New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-02
Senat0r Sumner on Investi3a ton.

In the United States Senate, Wednesday
the consideration of the resolution to inves.
ticate the alleged sale of arms to French
agents was resumed:
Senator Sumner said Besides the unac-
customed interest which this debate has
excited | can not fail to note that it has
wandered far from any original purpose of
mine and into fields which / have no de-
sire to enter. l shall try to bring it back to
the real issue. which hope to present with
ont passion or prejudice: and here, sir, de-
clare what is the only rule of my life, that
in what say to-day there shall not be a
single word uttered which is not prompted
by the love of truth and desire for justice.
but | venture to ask you to remember that
there is something on this planet besides
the Senate or any Senator; something be-
sides any high officials; something higher
than any political party. | mean the good
name of the American people and the pu-
ritv of the government, which must be saved
from scandal. In this spirit and with this
inspiration speak to-day.
Senator Sumner then referred to the
late events in New York, and said that
there now was cry for reform every
where of the abuses developed in the
ordnance office. and were the subject OF
universal scandal. 1t was time that some
thing should be done to arrest the sus-
picion thrown upon our officials. His reso-
luton had been met by various objections.
He had been charged with introducing
politics. and illusions had been made to
the presidential election.
Senator Logan interrupted, and asked
| that ladies be permitted 10 occupy the
cloak rooms.
Senator Hamlin objected, saying that
two field days in one session were enough.
| [Murmurs of disapprobation.l
Senator Sumner continued. He was ear
| nest for reform in the civil service and
| should always vote for any inquiry having
| that object in view. He had never heard of
| this matter until weeks after the meeting OF
| Congress-, and then from distinguished
| native born citizen, who had not been men-
| toned in debate. He did not believe that
! the introduction of the resolution would
| prejudice the German Emperor on the San
Juan question, as the whole matter was
known in Berlin long before the intrOduc-
ton of the resolution in the Senate.
The Senator referred to the Alabama
claims, and said if our demands against
England could not be prosecuted except at
the expense of the purity OF our own gov
| ernment they were not worth the terrible
price. He then turned to the pending resO-
| luton, and said that it presented the gen
eral question whether there is not sufficient
reason for inquiry into the sale OF arms
during the French and German war. This
neutrality divided itself into two questions;
| first, the relation to international duty, and
second, relating to misfeasance on the part
of our own officials and involving what
| might be called the money question. Sen
! atOr Sumner discussed both these questions
| at some length and said an Investigation
could not be refused without setting at de-
! tiance all rules Of decency and common
| sense.
The question was then put on Senator
! Trumbull's motion to consider the vote Dy
which Senator Conkling's amendment, d.
recting the committee to inquire whether
| anv American Senator or citizen had held
| unauthorized communication with any tor
! eign government or its agent, was ADOPTED
and the motion was lost-yeas nineteen,
| nays twenty-eight.
The Republicans wno voted 10 reconsider
| were Senators Ferry. Logan, Spraguc.
Trumbull and West. Senators sumner and
| Schurz did not vote at all.
Senator Harlan replied briefly to Senator
sumner. He said ali the sO-called evidence
! introduced to justify the investigation was OF
French origin. He regretted to see Senator
! Sumner make a convenience of the Senate
| in the interest cf an agent of a foreign
power He then discussed at length the
| history OF the general order business ln
| New York.
! Senator Schurz offered an amendment to
the pending resolution instructing the com
mittee to inquire also whether breech
| loading muskets, or other muskets capable
Of being transformed into breech- leaders
have been sold by the War Department il
| such large numbers as seriously to affect
| the defensive condition of the country II
! case of war.
| Senator Carpenter obtained the floor. but
yielded to motion to adjourn, and without
! further action the Senate adjourn.