Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-03-28

yesterday, hlr. Sumner appeared In obedlehce
TO subpoena which he protested against and
said thar he appeared because he would not on
any account fail TO pay The courtesy to the COM
,nIitce which it should receive He supposed
the committee We're aware that they had no
precedence in their arluu that member may
waive his privilege. and he waived his. He
then read Ion" protest against, the formation
Of the committee and It's right TO subpoena him.
Mr. SumDer was then sworn, but reiterated
that h. testified under protest. and furthermore
that he protested against Mr. Hamlin acting as
chairman Of the committee. He began by re-
ttrring to the visit lDade to him by Mr.. SchufZ,
and the conversations which took place about the
sale Of arms which has heretofore been pub
li>ied Mr. Schurz at that conversation asked
him if the Marquis de Chambrun had ever told
Him anything about the sale of arms. aud he
answered that he had never spoken word to
him abont it, although rle Marquis was in his
house every day. The witness asked Mr..
Schu.z il he had any papers referring to the
brought him the Geographic dispatch from
squire, and also the letter of K .miugt l.
suns. Witness asked him il they wee au-
rienrie. aud he said they were Witness then
made up his mind that il was bad case,
Government in IN unhappy position. On
those letters witness had good reason to >llS-
pct: first that there was violation Of the neu
traIity laws: and, second. thar certain influences
were used perhaps of an illicit character. lie
felt that there was painful suspicion. 1t
seemed to be a good case for inquiry, aud he
would fail in his duty to his country If he fail
ed TO bring it forward GA the morning oi the
Ithh of February he read cable dispatch
which stated that the committee OF the French
Narioua Assembly had passed resolution
calling upon the Uuited States Government for
Information and invest CATION OF these sales.
Ii WAS an Associatrd Press dispatch, and It's
genninenpS>. he believed. has been sufficiently
proved
Mr. llumIin That is argument, not evi
dence
Mr.. Sumner Does the acting chairman in
tend to interrupt the narrative which he asked
NE TO give
Mr.. Hamiin-I'll not interrupt you: 90 on.
Rr>umng. witness said-l have received Il
great many confidential letters in this matter,
one last night, calling my attention TO the mat
ter and giving names Of witnesses. The wr-
tiers il, each case ask that their names be not
made known, aud do not feel at liberty 10
give them.
Mr.. iIamlin Have yon no names to give to
the committee?
Mr.. Sumner-None.
lir. Schulz-Mr. Hamliu did not ak fur the
nlrieS O. your correspondents, but the names
vi witnesses.
NJ. Sumncr-I have none 10 give.
Mr. Hamlin-llr. Sumner, did you ever
seek information from the Secretary OF War or
Treasury about these transactions?
Mr. Sumner enter Il protest against Such
an examination a. this.
Mr.. HamIiu--Yuu can enter all the protests
you choose but | would like to have my lues.
ton answered.
Mr.. Sumner then, after deal of examina-
ton, said that Marquis de Chambrun was IN
troducted to him on the last week OF March,
1865, aud he believed he had been IN his
tSumncr J hou>e u. least one time every day
since.
Mr.. HamIin-Do you know how Chambrun
got the letters from the Secretary OF State?
Mr.. Sumner think he said he got them
from the French Charge d -Affaires.
O.-Have YOU any information in reference
to the cable dispatch?
Al have not been in Paris, and therefore
I have no knowledge OF it or the proceedings OF
the Assembly.
The witness was examined at length on this
question.
Mr. Hamlin-AIr Sumner, do You reaollect
a conversation held by you 10 the Breevort
House. New York in November las, when
you said that you wonld blow the Administers
ton sky high, &c
Mr.. Sumner-No such conversation ever
TOOK place, though was at the Breevort House
about that time.
By Mr.. Carpenter-I do not know that NJ.
D. Chambrun has any official connection with
the French Government. He COLLECTS French
claims and acts as all agent Tor the Legation.
Mr.. Sumner again repeated his statement
that the committee was not legally constituted.
Mr.. Carpenter-W Would you have the com
mittce composed of members who believe the
Government guilty?
Mr.. Sumner-No, do not think that You
are competent to act after the speech you
made in the Senate on this arms committee.
Mr. Schurz Mr. Sumner, ask you, as an
experienced Senator if you would consider it
right to obtain information from foreign Gov
ernment?
Mr. Sumner Yes, Senator should Use all
means to obtain information.
MIR. Hamlin-Would you deem it the duty
of patriotic Senator 70 inquire of a foreign
representative in relation to Il question which
would put your own Government IN the wrong,
those Governments making no complaint them
selves?
Mr.. Sumner-That is an abstract question,
and no such question here arose. The ques-
ton here was
Mr.. Hamlin--l did not ask you what the
question here was
Mr.. Snmner-I'll answer il in my own way;
it is inadequate to this case.
Mr. Humlin-I'll ask an answer, however?
Mr.. Sumner-I decliue to answer.
At this point Mr. Carpenter asked similar
question, to which Mr.. Sumner replied that
lit was broad and abstract question.
Mr. Carpenter-I on are broad and abstract
man. Laughter.
The examination of Mr. Sumner was then
concluded.
Mr.. Stevenson moved that the motion Of
Mr.. Carpenter. to return the protest of MIR.
Sumner, be postponed until full meeting Of
the committee.
EARTHE EN- WARE, CHINA, &c
l am now receiving my SPRING STOCK, to
which the attention of country merchants and