New-York tribune., 1872-02-29
WASHINGTON.
HE FRENCH ARMS SCANDAL.

w WASHlNGION.
THE FRENCH ARMS SCANDAL.
FoRcBLE SPEECH FROM SENATOR sUMNER-THE
WHOLE SUBJECT REvIEwED-A NOTABLE
EFFORT IN FAVOR OF REPORM EVERYWHERE
THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION TO BEGIN TO-
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNR
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Feb. 2s, 1877.
II Mr.. Sumner, In opening the long debate in
tie Senate the scandal disappointed his friends
b. his failure to present his with hs usual force and
cbarness, his speech to-day equally surprise for
tie grandeur Of his eloquence the dignity Of his manner
ard the strong convincing light in which his arguments
presented. Old Senators and hattues OF the Capt.
to- those who remember some OF MI Summers historical
speeches. when almost alone, he raised his voice against
svery the floor Of the Senate and did 1t ct the peril
Of his fe testified to-day, Notwithstanding their oppos
m to the he advocated that they never heard
hin make powerful. eloquent, effective speech
Beform was his watchword, and when, IN opening
he called TO memory the holy crusade IN the name OF
Reform that has carried In HewYork not only
against Tammany thieves but also against Republ
thieves in tho Customhouse, he struck note that
found o response from every one who heard him. His
was political speech. He pleaded for reform. but
when he had asked an investigation into suspected
abuses the Senator from Indiana Morton had seized
the party bugle and sounded To arms" II Senator
SchurZ had indicated the Marquis de Chambrnn from
the insults that had been heaped upon him In this debate
Mr.. Sumner paid him touching and eloquent tnDute
He reviewed his since his arrival In this country
referred feeling terms TO his intimacy with Pres
dent Lincoln during the last few days of his e and the
fahuness and honor with which he had discharged the
most important duties ntrusted to him by hs Govern
ment
Mr. Summers argument the resolution contained no
new points, but restated the old In striking and
convincing way He spoke about an hour and a half,
,nt tla Aunfn
ton Senators unwilling to vote as at any time
since the debate began. Mr.. Trumbull's motion TO
reconsider Conkllngs amendment was voted down, and
then Senator Harlan made most extraordinary speech
IN defense OF ex-Coector Murphys administration OF
the New-YOrk Custom house, and Leet q stockings
management Of the General Order business The Senate
adjourned with Carpenter on the floor for q
speech tomorrow. The impression is daily gaining
ground In the best informed circles that the investigation
asked for does not half far enough, and that II an
honest determined committee were ever to get into the
Ordnance Bureau b would find enough to occupy 1t FOR
long time 1t s also said that the relations OF the Chief
OF Ordnance with Remington soon after the former was
appointed, and the payment Of q claim OF more than
o. 100000 made 10 Remington after Gen. Dyer's prede-
had pronounced it Illegal VIII be an interesting
subject for inquiry.
Mr. Sumner, in reading Conkings letter vouching for
Remington In the debate to-day remarked that though
It was written and dated in November before the meet
ing Of Congress- and when the Senator from NewYork
was not in Washington, 1t was headed y. 8. Senate
Chamber, Washington, d. G., &c. Hamin was the Fen
ator who objected to-day 10 Logan's request that
few Of the hundreds Of ladies who could not get In sight
of the gallery doors be allowed in the coakrooms and
on the floor during Mr.. Summers great speech.
The INVESTIGATION OF the French Arms scandal win be
commenced 10 omorrow by the House Committee on Ex-
penditures In the War Department under instructions
given by resolution passed In the House on Monday last
Tue Committee win meet tomorrow morning. to organize
aud agree upon plan OF work. 1t is probable that the
Secretary War will be examined on the day the
first witness. The Committee Is ordinarily Of the
supernumerary committees of the House. which not
appointed with the expectation that they VIII have any
business to do which kept the list OF Stand
ing Commteesi solely ~ increase the number OF chair
manships. The Republican members Of the Committee
are Messrs Williams OF Indiana, Barber OF Wisconsin,
Messrs Aeker OF Pennsylvania, and Kinsela of New
York The Republicans are understood to be strong Ad
minstratiOn Tue Committee have held no meeting
in the present Congress, in any previous Congress
within the memory the oldest members.
THE RRMINGToNs ENTER A GENERAL DENIAL
TO the Bdttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Several articles, during the last few
days have been published in certain papers of nature
highly calumnious OF reputation. The occasion Of
their publication s the present political debate upon the
French Arms business.
We never indulge In newspaper controversy and Is
with great reluctance that feel compelled TO ask the
insertion OF this communication. Yet decent regard
for public opinion impes 10 say that these articles,
consisting as they do OF documents which in tho
first instance to France for use there In the inter
este Of NJ Place. the late French Consul General not
az person cquanted with the facts might suppose
by any means new.
We have met them before In the Courts Of France on
the trial OF NJ Place. and before the French Parlia-
mentary Commis don Contracts, and have COM
pletey refuted them, in every respect Indeed CON-
parson OF allegations with invoices IN the
session the French Government ectuay disposes OF
them the most part, and stamps the rest utterly
unworthy OF belief After having failed In their object
there, they reproduced IN La France, the organ Of
Place. and recOped here for the purpose Of effect In
the present political strife. We pronounce them un-
true every particular and In. their whole scope and
meaning and await with entire confidence, the pub
caton Of the report Of the French Commission to
pletey exonerate house from these unjust imputa
tons. Yours, &c. T.. REMINGTON Sons
Nep- York. Ft6. %, 1872