Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-28
A NECESSARY RESOLVE.


MIR. SUMNER BEFORE THE ARMS COMMITTEE.
The senate arms committee met at half.past
ten. Senator Sumner appeared and protested
against the summons served upon him. con
tending that it was contrary to parliamentary
precedent. 1t was customary merely to request
the attendance of senators. He did not think
now no more than he did yesterday the com.
mittee was competent to investigate the case, as
a majority of the members had declared them
selves opposed to having the thing examined
into
Mr.. Sumner took the oath with a protest that
the chairman was disqualified to act in that ca
pacity. He testified, however, under protest.
He knew nothing of this question until the 2Sd
or oath of December; friend in the senate--not
Mr. Schurz-6rst mentioned the facts to him;
afterwards saw Mr.. SchurZ, who had seen some
of the papers; Mr. Sumner, at Mr.. Schurz's sug-
gestion, saw Chambrun, from whom he received
copies of letters from the secretary of war to the
secretary of state. He gave a circumstantial
account of the steps taken by him previous to
the introduction of his resolution. In response
to questions he said he received numerous con-
fidential communications on the subject, but de-
clined to give the names of the authors; he
handed them over to Mr.. Schurz; Mr., Sumner
considered it his duty to move the investigation.
During the examination of Sumner, Mr.. Ham
lin asked: Did you have conversation at the
Breyoort house, in November, in which you al
luded to the matter, and said you would blow
the administration sky high?
Sumner-No. stopped at the Brevoort house.
1t must have been three or four days before the
opening OF congress. did not then know any
thing about the matter. | was not at the Bre-
WORT house afterwards. | do not recollect any
conversation with gentlemen in which | said
was going to implicate the administration.
During further conversation Carpenter asked:
You said that on the Gath of December friend
in the senate called on you. Who was he?
Sumner-As a senator | must decline to an
swer.
CaTpeDter-Have you had any conversation
with parties other than Senator Schurz and the
other senator previous to the introduction of
your resolution.
SUMNER decline to answer an improper
question.
Carpenter-You say you last night received a
confidential letter naming persons who might
be called as witnesses. From whom did you re-
ceive that letter.
SUMNER decline to answer, as my CORE
spondent asked me not to tell
Carpenter-I understood YOU to say you had
received several confidential letters. Will YOU
give the name of any one of the writers2
SUMNER decline to do so.
Carpenter-Will you give any part of the let
ters2
Sumner-I think have handed all of them
to Senator Schurz, to use at his discretion2
Carpenter-Did | understand you to say that,
by parliamentary rule, in constituting a com
mittee the members must believe that the party
charged is guilty?
SUMNER hope you will not put that ques-
ton.
Carpenter have.
Sumner-Then decline to answer it,
Carpenter-Did not every member of this
committee vote for the investigation?
Sumner-The record will answer.
Carpenter not every member now sitting
on this committee avow himself favorable TO the
most searching investigation, and vote for the
resolution
Sumner-The record shows that several mem.
bers of this committee declared again and again
against what parliamentary writers call "The
thing"
Carpenter-Did not say was in favor of the
most searching inquiry2
Sumner-fes; but after you made speech
showing that there was no necessity for il. So
If there is any vitality in the rule, you are dis
qualified and ought to have declined to serve.
Carpenter-I thank you for your advice. If
the senate thought fit to put me on the commit
tee, would 1t not have been immodest In me to
decine2
Sumner-You should have searched your own
conscience.
Carpenter-My conscience is perfectly clear.
Sumuer-l will enter into no controversy. |
was at home under medical treatment on the
day the committee was appointed. Ii / had
been in the senate should have felt ii my duty
TO oppose the formation of the committee, and /
hold 1t up as a Hagrant violation Of the law
AFTER further questioning, Carpenter objected
to Summers protests going on record, as they
assailed the committee.
MFR. Hamlin regarded them as absolutely in
sulting TO the committee; and then asked SUM
ner whether Chambrun had furnished him with
the names of the witnesses.
Sumner replied that he had not; nor had he
furnished him sources Of information. He
thought, however, he had mentioned one
name-General ingalls,.
Mr.. Schurz asked: Would you consider Il il
legitimate to derive information on matters of
public business from any agent OF foreign
government
Sumner-Not the least. should fail in my