The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-01
XLIId CONGRESSIONAL SESSION.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, Feb ga bill was passed ex
empting from internal revenue tax, canned fish
| preserves, jellies, mustard, &c.
bill from the Judiciary Committee to per
| NIT criminals to testify in their own defence
was reported on adversely and placed on the
| calendar. t-- 3 -
Mr.. Trumbull from the Judiciary Committee
reported bill to protect purchasers of land sold
for the nOn-payment of taxes in the late insur-
rectionary States.
Mr.. Sawyer from the Committee on Educa-
ton reported adversely ON a memorial for the
| establishment of an educational test for suf-
frage.
Mr. Chandler rose to q personal explanation
and read a letter from gentleman in Jackson,
Michigan, stating that somebody had sent HIM
| certain Reform movement and liberal he
publican documents under his Chandler s. frank
and that of Senator Morton. The writer ex-
pressed establishment that those two Senators
should circulate such publications and asked
| Mr.. Chandler to send him no more documents
unless they had the true thing.
Mr.. G. said that his frank ON these documents
| was forgery, but as the whole liberal Republic
can movement was fraud he was not surpris-
! ed that those engaged it resorted to forgery.
| Mr.. Morton also stated that the use OF his
| frank on these documents or on any other such
was a fraud and forgery.
Mr.. Upton rose to a personal explanation
and said he had been almost as unfortunate as
Mr.. Chandler. He had sent one of that Sena-
nalftly returned with the request that if he in
dorsed such sentiments he never would send his
frank to that constituent again. daughter
The bill to admit six Japanese youths to the
West Point Academy came up:
Mr.. Cassery opposed the bill, but it passed
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
resolution to investigate the sales of arms to
French agents.
Mr.. Carpenter addressed the Senate
Mr. Carpenter charged that certain American
Senators attamntpp n gat aXcIt6-
ment on state of facts which had been known
to everybody year more for the purpose of
affecting the next Presidential election.
Mr. Sumner said the facts were not known to
him until few weeks ago. .H
Mr. Carpenter said they might have been
known to any one who examined the reports of
the department. There has been no conceal
ment in the matter or attempt to cover up any
of the acts of Congress and had been before the
country. The Senator from Missouri, (Mr.
Schurz) had compared himself and Mr. Sum-
ner in this matter to Golden and Bright ON the
Alabama question But there was one great
difference between the cases. Golden and
Bright did what they did to prevent their coun-
try from committing a wrong; but after the
wrong had been committed they never moved
for Committee of Investigation for the pur-
pose of making out a case against their cOun-
try.
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
injure their own party; but he had kindly
feeling for the Democratic party, having been
member of it as long as he could innocently-
daughter. And he was willing to give them
credit for higher motive than the unwilling
ness to take any part in so unpatriotic proceed
in r., Simmer said Yesterday tho. th;s >. >. NOT
urally opened with resolution of the French
Assembly. That was true and it was to be re-
GREETED, and the case having been opened in
France had not now been allowed to close there
(Laughter) rtt'
After an argument of some length, present
ing no new points, Mr.. Carpenter said he re-
GREETED this debate because of the effect it would
be likely to have in exciting doubt respecting
the wisdom of our naturalization laws. These
were based upon 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 a
foreign land seeking and obtaining admission
toour citizenship, and afterward being elected
to a seat in the United States Senate, and hay
ing there place on the Committee of Foreign
affairs which gave him free access to the ar
chieves and secrets of our State Departmental
such a man with all his experience and advan-
tages could not rise above the old feeling of al
leglance to his native land, then the people
would naturally ask whether other men with
less capacity and advantages could do it. F.
Mr.. Schurz replied to this latter point with
great spirit. He challenged any Senator to
point out any occasion when he was wanting in
patriotism, when he was not willing at any
sacrifice to render what service he could to the
country.
Mr.. Corbett moved substitute, preamble
setting forth that the whole subject had now
undergone an exhaustive discussion of nearly
three weeks and that none of the allegations
continued in the original preamble had been
sustained, and a resolution declaring that the
war department. officials were guiltless of any
wrong doing in any of these transactions, end
that it was the sense of the Senate that the dis
cussion of the subject should cease. He then
reviewed at length the allegation and evidence
adduced to sustain them and argued that they
were shown to have no foundation. '5t'f
Mr. Conkling fully agreed with Mr.. Corbett,
and said the substitute was eminently Just and
proper, but inasmuch as it its adoption would
prevent investigation he appealed to the Sena-
tor to withdraw it, feeling confident that an in
vestgation would completely explode the
charges, lnslnuations and imputations that had
been made. -"T ..f.. r
Mr.. Corbett withdrew his substitute.
Mr.. Harlan moved an amendment to the
amendment offered by Mr.. Conkling some days
since.
Mr.. Har1au- $ a1rrcrtirr.o.. ai.Aa.s tho commit
tee to enquire whether any American Senator
or citizen has had unauthorized Communication
or collusion with agents of any foreign power
which was adopted. 1888
Mr.. Frelinghuysen suggested to Mr.. Sumner
that as it was rule to conduct all investiga-
tions of all matter relating to our foreign rela-
tons with closed doors it would be well to leave
it discretionary with the committee to conduct
the investigation in secret.
Mr.. Sumner denied it was question affect
ing our foreign relations and insisted it was
purely domestic question relating to the con-
duct of our own officials. d ' T
Mr. Morton said if it was not question of
foreign relations 1t was nothing. The charge
of corruption on the part of any American Sem
ator had been abandoned some DAYS ago. If
the Senator from Massachusetts and the Sena-
tor from Missouri could succeed in establishing
their case the effect would be to make case for
Prussia against this country and the cry of cor
ruption raised by those Senators could not shield
them from that position. n-
According to Mr.. Sumner argument against
England in the Alabama case, Prussia would
have q claim against us for CONSEQUENTIAL DANA
ges amounting to hundreds of millions, for she
could maintain that by supplying France with
arms we had prolonged the siege of Paris and
thereby put her to an enormous additional out
lay and loss. W s'
Mr.. Conkling said Mr. Sumner had tried to
make out stronger case for Prussia against
Great Britain because he had argued that
France when she got those arms from us was
PROSTATE and unarmed, and therefore we had
not merely furnished one of the belligerants
with arms, but had actually set her on her feet
again and enabled her to continue the war.
Mr. Morton concurred in this statement He
would not argue whether the course of Messrs.
Sumner and SchurZ in this matter was patTi0t-
ic, he would leave it to the common sense of
the nation, but he would say, I shall vote for
this resolution because know as we'll as 1
know anything, that it has not transpired in
my own presence that this whole inquiry is a
sham and pretenee without any foundation
whatever, and may say know 1t will result
in the vindication of the government, and 1
shall vote for this resolution for the purpose of
squelching the scandals that have been scatter
ed abroad from here for mere political effect.
After an extended discussion the resolution
was adopted, yeas 50, nays s. The following
are the nays; Messrs. Cole, Edmunds, Gilbert,
Harlan and Wright
The preamble was laid ON the table, all voting
aye except Mr.. Edmunds, who wanted it voted
down directly. f ~ .natrer.r4,
Messrs Morton and Conklng said that Mr.
Summers voting to lay the preamble on the ia
BILE was confession that it was wrong, which
Mr.. Sumner Indignantly denied
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported bill to refund certain duties
paid by the Winona and st. Peters railroad.
Mr. Spencer, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported, with amendments, a bill read
justing the classes and salaries of Consuls and
Consul Generals,
The legislative appropriation bill was taken
up and the Senate adjourned at o'clock.
HOUSE.
The bill granting an extension of time to Wis
consin for the completion of the railroad from
st. Croix Lake to Lake Superior was taken up,
question being on ordering to third reading.
Several filibustering motions were made.
A motion to lay the motion recOnsidered on
the table, was rejected-year So, nays 81.
A letter was read from the Commissioner of
the General Land Office, to Mr.. Ketchum,
chairman of the Committee on Public Lands,
expressing the opinion that the Northern Pacific