The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-15
WASHING on.
1e--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~e
The French Arms Bursting in
the Senate.
Summers Vicious Volley-Wilson Promptly
Returns the Fir,-Sharp Skirmishing
Along the Whole Line
No Blood Drawn.
How Orleanist Vaccinations Reach
Across the Atlantic.
The Navy Yards and Civil Ser
vice Reform.
Teaching Our Tars What Active
Service Means.
"A KANSAS JUDGE ARRAIGNED.
The Tariff Bill Being Considered in
Committee.
Teaching Our Tars What Active
Service Means.
"A KANSAS JUDGE ARRAIGNED.
The Tariff Bill Being Considered in
Committed.
The Westtlelds of Year and
Their Victims.

WASHINGTON, Feb. H. 1872.
Excitement in the Senate Over Summers
French Arm-selling Resolutien-A Bitter
Attack and Strong Defence-secret History
OF the ResOlutiOn-Was Sumner Imposed On2
Mr.. Sumner came into the Senate chamber earlier
than usual this morning. From q certain air Of
careless caborateness with which the Senator gets
himself up when big with set speech. and the
large bundle OF papers arranged beforehand on the
desk by his secretary as well as by constant relays
ofpages who for several minutes busy in bring.
Ing books and files OF newspapers. the galleries anc
1pated that Mr.. Sumner was to be delivered of an
other attack on the administration Almost imme-
diatey after the journal read the Senator moved
to proceed with the discussion Of his preamble and
resolution relative to investigation into the sale OF
arms, ordinance and stores during the Franco
Prussian war.
There was evident commotion made by the mo-
ton. Mr.. Cole, as chairman of the Appropriations
Committee, wanted his little bills first attended to-
Senator Sherman took decided ground against
Summers motion, declaring that the resolution
should pass at once and without debate, but that
the preamble was designed only to afford oppor-
funity for political harangue. The Ohio Senator
was evidently not well Informed as to the plans Of
his friends as Messrs. Conkling, Morton, Freling-
huysen Scott and Edmunds at once declared that
MIR. Sumner should be allowed to proceed. The
New York senator was so severe in his char
Rcterization Of motives that the Vice President
called him to order. Mr. Sumner was allowed to
proceed, and was hardly fairly under way when the
morning hour expired. Another hour was wasted
In debate as to allowing him to proceed but the
Presidents friends, taking warning by their
previous mistakes, declared that he must be
showed to go on; Mr.. Sherman alone re-
Bisted. He declared Mr.. Sumner's charges were
only huge blank cartridge. Mr.. Carpenter was
particularly facetious In his illusions to Mr.. Sum-
ners position. The latter won his point, since all
were willing he should 60 on, and he proceeded to
complete the attack ne had prepared In brief, the
story which Mr.. Sumner told Is that our government
winked at grave violation Of international obliga-
lions in the matter OF selling arms to the French
agents during the recent war; and this was brought
about by corrupt and purchased completely Of high
American officials with French agents. These
charges were made lnferentially rather than
directly and the case was built up from such sen-
der materials as were OF hand with the skill and
craft Mr.. Sumner has so often shown, though he Is
not usually crdted with such qualities. The trial Of
Victor Place, recently French Consul General at
New York. for peculation In the matter OF these pur
chases, affords the basis for Mr. Summers charges
The Senator's aim was to establish-frst, great
Of1cal laxity on our part amounting to breach Of
neutrality Obligations, IN dsposing to France Of
large quantities OF arms; second, to show that
this laxty must have been brought about by
corruption. In the endeavor to make this appear
the Senator showed or attempted TO snow that our
government received between s5,00O,00O ana
$4,000. 600 for arms sold to Remington & Sons
and those purchasing for mem, while the evidence
brought forward on the trial OF Place showed that
the Provisional government of France paid for the
same arms nearly S7,00o,00o II was generally
conceded that the case Mr.. Summer tried to make
vval n Oulft
not sustain its plausibility. Senator Wilson
followed his colleague and defended the War
Department He said that oil bids for arms
known or suspected, on any reasonable grounds, to
be made In the interests OF the French government
had been rejected. 1t was not the Departments
business to 20 behind the bid, unless proof or
charges were made In responsible manner. MIR.
Sumner Acknowledges the right OF citizens 10 pur-
chnse arms and sell tue same to begerents at
peace with US, running their own risk; but he re-
CARDS 1t as an undesirable and inhuman privilege,
which should be abrogated by international law
part OF his speech was devoted to proving this.
Practical men, like his colleague, take
their ground on the law. Mr. Wilson
referred to the alleged discrepancy between the War
and Treasury Departments as to the amount re.
ceved and paid over for arms sold. The detailed
report OF sales made by the Secretary of war shows
total Of &c. 737,437 TO- of which all but S14s27 6s
uaO Deeu CouVeJcu intO TIE treasury and the
vouchers given and received. The balance was IN
the hands OF disbursing officers. Of the total
amount charged as received for the sale OF arms
g. $50, 900 received In the eighteen onths pre-
cedng July 1872. lie asserted that these charges
were inspired IN part by the present French govern
ment's hostility TO Gambetta, by whom the arms
purchased here had been paid for
senator Schurz tried TO catch Mr.. Wilson in some
discrepancy, but failed The latter then proceeded
in his usual way to pour oil on the troubled waters OF
party dissatisfaction. Mr.. Harlan obtained the floor;
and commenced sharp attack on Mr.. Sumner but
soon gave way to an adjournment, which occurred
OF four
There was considerable elation among the ma
5ority at what they deemed the failure OF Mr..
Sumner to make his case good The theory
countenanced by the War Department in regard
to the charges made by Mr.. Sumner Is very
startling. 1t seems plain, both from Mr.. summers
speech to-day and from facts which were previously
known, that the French government paid more
money Tor arms purchased from the United states
through secret agents than was received by this
government. The French were anxious to discover
the manner in which the fraud was perpetrated and
ny whom. As II was impossible 10 obtain the
necessary testimony 10 France, the French having
NO means OF taking the evidence of unwilling wit
"esses IN America, q plan was hit upon so ingen
ious mat the Senate IS undertaking TO furnish
ehe evidence at our expense. This plan, It is al
eseu' Is the real purpose Of summers intended In
voe''tation' Many OF the documents used by Mr..
SUMNER Today and especially the letter of the
eecreeary OF War OF January 10, written to the
secretary OF state which he quotes In the preamble
~ n's 'esoiuuon, were never printed or furnished