The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-03-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

Numerous memorials were presented by
Dir. Schurz on Wednesday, Feb, 90, from
vari us parts Of the United States with
10,407 signatures, transmitted from the
city Of Boston, protesting against any
amendment to the Constitution incor
porating therein the recognition of God
or Jesus Christ as an attempt to over
throw the great principles Of religious
liberty or which this Government was
originally founded.
Mr.. Logan, from the Committee on
Election, reported adversely to the claim
OF Abbott to seat from North Carolina
Mr. Carpenter, for himself and Mr.. Rice,
made minority report ic favor of
Abbott.
The morning hour having expired The
consideration of the resolution relative
to the alleged sale Of arms to tho French
agents was resumed. Mr. Sumner in al
dressing the Senate, said: Besides the
unaccust@nei interest which this debate
has excited, cannot fail 70 note that it
has wandered far from any original pur-
pose Of mine. and into fields which I
have no desire to enter. l shall try to
bling it back to the real issue, which I
hope to present without passion or pred
judice. Aod here, sir, declare what is
the only rule Of my life, that in what I
say to-day there shall not be single
word which is not prompted by love Of
truth and desire for justice. But ven
ture to ask you to remember that there Is
something ON this planet besides the
Senate or any Senator, something besides
any high officials, something higher than
any political party. mean the good
name Of the American people, and purity
Of the Government which must DO saved
from scandal. In this spirit and with
this aspiration speak to-day.
Mr.. Sumner then referred to the late
events in New York, and said there was g
cry for reform everywhere. Abuses de-
veIoped in the ordnance Office, and were
the subject of universal scandal It was
time something should be done to arrest
suspicion thrown on our officials. His
! resolution had been met by various OBJ
jections. He had been charged with in
Producing politics, and illusions been
made to the Presidential election. He
was earnest for reform and the civil ser
vice, and should always vote for every
inquiry having that object in view. He
has never heard Of this matter until
weeks after the meeting of Con
gress, and then from o distinguish
ed native born citizen, who has not been
mentioned in debate He did not believe
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 in
PRODUCTION of the resolution in the Sen
ate. He then 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
government, they were not worth the
terrible price. He then turned to the
pending resolution, and said that it pre-
sented the general question whether there
is not sufficient reason for inquiring into
the sale of arms during the French and
| German war. This naturally divided
| itself into two questions, frat relating to
international duty. and second relating to
mlsfeasance On the part our own offici
ais, and involving what might be called
the money question.
Mr.. Sumner discussed both these points
ct length, and said that an Investigation
could not be refused without setting al
defiance the rules of decency and common
sense
The question was then put on Mr.
Trumbsll's motion to reconsider the vote
by which Mr.. Conkiing's amendment di.
rectlng the Committee to inquire whether
vi u 4 !
unauthorized communication with any
foreign Government, or it's agent, was
adopted, and the motion was lost-yeas,
10; nays, %. The Republicans who voted
to reconsider vera: Messrs. Ferry, Logan
Sprague, Trumbull, and West. Messrs
Sumner and Schurz did not vote at all.
Mr.. Schurz offered an amendment tc
the pending resolutions directing the
Committee to inquire also, whether
breech loading muskets or other muSkets
capable of being transformed into brsech
leaders, have been sold by the War De
partment in such numbers 40 seriously tc
effect the defensive capacity of the coun
cry in case of war.
Mr.. Carpenter obtained the hoor, but
yielded fer motion to adjourn, and with
out further action the Senate adjourned
The final discussion on this lcsg pend
ing resolution took place on Thursday
Feb. 20. When Mr.. Carpenter made a
speech stating that certain American Sen
tors were attempting to get up an excite
ment an state of facts which had been
known to everybody for year or more,
for the purpose of affecting the next
Presidential election. The Senstor from
Missouri (Mr. Schurz) had compared him
self aud Mr.. Sumner in this matter to
Golden and Bright on the Alabama ques
ton, but there was one great difference
between the cases. Golden and Bright