New-York tribune., 1872-03-27

Justice. The friends Of measure, the promoters OF
do more adduce evidence that exists that the
business cannot suffer through them, while those IN
friendly to measure hostile 10 an inquiry may, rom
lukewamness neglect. possible prejudice. fan to
present the proper evidence or recognize just value 80
that business Will suffer In egsatlon PLAINLY those VINO
believe an inquiry necessary are the most proper persons
mentary law This rule may be traced In the history OF
Parliament anterior to the settlement OF country.
The ancient statement was simply that those against
the bill should he the committee" The meaning
OF the rule may be the cases which have occurred
In the House OF Commons, far back Dec 1G54, IN
tnS reign OF Queen ElsaOetn' on the cnnmIbuent vi
bill relating to misdemeanors The entry mentions that
Mr. Sargent Harms be exempted out Of the committee,
because ne spoke against the body Of the bin" In other
words, a speech against measure disqualified the
learned member, that according 10 the expressive
words, he was " exempted out OF the committee"
against the bill should be Committee" In referring
20 bill affecting the City of London, which came NJ
Nov. H. 1901 the question II the members OF London
known be against the bill could be OF Committee
and when the Speaker put the vote he said. AN that
body OF the bill to he Committee, let them
aeT one said % Yea I"S ali that will i not and ali
said NO" Parliamentary law MP to the creation OF
and believe that there is occasion for t. One against
the inquiry believing that there IL occasion for IT,
is repudated by this rule 40 inst and benign and
valuable with years. Mr.. Jefferson adds other words 70
bears himself named Of its Committee, be ought to
ask to be excused" This is the language of our
manual declaring the duty OF member who hears h.
general is applicable 20 any otner matter
referred 10 q committee. ANY disposed to neglect
these rules viii hnd warning from Mr.. Jefferson. 10
his openng chapter he quotes these words from the
famous speaker OnsOw: THAT these fsrms as lnsti,
uted hy our ancestors operated check and control
VI the majority, and that they were IN
many instances shelter ana pr0teCton 70 the
minority against the attempts Of power" Mr. jeff
follows the quotation ey declaring the forms
OF proceedings TO be the only weapons by which
the minority defend Themselves and by which the
weaker party can be protected those irregularities
and which the forms intended to check and
which the wantonness OF power Is but too often apt 10
suggest 20 large and sucCcSsfu fnalOrltlee.'
Tdis is the parliamentary rule, which forbids person
unfrieudly business OF the Committee from
ing the Commtee-One Of those nhibitiOns by which
the pubhc business is promoted and especially by which
the minority shielded against the wantonness o.
power The Congressional GiObe makes IL easy TO apply
what has been said 70 several OF this committee uness
the law, illustrated by ancient cases. ana adOped Dy
Mr. jefferson, is entirely neglected; unless the rule
SO frequently enumerated, is set at defiance
treated sham there are at least three serving or
the Committee in violation OF Parliamentar! law In
undertaking TO serve they were undoubtedly Obvious
the timehOnOIed requirement or dd not appreciate
its Not only every Senator, but the whole
country has Immeasurabie interest IN Lhe preserve
ton Of those rules by which what MT Jefferson Justly
ellis the wantounesa OF power" n restrained and
muories protected against naiorties. Any shock
to them IN the present case becomes poceoeh' os
which liberty and iusnoe suffer
As Senator, appearing before this Committee deem
IL duty 10 hle this protest IN the sincere nope tnt
whatever be the result OF the present inquiry the
open violation OF parliamentary law in the formation
and constitution Of the Committee viii not be permitted
o become a precedent hereafter. When law Is sacri-
hced individuals may, for nom trlGnph ou0 IL Is
at the loss Of great safeguard for the good o ali
Mr. Sumner offered to file with his protest. copy Of hs
Satn m HaIn then said he would administer the oath
10 Mr. Sumner, when Mr. suniner said he dechned 10
take IT, -
Mr. Carpenter moved that this protest be iled aud
Subpoena. returna6le tomorrow morning at O5o Gloon
I've issued ordering Mr. Sumner 10 appear and testify.
The next witness called was Thomas Richardson, the
agent OF Remington for the pure chase OF the
iSr eprinRted muskets, model OF 1868 Richard
sons testimony showed that he had very little to do with
the purCh8 OF these guns merely allowing us hno 10
he Used willie the business transacted by other per
He WA
or dispatches concerning this purchase to whch NE
name was signed though he supposed that hl signed
soae al them after they had been prepared. His
trart win the Reming0ns was lhat ne Should oeelVe
profit was $1,000 The whole business was conducted oy
Mr. smoot and other persons. and Richardson appears
A funny scene is said to have taken place at Mr.
summers desk III the Senate when sergeaat-at Arms
French served tne suopena upon MN, AIcf III In III
mIdy about the Senator's health and offering 70 - no
one OF his carriages him into the country, he
limited that MI Haniin had put paper lnP nus h@1s'
and seemed greatly relieved when the jOD was done MI
sumner IN reply to inquiries says that he has not yet
determined what he shall do IL regard TO the summons
There the best Of reasons 10 believe that Tue commit
tee will not press Mr. sumner 10 answer but caused he
subpoena TO be issued that the matter nsut De pu' On
I record.
The House Committee on Expenditures in the War De
Vartment this morning and examined the following
named witnesses in relation TO the sale OF arms during
the Fro nch war Major Prentice, officer of the On
tro az The time Of the sales of 70 the Remingtons;
c efarburk a receiving clerk OF the RemingtOns; Mr.
Ittleiohn also receiving clerk and Mr tnnkle senior
! M her
va elicted from these Witnesses special session
held this evening for the purpose OF examining Joseph
l. Newton bOOkkeeper al the New YORK once O1 ~ tel-
inton A. sons The witness was only questioned by Mr..
Acker no asked him about the books kept by him and
! is connexions with the French Consul and the at
tacb b+s OF hs office. He said he had had con-
yrrsatiOn with either Of the French C0nsuls
he knew the shipped were destined Tor France,
tbonrb some OF them were shipped gish ports he
refused to tel why he accom- panied Remington 20
Eurone or 10 answer other questions relating 10 ms sup
nused connection with the French COusus The Chair
man and Mr. Barber sustained the witnesses objections,
IN the ground that the Committee was ordered
~ invesfi,ate the sales CT arms, g., not to
evauIne witnesses as to the difficulties between
pirSfon and France Mr.. Acker's object in asking his
uosrOn- was 10 contradict testimony already glven by
@fhc iltere sted parties he terms them Ihe Com,
7,Iftee adjourned till Thursday morning. They will
uroa close investigation next TUESDAY, alhough
Nj AcEer desires continue the meetings and examine
al other witnesses. Tie Chairman intends 20 leave
for Connecticut tomorrow to take part ia the campaign
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE rrA AND COFFEE QUESTION NOT YET SET