Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Political Campaign in the Senate
- sEaiLA
Carl Sehurz Defines His Position.
SENATE

| SENATE. zsH va
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-AIr. .Conklinr
called up his resolutioa requesting informal
ton from the President as to persons re-.
commended to office by thu Senators of
New ork, Illinois, missouri Nebraska.
and South Carolina.
/ Mr. Ferry spoke in opposition to the res
olution. 1853 BElsg.3F E
The resolution went over, and debate
was resumed on the resolution as TO sales
OF arms to the French, Mr.. Wright, of Iowa,
having the floor. He said the greater parG
OF the session had been spent in mere DO
litlcal debate, and proceeded to give his
reasons why be would not vote for annes-
ty, either universal or general.
Passing to the pending resolution he said,
Whatever others might do, be would not
vote 1T with or without the preamble,
because the discussion had proven beyond
all question that there was no warrant
whatever for az investigation. lie believed
II had been demonstrated beyond all doubt
that there was absolutely nothing 20 throw
tne least suplcion on the nation or its
! officials. This was an era of
! investigations and he would ALWAYS vote for
proper Investigation for legitimate pur-
| poses, but would not vote for this investiga-
ton because he believed it was neither for
the interests Of the country at large nor for
! the protection of the rights of any of the
Sltlzens OF this country. In its main pur-
! pose this measure would certainly fail for
the people had already decided that
Gen. Grant
should accept of the Executive chair for
! another term.
Mr.. West followed taking similar
! grounds. Referring to the Missouri Liberal
! platform, be said one ofthe resolutions com
| posing it, was that they were not inconsis-
| tent with Republican principles, and there
fore there was no reason why anv f2epubli-
can should leave his party for the sake of
/ them. Schurz said he wanted to saya few
words in reply to Mr.. Frelinghuysen re-
marks yesterday. That Senator had
! said that if this was not a question of a
| violation of the Neutrality laws, it was moth
/ ing. That seemed TO Imply that he (Schurz)
! and Sumner, had been engaged in trying
! to make up case for Germany.
! Mr.. Freingnuysen said he had not inn
! pugned the motives of the Senators. He
| had merely spoken Of the effect Of their
| acts. He would not say that the Senator,
! but he would say the measure was unpatri-
otto.
Mr. Schurz said he was glad to see the
! Senator didn't mean to impute to himself
| or Sumner any designs, sympathies or in
| terests that were not purely American.
Mr.. SchIUZ then COntended that the resolu-
ton was not meant for Germany. The case
as it stood was emphatically
Our Business
and not Germany's as to our relations with
foreign powers. The only way mischief
! could come out Of this matter was by one
! only, undertaking to defend false position,
| and if any officials have wantonly betrayed
us into such position, it was our manifest
interest to disaYoW their action and take
! stand that we could honorablv and safely
! defend.
At this point Mr.. Schurz gave notice tina
| he would move to amend the resolution so
! as TO direct the committee to inquire also
! whether breech-lOaders and other muskets
capable of being transferred into breech-
leaders, were sold in such quantities as to
Seriously Impair
the defensive capacity of the country.
The discussion then drifted into the New
! York General Order business aud was de-
! bated at length by Messrs. Schmz, Harlan
and Sherman.
/ Nr. Schurz finally said: 1t has been said
! I ann on the point of going over To the Dem
Ocrats. Lei set at rest the souls OfthOse
| who made that suggestion.
Shall not go Over
! to the Democrats. have never thought of
! going over to the Democrats, and do not
! think Of it now. But what | do think is
this: That there will be an opportunity of
! opposing the reelection Of the President
! without voting for the Democratic candi-
! date. l think there viii be an opportunity
! of voting for as good a Republican as there
is on this floor without voting for Gen,
! Grant.
applause in tine galleries. Thepresiding
officer directed the sergeant-at-arms to ar
rest the persons VINO applauded.
| The people, continued Mr.. Schurz, were
! grateful TO Gen. Grant for the capture of
| Vicksburg and other places, but they were
/ still more thankful that Nicksburg and those
! places were no longer to be captured, and
| what they wanted now was free, honest and
! pure government.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen briefly replied. He
disclaimed any attempt to arouse Native
/ American prejudices, and denounced this !
as the first attempt to make the American
Senate take ground against the honor of
our own country.
Messrs. Edmunds and COnkling discussed !
Trumbull's motion to reconsider the vote /
by which Mr.. COnklings amendment had |
been adopted, and insisted that Mr.. Schurz |
had admitted that he had held unauthorized |
communication with an agent Of foreign |
power.
Mr. Sumner obtained the floor for |
the purpose Of reviewing the whole |
question, but said that he would prefer not !
to proceed to-day, and moved to adjourn.
The Senate without reaching a vote ad
jOurned.
Early in the session bill was introduced |
by Mr. Hamlin to provide for group of |
statuary to commemorate the late epoch of !
American history, directing the employment |
Of Fisk Mills, sculptor, to prepare group !
after design approved by the Joint Library !
Committee