The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-06-06
Grant Arraiqned by Sumner and schurz.


has been that of thunderbolt from clear
sky in the shape of an unexpected but most
elaborate four-hours' speech from Mr.. Sumner,
wherein he arraigned President Grant as a
President was never before arraigned in the
American Congress. Senators declare that not
even in the days of the warfare on Andrew
Johnson was there anything to equal this as an
Indictment of the personal as we'll as the politi-
cal record of President. Hardly single
public or private act of Grants civil life ap-
peared to have escaped the Senator's notice,
and he held each one to view in broad glare
of invective and censure that fairly thrilled
his auditory. He came to the front armed like
three-decker, with every gun loaded to the
muzzle. He got the floor by strategic stroke,
even that dismayed the administration Sena-
tors, and proceeded, soon after l o'clock, IN the
presence of thin galleries and moderate Sen
ate, to deliver his speech. He was not long,
however. in securing a full house. The mo-
ment it became known that he was assailing
the administration the galleries were filled and
the floor of the chamber was crowded. During
the last half of the speech the House of Rep
resentatives were present almost in body,
while some sixty Grant delegates to the Phila-
delphia Convention were among the audience
in the galleries. Mr.. Sumner started out by
an elaboration of the two typical features OF
Grants Presidential character, that OF nepotlsm
and gift-taking, and contrasted them with the
purer presidents of the republic. He charged
him with neglecting bis high duties and with
spending his time with fast horses, and in pal
ace-cars, and in lettering at the sea side. In,
deed, he declared that the President preferred
horse any time to the Constitution of his
country, and military ring, and Custom
house ring, and Senatorial ring, to the respect
of all the people. He insisted that the govern
ment was personal one, and conducted by
the President in the interest of nepotism and
rings that it commanded no regard at home
or abroad that its financial policy in reducing
the debt contrasted unfavorably with the ad-
ministration of Andrew Johnson, and that both
were indebted to the people represented in
Congress for what each had done in that line;
that the President was false to the colored race;
that while protesting friendship for Frederick
Douglass he even refused to invite him to dine
at the White House with the other santo Do
mingo Commissioners; that the administration
had utterly failed in the South, and that its
foreign policy of which it had boasted was dis
graceful. 1t was q muddle with England,
muddle with Russia, muddle with Spain, a
muddle even with Corea; and, in fact, one di-
versifed muddle. This hit elected laughter
and suppressed applause. As Mr.. Sumner
went ahead dealing these blows, the conduct OF
the administration Senators was amuslug.-
Usually they read newspapers or 60 OFT to the
cloak-roons when he speaks. To-day they
were in nervous state Messrs. Conkling and
Carpenter would listen awhile attentively and
then Jump up and run over to Morton's seat,
where triangular conference would go on.
They had vague suspicion that Senator
Schurz was ready to follow, and it did not ap-
pear that any one was prepared to answer Tor
Mr.. Sumner held the floor so long that these
Senator's who felt keenly that they had been
characterized as Senatorial ring, were only
too glad that timely recess gave them an hour
or two for reflection. During that period
Messrs Conkling and Morton drove TO the
White House to get their orders:
When the Senate reassembled this evening,
Senator Schurz took the floor and spoke, as he
always does, to crowded galleries, thronged
with the beauty and social brilliancy of Wash
ington. There has been steadily growing
curiosity TO know both what he would say in
answer to the attacks Of the report of the
French Arms Committee, and whether in this
speech could be traced any effects of the for
tunate trip to Cincinnati. Those who hoped to
see Schurz weakening respondent in his hos
tility to the administration, hesitating in his
warfare must have been sorey disappointed.
political encounters display more eagerness for
the contest or enter it with more willing and
heroic spirit. And never did he more CON-
petely and utterly route and overthrow his ad-
versarics. He said he intended to discuss
somewhat elaborately the majority report of
the Arms Committee, and to show by it the
truth of a great many of the propositions put
forward by Mr. Sumner, and he thought nobody,
could doubt the propriety of his speaking of
this report in view of the extraordinary person
al animadversions contained in it. He then re-
viewed in detail the report and the evidence on
the subject, and argued that the violations OF
the United States statutes and international
law were fully established, and that the report
of the majority of the committee was contrary
to the evidence in the case, to the manifest
truth. to common sense, to our own laws, and
to the law of nations He repelled with indig-
nation the imputation cast upon him and MIR.
Sumner by the report, asserted that they had
acted throughout from sense OF duty as
American Senators, and predicted as one result
of their action that in this generation no
other administration would dare to COM
NIT such violations of law as were COM
mitted in these sales of arms. In reply to
the argument that the course taken by the War
Department was profitable to the government
he said he had carefully computed the gain
and had found it to be about ten cents head
for the people of this country, and for ten
cents q head the American people were invited
to approve the violation of our own laws, the
impe!illing of our relations with a foreign gov.
eminent, and the forfeiture of the esteem and
friendship of foreign nations. Laughter.)
There were evidences of an attempt to set up
one strong will as the government of this coun-
try, and in confirmation of this he cited the
action of the Senate in removing Mr.. Sumner
from the head of the Committee on Foreign
Relations at the command of the President
and the submission of the Senate to the Presi-
dents lagrsnt violation of law in the Santo
Domingo matter. In conclusion, Mr.: Schurz
said he rejoiced to see spirit sweeping over
the land which aimed to depose this autocratic.
and he lear earnestly ea hoped p nS2E E the hr aep