Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-01
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TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Fort. Second Congressional Session,
WAsHINGroN, 20.

The French arms resolution was again be-
fore the Senate to-day.
Mr.. Carpenter charged that certain Ameri-
can Senators we're attempting to get up an
excitement on state OF facts which had been
known to everybody year or more for the
purpose of effecting the next Presidential
election.
Mr.. Sumner said that the facts were not
known to him till few weeks ago.
Mr.. Carpenter said that they might have
been known to any one who examined the re-
ports of the departments. There had been
no concealment in the matter to attempt to
cover up anything. Everything done was in
execution of the acts of Congress, and had
been laid before the country. The Senator
from Missouri (Schurz) had compared him
self and Sumner in this matter to Golden
and Bright on the Alabama claims, but there
Golden and Bright did what they did to pre-
vent their country from committing a wrong;
but after the wreHg was committed they new
er moved for q committee of investigation,
for the purpose of making out a case against
their country.
1t had been remarked that the democratic
Senators took no part in this discussion, and
the fact had been attributed to desire to let
the republicans engaged in it do all they
could to iDjure their own party. But he lad
a kindly feeling for the democratic party,
having been a member of it as long as he
could be innocenty, and he was willing to
give them credit fora higher motive than
unwillingness to take any part in so unpatri-
otto proceedings.
Mr.. Sumner said yesterday that this case
naturally opened with resolution of the
French Assembly. That was true, and it
was to be regretted that the case having
opened in France, had not been allowed to
close there. After an argument of some
length, presenting no new points, Mr.. Car
penter said he regretted this debate because
of the effect it would be likely to have in ex-
citing doubts as to the wisdom of our natural
ization laws. These laws were based upon
the theory that every naturalized citizen
wholly renowned allegiance to the land of
his birth, and became in the fullest sense an
American citizen. But a man coming from
foreign land, seeking and obtaining admis-
sion to our citizenship, and afterward being
elected to seat in the United States Senate,
and having there place on the committee of
foreign affairs, which gave him free access
to the archieves and secrets of our State de-
partments if such a man with all his ex-
perience and advantages could not rise above
the old feeling of allegiance to his native
land, then the people would naturally ask
whether other men with less capacity and
advantages could do it.
Mr.. Schvrz-The Senator from Wisconsin
has raised a cry which was not heard here
to-day for the first time. When all argu-
ment is exhausted, then an appeal to predju-
dice. Yesterday we had the general order
swindle. If not defended was at least in
some way justified on the plea that foreign
importers were at the bottom of the COM
la,. 80 l,, ,1.-
scandal resting upon the charge of corrup-
ton, defended upon the ground that the at
tack upon it is an appeal to the ejudices OF
foreign born citizens of this country. Gen
tlemen, tell you this will be of no avail.
The people want good and just government.
The people are rising up against corruption
wherever it shows its head, and you cannot
dissuade them from their purpose by saying
the general order business in New York is d.
rected against foreign importers, or that this
is a question to affect the political sympa-
thies of German born American citizens. Ii
is of no avail gentlemen, and you had better
give it up. l ask the Senator from Wisconsin
whether he charged me with any unpatriotic
attack or motive? He did it not directly,
but by ineuendo. 1t would have been more
courageous had he stood up here and said to
me mo, you have not cast off your allegiance
merly a subject, and you are at the present
moment traitor to American interests" In
stead of making that charge, he tried to turn
it SO as to give the people to understand his
meaning without having the courage to bring
it forward plainly. Sir, don't stand up here
to make defense of my patriotism. l did
not come to this country yesterday. l have
been here 20 years, and if the Senator from
Wisconsin can point out a single instance
where there was sacrifice demanded of Inc
that have not made, when there was a SER
vice that could render that l have not rem
dered, when there was an act of patriotism
that could perform that have not per-
formed, let him say so.
Mr.. Schurz continued at great length, after
which the Senate adjourned.
House.
Mr.. Stevenson of Ohio in the course of the
discussion, spoke of creating monopolles by
giving away timber lands which were said to
be nobodys, ard then creating new monopo-
lies by putting tariff on lumber, so as to
make these timber lands valuable. The
people demanded that Congress should stop
giving away the public domain.
Mr.. Hay of Illinois agreed with Mr.. Ste
venson that it was the duty of every Repre-
sentative to sgnalize his opposition in an EN-
pnatlC HlanueT u inc TODuery VI Tic Ndtiou-
al domain. He had been credibly informed
that there were bills pending that would
cover 2,000, 900 acres.
Messrs. Speer and Holman took similar
ground. The latter moved to table tine bill.
Rcjected-9l to 92.
Mr.. Beck of Kentucky defended his posi-
ton in supporting the bill, his principal
reason being that the people had land along
the line of the road paying the government
$50 dollars an acre for it, on faith of the
grant.
Mr.. Banks of Mass. said there was no por-
ton of the country that had not been aided
by State or Federal legislation to build up a
system of transportation, which had made the
people what they are, and without which
they would degenerate into savage tribes,
warning against each other. When corpora
tons became too great, the people who Gre
ated them would regulate them. They would
take the telegraph system and the railroads
into their own hands, and make the necessary
right of transportation that which it ought to
be, instead of being as at present system of
robbery and wrong, not only to private per-
sons, but to public interests.
After further discussion, involving the
question whether Col Scott, President of the