The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-11

Republican caucus. The vacancy for a
Democrat on the committee on Manu-
features was filled by Mr.. Blair.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, was as
signed to committees on Agriculture,
Revolutionary Claims and Engrossed
Bills.
Mr.. Schurz moved to postpone fur,
ther consideration of committees until
tomorrow.
Mr.. Sumner-Before that motion Is
put wish Mr.. Schurz would allow me
to make another motion in the nature
suggested.
Mr.. Schurz withdrew his motion
and Mr. Sumner proceeded: u ask
that my name be eliminated from the
committee on Privileges and Elections;
/ observe that | am placed at the head
Of that important committee. Il most
respectfully ask 10 be excused from
serving. ! presume it is better for me
before the Senate act on the report TO
have that amendment made. L
therefore ask that the report be amend
ed by striking my name from the COM
mittee."
Mr.. Sherman said if after the COM
mittees were organized any Senator
insisted upon being relieved from ser
vice on a committee the Senate would
as a matter of course, grant the request,
but it was not usual to allow such re-
quest before the committees were agreed
upon as a whole by the Senate. lie
would vote to excuse the Senator from
Massachusetts. but he hoped that Sen
ator would deter his motion until the
vote on the pending question was taken.
Mr. Sumner replied that in proposing
to amend the proposition he was eXer-
cising very ordinary and reasonable
right. He declined to withdraw it, but
proceeded 10 advocate it as not only IN
order but eminently proper. lie would
say to the Senator from Ohio, MIR.
Sherman, that after twenty years ser,
vice in the Chamber he (Sumner) had
right to expect that his associates
would not impose upon him a new
class of duties when he expressly stated
that they were not welcome TO him
The Chair declared Mr.. Sumner mo-
ton to be. in order, but that in regard
to practice in the Senate, the Senator
from Ohio, Mr.. Sherman, was correct
in his statement.
Mr. Summers motion was then
agreed to without division.
Mr.. Schurz then renewed his motion
TO postpone, and Mr.. Wilson urged its
adoption as affording an opportunity OF
rectifying any errors that may have oc-
CURED in framing the laws.
A vote by division on Schurzs mo-
ton resulted in 2l Senators rising in
the affirmative and 90 in the negative.
Not agreed to. Th equestion recurring
on the adoption Of the resolution,
Mr. Schurz explained the reasons for
which he moved for postponemer
He closed by asking the Senator whoa
had introduced the resolution (Howe)
what were the reasons why such a.
change was made.
Mr. Howe rose to reply.
Mr.. Stewart, aside would not an
swcr him.
Several SenatOrs-No, don l.
Mr.. Howe said on one hand he was
asked question, and on the other ap-
pealed to net to answer it, and in deter
ence to that rule OF courtesy which he
had sought to make the rule OF his life,
he would make a civil answer TO a civil
question. He would briefly state the
reasons so far as he knew them. He
said it was known to those who pro-
posed the change that the personal re-
Iations existing between the Senator
from Massachusetts and the President
OF the United States and head of the
State Department were such as to pre-
clude all social intercourse between
them. In brief, the information WAS
that the Senator from Massachusetts
refused to hold personal intercourse
with the Secretary Of State.
Mr.. Sumner-Just the contrary.
Mr.. Howe, Continuing without
noticing the remark And that Sen
ator has not held any intercourse
with the President of the United States !
In view of these facts it was deemed /
best that the committee e on Foreign Re 1
lations should have head who would .
be on the best speaking terms with the
Secretary OF State and the President
Mr.. Schurz replied that he was ir-
formed, and that from the best author.
ty, that Mr.. Sumner had not refused u .
enter into any official relations, eithe. |
with the President or Secretary OF
State.
Mr.. Howe ask my friend not to
change the issue | did not speak o.
their official relations. | spoke OF their
personal relations.
Mr.. Wilson--TLen, Mr.. President |
it comes to this, that the Oldest member
in the Senate, chairman Of committee
on Foreign Relations through the past
ten years, is to be removed from the |
craftsmanship, and from the committee
itself, because OF social relations be-
tween the President OF the United !
States. the Secretary Of State and him
self. He (Wilson) was one of those
who believed il was not the business of
the Senate what these relations were
or what were the social relations OF
any Senator to the President or any
other member of the Government. He
thought the only question was, as to
whether the member held proper official !
relations with the President, Cabinet
and other members of the Government.
He was opposed to the change because
it was full of danger to the future Re-
publican party. The party was in no
condition to do that which would wound /.
or offend a hundred thousand OF the !
best men in the country. He believed