The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-28
BY TELEGRAPH.
WASHINGTON.
INVESTIGATION OF THE SALE OF
ARMS.
Interesting Colloquy.
SENATOR SUMMER TESTJmONy
Interesting Colloquy.

MIR. SUMNER TEsTIFIEs BEFORE THE FRENCH
ARMS COMMITTEE.
WASHINGTON, March 27-The Senate arms
committee met at half-past 10 o'clock.
Senator Sumner appeared and protested
against the summons served upon him, contend
ing that it was contrary to parliamentary pre-
cedent. 1t was customary merely to request
the attendance of Senators. He did not think
now any more than he did yesterday, the COM
mittee was competent to investigate the case as
majority of the members had declared them
selves opposed to having the thing examined in
to.
Mr.. Sumner took the oath with protest that
the chairman was qualified to act in that ca
pacity. He testified however under protest.
He knew nothing of this question until the 23d
or 24th of December. A friend in the Senate,
not Mr.. Schurz, first mentioned the fact to HIM.
He afterwards saw Mr.. Schurz who had some
of the papers. Mr.. Schurz at Mr.. Schenck'S
suggestions saw Chambrun, from whom he re-
ceived copies of letters from the Secretary of
War to the Secretary of State. He gave a Cir
cumstantial account of the steps taken by him
self previous to the introduction of his resolu-
ton.
In response to a question he said he received
numerous confidential communications on the
subject but declined to give names of the au-
thOrs. He handed them over to Mr. SchurZ.
Mr. Sumner considered it his duty to move the
investigation.
Herman Tunke testified to endeavoring to
make bargain to buy arms for Germany but
that government refused to purchase. He
made a bid, however, to the ordnance bureau,
and got 50,0 900 Springfield rifle muskets which
he sold to Schuyler, Hartley and Graham
During the examination of Mr.. Sumner Mr..
Hamlin asked. Did you have conversation at
the Brevort House in Nov. in which you allud-
ed to the matter and said you would blow the
administration sky high?
Sumner-No. 1 stopped at the Brevort
House; it must have been three or four days be-
fore the opening of Congress- 1 did not then
know anything about the matter. l was not at
the Brevort House afterward; do not recollect
any conversation with gentlemen in which l
was going to implicate the administration.
During further proceedings Mr. Carpenter
asked:
You said that on the Oath of December
friend in the Senate called on you; who was
he?
Mr.. Sumner-As u member of the Senate 1
must decline to answer?
MIR. Carpenter-Have you had any converse
ton with parties other than Senator Schurz and
the other Senator previous to the introduction
of your resolution?
Mr.. SUMNER decline to answer an improper
question.
Mr. Carpenter-Yo say that you last night
received a confidential letter, naming persons
X Sa yon g rece ae th ttsr from whom
Mr. SUMNER decline to answer as my cor
respondent asked me not to tell.
Mr. Carpenter-I understood you to say You
had received several confidential letters.
Mr. Carpenter-Will you give the name of
any one of the writers?
Mr. Sumner-I decline to do So
Mr.. Carpenter-Will give any part of the let
ter?
Mr.. Sumner-I think have handed all of
them to Senator Schurz to use at his discre
ton. sea
Mr.. Carpenter-Did I understand you to say
that by parliamentary rule in constituting
committee, the members must be of that party
making the charge?
Mr.. Sumner-I hope you will not put that
question
Mr.. Carpenter-I have.
Mr. Sumner-Then decline to answer it.
Mr.. Carpenter-Did not every member of this
committee vote for the investigation?
Mr.. Sumner-The record will answer
Mr.. Carpenter-Did not every member now
sitting on this committee avow himself favora-
BILE to most searching investigation and vote
for the resolution?
Mr.. Sumner-The record shows that several
members of this committee declared again and
again against what parliamentary writer's call
''the thing
Mr. Carpenter-Did not say was in favor
of a most searching inquiry?
Mr. Sumner-Yes; but after you made a
speech showing there was no necessity for it, so
if there is any vitality in the rule you are dis
qualified and ought to have declined to serve.
Mr. Carpenter-I thank you for your advice;
if the Senate thought to put me on the commit
tee would it not have been immodest in me to
decline?
Mr. Sumner-You should have searched your
own conscience.
Mr.. Carpenter-My conscience is perfectly
clear.
Mr.. SUMNER will enter into no controver-
sy. was at home under medical treatment
the day the committee was appointed. If
had bee in the Senate should have felt it my
duty to oppose the formation OF the committee
and hold 1t up as q fiagrant violation OF law.
After further questioning Mr. Carpenter OBJ
jected to Mr.. Summers protests going on the
record as they assaled the committee.
Mr.. Hamlin regarded them as absolutely in
sulting to the committee, and then asked Mr..
Sumner whether Chamburn had furnished him
with the names of the witnesses,
MIR. Sumner replied that he had not; nor had
he furnished him sources of information. He
thought, however, he had mentioned the name
| of Gen. Ingalls,.
| Mr.. Schurz asked: Would you consider it il
| legitimate to derive information on matters of
public business from any agent of a foreign
| government?
Mr.. Sumner=Not in the least; should fail
| in my duty as a Senator If did not obtain in
formation from all sources within my reach.
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.
| The New York Custom House Investigating
| Committee this afternoon examined H. IL,
Catherwood relative to Leet's general order
business and then adjourned until Monday,
when VIM. Orton and Several others will be ex-
| amined.
| The Supreme Council of the Scotch Rite Ma
| sons will probably meet at Louisville May 16,
instead of San Francisco Albert Pike will
! preside.
CONTROLLER HULBURD's CASE.