Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-22
BfTFtEGRHPH
TO TIE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Forty.Second Congressional Session,
WAsHINGToN, 2i.
SENATE.

Importance. He would herea fter attempt to
show that the postal telegraph scheme was
unwise and inopportune.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the resolution to investigate the alleged sales
OF arms to French agents during the Franco
Prussan war.
Mr.. Morton having the floor continued his
speech which he began yesterday. He said
that Mr.. Blair's statement in his speech at
the South that Mr.. Schurz was remaining in
the republican party for the purpose of de-
feating it, and he has cut loose from his par
ty associates and burned his ships behind
him, because he believed he had right, tax
ing all the circumstances into account to as
sumo that Blair was authorized to speak for
his colleague, Schurz. Every man owed
good faith to his party, and to those who kept
good faith with him. Every man was at
liberty to leave any party at any time, but
he was bound to do it in an open. public way.
The Senator from Missouri (Schurz) had
announced that in case the republican con-
vention should nominate President Grant he
would not support the nomination, and he
was in utilization with the Missouri liberals
who were making war on the republican par
ty itself.
Mr.. Morton here had read a resolution of
the Missouri liberals platform in which he
said if it meant anything it meant free trade.
The platform also contained covert reference
to the Sunday laws in some States, that WAS
of course intended for the Germans. The
whole platform was essentially democratic
document and those who framed it were
necessarily making war on the republican
party. 1t was idle for any man to say that he
would support the principles of the republic
can party but not its standard bearers. The
standard bearers of free country could not
do ~
by great events. An attack upon the prin-
cples of party was no worse than instru-
mentalities by which these principles were to
he carried into effect He would not ask the
Senator from Missouri, (Schurz) whether
since the first Monday in December 1870 he
(Schurz) had voted with the republican party
in the Senate on any question of political
character.
Mr.. Schurz-What does the Senator un.
derstand by the question of political charac-
ter?
Mr.. Morton-I take for granted the Sem
ator understands that and that everybody
else does, and if there is vote of his upon
any question of political character since the
first Monday in December 1870 that is not
recorded with that of the democratic mem
bers do not remember it. If there is one
he can state it.
MIR. Schurz-I think amnesty is q question
of political character. The President recon-
mended amnesty, and am sure voted tor
it.
Mr.. Morton-When did the Senator vote
for it? If l mistake not when the vote was
taken, he either voted against il or did not
vote at all.
Mr.. Schurz-I voted in favor of the names
that we're likely to strengthen the amnesty
bill, and when finally the bill was overbur-
dened SO that it could not pass in that form
| did not vote at all. And the Senator will
ments He was sure he would kill the am
nesty bill.
Mr.. Morton-I think the Senator voted to
keep it in such form as that it would change
the naturalization laws.
Mr.. Schurz-The Senator will not dispute
that advocated the policy proposed by the
President of the United States in his message,
and think that in that respect showed far
better as an administration man than he did.
Mr.. Morton-Ah, sir that kind of thing
will not do. l will not say that is very smart
but it is lodging the main question, the Sem
ator is for universal amnesty, and he cannot
say that the President or the republican party
is in favor of that The Senator stands with
the democrats upon the question of amnesty
as he does on all others, as far as know.
Mr.. Trumbull said that MIR. Morton's re-
marks tended to place him (Trumbull) in q
false position. He had stated distinctly that
he was in favor OF the amnesty bill as it came
from the House, and had voted against all
because he feared that they
would defeat the bill
Mr.. Morton-How did the Senator know
that it would defeat the bill? Two or three
additional votes would have saved the am
nesty bill with all the amendments on it, but
the amnesty bill was not party measure.
and when the Senator from Missouri (Schurz)
referred to that bill as the only measure on
which he has voted with the republican
party since the first Monday of December
ITO, it is confessing that upon all other
questions for the last fifteen months he has
voted safely with the democratic party.
Mr.. Schurz-I can tell the Senator one
other political question on which voted with
the republican party-the resolution to in.
vestigate. the abuses of the New York Gus
tom House.
Mr.. Morton-The Senator did vote in favor
of that, but regret that he has impaired the
force of that instance very much, for think
he himself has contributed to make the coun-
try believe the majority here were opposed
to that investigation. l am glad to have him
even at this late day rectisy that huge cal
umny.
Ahis bNuuIZ cdlu hC WOulu lucHNlUu duOLueE
subject, civil ser ice reform.
Mr.. Morton spid that Mr.. Schurz had in
deed introduced the civil service reform bill
which had not been considered with favor,
but he (Morton) would predict that when
there should come political measure of civil
service reform before the Senate sustaining
tine President the Senators (Schurz and
TrumbulD would be found voting against it.
Mr.. Trumbull-Does the Senator forget
that the system inaugurated by the President
was inaugurated upon an mendment offered
by me to the appropriation bill in the last
Congress, and that when the President in his
message announced what he proposed to do
l took occasion to express my qualification.
Mr.. Morton said that the President had
acted on the amendment offered to the APP
preparation bill, but the system adopted by
the President had not received the approba-
ton of the Senator (TrumbulD. A great
deal had been said by these gentle men about
reducing taxation, but when there was a bill
before the Senate which would take eighty
millions off the people: they wanted taxes
taken off of articles that were not in the bill,
and he ventured to predict also that when
Congress should come to pass bill, as it
would before adjournment, to take off forty
n n ty mill ioua mora thaaa oartlauor v,ould