The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON. February %.
SENATE.

to lease 10 San francisco part ol tue
Preside reservation for public park.
Mr.. Edmunds deprecated a hasty
action on the bill. The reservation was
a tract of 1000 acres Of land, worth
about four millions, and the city OF San
Francisco had no right to ask the
United States TO give it away, and
especially as she had another park
already Of 1000 acres.
Mr. Casserly said as the subject was
not regularly before the Senate, he
would not now discuss it, but he as
sured Mr.. Edmunds that his objections
to the bill would be fully and satisfac-
torily answered at the proper time.
The bill was not taken up.
Mr.. Logan, from committee on
Privileges and Elections, reported adj
verScly to the claim of Jos. c. Abbott
to a seat in the Senate from North
Carolina.
Mr.. Carpenter, for himself and Mr..
Rice, made minority report in favor
of Mr.. Abbott's claim. .
Mr.. Logan said that he would call
up the majority report at an early day
Mr.. Cole announced that the COM
mittee on Appropriations was ready to
report several important bills requiring
early action, and asked the Senate to
sit to-day, until the pending resolutions
should be disposed of.
Mr.. Edmunds offered resolution re-
questing the Secretary OF War to IN
form the Senate how many acres are IN
the Preside reservation; how much Is
needed for military purposes, and how
much the remainder is worth. 1t was
adopted.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Vermont, offered a
resolution instructing the committee on
Printing to inquire whether some means
could not he found TO diminish the ex-
penses OF the Globe.
Mr. Casserly said the committee
already had the subject under consider
alton, and the resolution was adopted.
At the expiration of the morning
hour the Senate resumed the consider
alton of the resolution TO investigate
the ALLEGED sale OF arms to French
agents.
Mr.. Sumner addressed the Senate.
lie said: Besides the interest which this
debate has excited, | cannot fail TO
note that it has wandered far from any
original purpose ofmine, and into fields
which | have no desire to enter. !
shall try to bring it back to the real
issue, which | hope to present without
passion or prejudice, and here, sir, |
declare what is the only rule Of my
life, that in what ] say to-day there
shall not be single word which is not
prompted by the love OF truth and
desire Cor justice. But venture to ask
YOU to remember that there is some.
thing on this planet beside the Senate
or anv Senator something besides any
high official; something higher than
any political party. | mean the good
name of the American people and
the purity OF the Government which
must be saved from scandal. III
this spirit and with this aspiration, |
speak to-day. Look first at the circum-
stances which surrounded us aud
aroused the community in the CONNER
cial metropolis Of the country; it sue
ceeded in overthrowing q corrupt ring.
Tammanv has been at last overthrown
and her good Democrats We'd with the
The country was thrilled
with the victory and demanded that it
should he extended Then came the
against the abuses in the
civil service; after a debate protracted
for davs an investigation was ordered
and the newspapers have been since
loaded with odious details. Every
where there is now a cry for reform
that is the universal voice OF the coun-
trv from New York to New Orleans.
In conformity with this the civil
service reform movement, looking TO
the purity OF the Government and the
independence OF Office holders, was
at this time. Reports
were heard OF abuses in ordnance Off
ces ty which TIE neutral position OF
our country was seriousl lv compromised,
at a time when we were bound TO use
special care. 1t seemed from the evil
dence as if our neutral duties were put
in the hands OF mere official Jobbers.
Sumner denied having any cOllusion
with the agents Of France or Prussia.
He said let the Alabama claims 60, #
they are only to be saved at the ex'
pense of honesty and good faith OF our
country. Mr.. Sumner, after stat
ING that, a an American citizen, he
hal only been actuated by desire TO
save the name Of his country from re.
proach, acquitted the Secretary Of War
of all blame, but argued that the
ordinance department officials had
violated the spirit of the law even while,
perhaps. aihering to the letter. After
an elaborate review ofthe circumstances
he summed up what he said were SIX
sources OF testimony, each
of which was sufficient to demand an
First The resolution OF
the French Assembly asking the Gov
eminent of the United States for the
result OF the investigation into the sales
Of arms which it was supposed this
was conducting. Second.
The cable dispatches Of Squires, Rem
iugtons son.in-law, stating that
strong influences were at work
with the United States Government in
their behalf. Third. Remington 8
letter in which he repeatedly
speaks of dealing directly with this
government. Fourth. The sworn
testimony of lie Cesne that the Federal
Government had promised 70 deliver on
board steamers, free of charge, arms
intended for France. Fifth, the state
ment of the London Times that the
United States were selling to France
rified cannon and ammunition in
enormous quantities. Sixth. The atfi-
80 lo.