Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-04-02
The French Arms Sale.
Washington. March 81.

-
Senator Summer appeared before
the Senate Arms Investigation Com
mite, to-day, and read another elab-
crate protest against the manner in
which the committee was constituted,
in language much stronger than was
contained in his protest of yesterday.
He was extremely bitter and person
al, especially towards the chairman
of the committee, Mr.. Hamin, whom
he said was peculiarly disqualified for
performing the duties assigned 10 the
committee. After Mr.. Sumner had
finished reading his protest, Mr.. Car
penter moved that both protests be
returned TO the Senator, and not al
lowed to appear 10 evidence, on the
ground of their insulting character.
The chairman of the committee then
proposed TO swear Mr.. Sumner when
the latter said he would again enter
his protest against being sworn by
the chairman, and reiterate ed it sever
al times before the oath was taken.
Mr.. Sumner was finally sworn, and
then proceeded to give detailed ac-
count of his connection with the mat.
ter Of the sale OF arms. He knew
nothing of this question until about
the 23d or oath of December. by
friend in the Senate, not Schurz, frs,
mentioning the facts. He afterwards
saw Schurz, who had seen some pa
pers. Sumner, at Schurz' suggestion,
saw Chambrun, from whom he re-
ceived copies OF letters from Remiug-
ton to Lecesne, and of letters from
the Secretary of War to the Sccre-
tary of State. Picking up news
paper one morning, he found under
the telegraph head dispatch dated
Paris, February 9th, in which it was
stated that a Committee OF the
French National Assembly on war
contracts had adopted resolution
asking the United States Govern
ment TO furnish the result Of the in
quiry into the conduct of the Ameri-
can officials suspected of participa-
ting in the purchase of arms for the
| French Government during the war
with the Germans He understood
that the same telegram also appeared
in the New York papers and that it
came through the Associated Press.
This telegram seemed to be unques-
tionably genuine, and, added to the
letter of Remington and the dispatch
of Squires to Remington stating that
they had the strongest Of influences
working for them, made it still more
incumbent upon him TO institute an
inquiry. 1t was under these circum-
stances that be brought the subject
before the Senate. Mr.. Summer, in
reply to the question as 10 how
Chambrun obtained copies Of these
letters, said he thought Chambrun
told him that they were handed TO
him by Bellenont, the French Chargd'
Affairs. In response TO u question,
he Informed the committee that he
had received a confidential commuu-
ication from an eminent gentleman,
suggesting witnesses who should be
summoned When asked to name
the gentleman, who had furnished
him with these facts, he declined to
answer oD the ground that it was
confidential. Mr.. Sumner was on
the stand for upwards of an hour,
and both Carpenter and Hamlin
showed considerable feeling in the
questions and answers. lie was
asked whether on his way from Bosa
ton to New York, while stopping at
The Brevoort House, he did not boast
that there was to be bomb-shell
burst in the Administration camp,
on account of this Investigation. He
denied this, and said he knew noth>
ing about it until he reached Wash
ington. Mr.. Carpenter minated
that he would compel him to answer
the questions as to where he obtain
ed his information, and to what Sem
atOr he alluded