Senate appointed to
investigate outrages perpetrated by the hu kluX
Klan at the South have already examined a large
number or witnesses, among whom several
United states and State Judges. The burden OF the
testimony goes To snow that the operations or this
secret political society extend through nearly all
the Southern states, and that it is organized on
basis somewhat similar 10 the Masonic Oraer.
In South Carolina alone there is evidence
before the committee to show that 500
murders for political causes have been committed
within SIX months, and that the murderers have
been allowed TO go unpun1shed. All the witnesses
agree that IL Is impossible TO convict and punish the
offenders. Tie members OF the Ku Klux to
have an understanding among themselves by which
they shield another and manage control jurieS
and witnesses. IL Is probable that at the next
sion some measure viii be passed to effect the de.
struc ion Of this organization. The majority in
both houses feel that until this is reconstruc.
ton at the South will be incomplete.
Report Of the Committee OH Indian Frauds
The Commissioner Exonerated-Reform in
the Bureau Called For.
Mr.. Sargent from the Committee Appropra-
lions, made report to-day on the charges preferred
by William Welsh against the Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs in letter to the Secretary OF the In
terror, containing allegations OF fraud and mprovl
dence In the conduct OF Indian affairs. TIE CON-
mitee say they have not found evidence Of fraud or
corruption the part or the indian Commiss loner
with much to crItlcse and coademn, arising partly
from a vicious system inherited from the past and
partly from errors or Judgment in the construction
statutes passed to ensure economy and !athfnness in
10 evidence OF any pecuniary Oh personal advan.
tage sought to be derived ny Ihe Commissioner
nor any one connected with his Bureau. IL
appears from the evidence that the Commits
n0ner dld not consult the Board or CommIs-
sioners In making parchase of provisions
or OF any goods FOR tue Indian service except dry
goods, blankets and articles OF that character. The
view given by him Is erroneous. The organization
Of the Board OF Indian Commissioners was part
nf a or viii fhe da-
signed to aid in the Introduction OF an element OF
humanity into the dealings OF the government with
the Indians, and to ensure economy and althfulness
in expenditures Tor their civilization and comfort.
Even with the limits to their usefulness occasloned
by this construction Of the Commission they have
succeeded Ii accomplishing much good, and have
unselfshly and houorably discharged the duties re-
quired of them. The benefits OF their supervision
may be from the testimony relating to the pur-
chase Of annuity goods where better articles were
; obtained at less prices than ever before. The
committee condemn the action OF the Co mmtssioner
In making the Boston contract for beef, &C., and
believe he exercised powers only confded to the
President, to be exercised through the War Depart
ment, but say an exigency existed requiring prompt
action. They condemn the failure to advertise
which necessitated extension of that contract III
August. They think competition would have re-
duced prices II II had been allowed and did reduce
tiem III lDc MOrrOW COnITdcl. TDey apply the
same criticism to the transportation contracts.
In the course of their report the committee
Say they have found the system of agents.
vouchers unsatisfactory ana unsafe, and change
Is necessary In the pubic interest. There is
ample opportunity for fraud and co,luson in the
livery OF goods both in quantity and qualify, The
committee are not aware that any thing can be done
20 punish those who have heretofore extorted
money from the Indians or aided others IN SO doing
except 10 cause strict inquiry to be made into the
conduct OF such OF these persons as are still in the
employ OF the government, and dismiss from the
service all who have knowingly violated the law
1t but just say that far as these payments are
concerned the Commissioner OF Indian AGails is In
way responsible.
Abolition OF Discriminating Duties in Portu-
The following proc csmation was issued by the
President to-day
Whereas satisfactory evidence was given to me
the l7th day OF this month by the government or
Portugal tat the discriminating dudes her c.olorc
levied In the ports OF Portugal on merchandise I'M
ported IN vessels OF the Unlied States INTO said ports
from other countries tnan those OF which said mer-
cnanclse was the growth. production or manuac-
tnre, have been abolished, now, Therefore, l.,
ulysses 5. Grant President OF the United states Of
America. by virtue of the authority vested in
by an act OF Congress of January Z, lS-4 and
Dy an act IN addition thereto OF Ma, en- ~.
1928, 40 hereby declare and proclaim that The dis
terminating duties heretofore evied the ports Of
Portuguese vessels from countries other tnan tnan
those oil which sucn merchandise is the growth
produce or InaluIacturc shah De and are here py
SUSPENDED anu oisconlnued; this Suspension or DIS.
continuance TO take efect and after the said l5tn
day oI thus month and 10 continue so long as the
reciprocal exemption of merchandise belonging 10
CtiZciis OF the United States such distrininat
Ing duties snail be granted ln the ports OF Portlgn
III testimony whereof 1 have nereunto set my
hand and caused The seal OF the United states to be
affixed.
Done at the city OF Washington this twenty
NTH day OF February, in the year Of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seycniy.one, and OF tue indeDenaence OF tbe
United states Of America the ninety fifth
l.. ). GRANT.
BY the PRESIDENT
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary OF State
The Southern Pacific Railroad BiiI
~as sent TO a conference comrnittee to-day by a mu