Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-21
Our Washington Letter.

dent that little business Of general interest and
Importance will he transacted, for previous TO
that event, most Of the measures introduced, or
at least most Of the discussions will be directed
towards influencing the action Of the nominating
convention. Such has been the case thus far to
much greater extent than appears upon the limo
cent face Of Congressional proceedings, and the
past week has been no exception to the rule
Senator Summers resolution, introduced in the
Senate on Monday last, providing for commit
tee Of inquiry into the alleged sale Of arms and
ammunition to the French government during
the late Fmnco.p russian war, was peculiarly Of
this character. 1t was limited in the preambes
Of this resolution, and more broadly asserted in
the ensuing discussion, that these transactions
involved a breach of our neutrality towards Prus
sa and that an enormous and alarming discrep-
ancy existed between the amount of sales and the
amount received therefor by the Treasury. The
resolution was intended as an attack upon the
Administration Of General Grant, and of course
gave rise 10 one of the longest, most exciting
and acrimonious discussions Of the session Sena-
tors Sumner and Schurz led the attack and the
defence was ably participated in by Senators Nor
ton, Elmunds, Harlan, Conkling, Freinghuysen,
and Others The speeches Of the last named gem
tlemen, and especially the elaborate argument
Of Senator Harlan, delivered in the Senate on
Wednesday and Thursday, not only completely
indicated the Administration, but the Secretary
Of War and the Chief Of Ordnance from all blame,
and fully showed the partizan character and in
justice Of the attack, which was not justified by
even prima iacie evidence in the hands of MeSsrs
Sumner and Schurz.
The facts appear to be that, at the close Of the
rebellion the government found itself in posses
sion Of vast quantities Of cannon, small arms and
other ordnance stores no longer required and
which it was for its interest to dispose VI on ac-
count Of their pcrishable character, the expense
of their care and preservation, or of their worth
less quality or obsolete pattern. These stores
were disposed Of, from time to time, in small
quantities, at public auction, until July 90, 1868,
when Congress authorized the Secretrry Of War
to continue the SALE after due public notice, eth
er at auction or private sale. None Of these war
like materials were sold, at any time, to any for
eign government or their known agents but af-
ter the breaking out Of the war between France
and Prussia, large quantities were bought by pri-
] Nutt lhlllt~ hu it~Diu u IItutu EoNtINDutuls
Not only was this course within the bounds Of the
strictcst observance of neutrality by the United
States, but it appears that Prussia was informed
by her representative in this country Of the OPP
portuuity to purchase, and that France was
liberal customer Of the parties who had purchased
from the government Prussia not only entered
no protest, but Bismark is reported to have re-
piled that the kind Of arms and ammunition
bought would damage France more than they
would Germany, and that if the Prussians wanted
any Of them they could pick them up the banks
Of the Loire much cheaper than they could send
to this country for them.
1t was evident before the discussion was half
| through that the pretence Of unlriendliness to-
wards Prussia implied in the resolution, and the
speeches Of Sumner and Schurz, was the merest
buncOmbe, and that 50 far As any breach of neu-
trality was concerned, there was not single hook
left to hang a scare on. The charge was drawn
from the other barrel by the prompt statement of
the Secretary Of the Treasury that every dollar
of the sales had been properly accounted for and
turned into the Treasury. The object Of the res.
oution was to add to the noisy hue and cry being
raised by the opponents Of Cen Grant to deceive
and alarm the people, and especially to excite the
German vote against the republican party and
the administration. In this it has already failed
and two things will be likely to he demonstrated
by this and other like failures first, that the
Senator from Massachusetts,, ifa great statesman,
is poor politician; and second that the Senator
from Missouri does not carry the German vote of
this country in his brooches pocket The spear
80 ;aipregnable wall, and these unjust as.
saults against the republican administration not
only strengthen its position, but recoil against
the ASSISTANTS. " Vaulting ambition o'erleaps
tsoll and falls on the other side"
Senator Schurz is a politician by nature. educa.
ton, and habit, and no one is surprised at his
ayaling himself Of all the arts Of the profession
in playing the game but Senator Sumner has
lIle'earned reputation as statesman Of broad
comprehensive, iar-reaching views, and of lofty
and magnanimous impulses. His best friends
and his most ardent admirers, will regret to see
him descend from his proud position to engage in
the intrigues and plots of politics 1t i. always
sad and shocking discovery to find that our
golden idols are made Of nothing but common
clay
The Senate will doubtless strike out the obiee-
tionable preamble, (Which assumes all the charge,
made against the administration to be true), pass
the resolution and order the investigation 1t
will, also, doubtless be promptly proved that
there was no necessity therefor.
Much speculation is already INDUCED in here
as to the constitution and course of parties and
factions in the coming Presidential contest
Every movement is regarded as significant. The |
recent resignation Of John w. Forney as collector
oil the port OF Philadelphia was thought to be nut
ting himself in fighting TRIM in a certain contn. |
gcncy, as against the denomination of General
Grant. His name was mentioned here the next
Jay as candidate Tor Vice-President on an oppo-
sition republican ticket with General Logan Mt
ITS head There was probably no authority for
this. The opposition to General Grant makes
itself most heard and felt here but the almost
universal feeling is one of quiet confidence that
he Will, Notwithstanding, be renominated and
reelected
case involving one Of the curosities as well
as the uncertainty of the law was decided by the
Supreme Court of the District last week. Seth
johnson, a confidential and trusted clerk in the
Office OF Gen, Spinner, United States Treasurer.
was indicted for the embezzlement of SIC. 900.
While awaiting trial be was summoned before n
Committee of Congress and testified as to the
facts and circumstances of his crime
His counsel immediately thereafter entered a
plea IN bar to his further prosecution before the
courts, relying upon the following United States
Statute:
" No person examined and testifying before
either House of Congress- or any committee of
either House, shall be held to answer criminaIly
IN any court OF justice or subject 10 any penalty
Or forfeiture for any fact or act to which he shall
be required to testify before either House of Con
sressi or any committee Of either House, as to
which he shall have to testify, whether before or
liter the date of the act. /" I
The court sustained the plea and discharged
he prisoner. Fifteen minutes after the aston
shed prisoner had walked out of the court room.
when information was communicated to the Dis
riot Attorney that the above Statute upon which
he prisoner had been discharged had been re-
'eaed by subsequent Statute, which was hunt