Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-04-03

sentative in relation TO q question which would
put your own government in the wrong, those
governments making no complaint Themselves
Mr.. Sumner. That is an abstract question, and
no such question here arose. The question here
WIS
Mr.. Ilamin.-I did not ask you what the
question here WIS
Mr. Sumner. IN answer 1t in my own way
il is inadequate to this case.
Mr.. llamlin. IN n.k an answer, however
Mr.. SUMNER decline ~ answer.
At this point Mr.. Carpenter asked similar
question, TO which Mr.. Sumner replied that it
WIS broad and abstract question.
Mr.. Carpenter You are broad and abstract
man. tIAugnter.)
The examination Of MIR Sumner was then con.
cludcd
All that has been or will he proved by this in
yestigati0n, is that the government Sold as II had
n right IN, its surplus and unscrvlcerhIo war ma
toral, which were bought by private parties on
speculation, who in turn sold them TO the French
| government al a good profit
The Marquis de Chambrun, little, dried up,
/ fussy frcnchmnn, who is inetitbly happy when
ever any one addresses him as Marquis, and who,
il appears has resided here Tor the past six years
| in the pay Of the French Government ~ sort Of
Secret Service mnn. made the discovery last fall
| that the French Government had paid for arms
bought in this country much more than this Gov
eminent had received lie was daily visitor at
Senator summers, % whom he communicated the
/ fact Sumner saw therein. n chance 10 catch
| somebody connected with the Administration in
a financial speculation. Schurz thought he saw
nm opportunity 90 excite the Jul feeling Of the
/ German element against the Administration.
Hence, the charges in the Senate and this inves
/ tgatiun. Il hns already been proved that the
Government has received every dollar that the
arms sold for and that Prussia has no cause Of
complaint as To the time and manner Of their sno.
| OF both these facts Messrs. Sumner and SchuU
might easily have satisfied themselves without
attempting to alarm the country, occupying
weeks Of the time of the Senate, and spending
hundreds Of thousands VI dollars in lruitess inves
tgati0n General Grant and his chances for re-
election will be strengthened rather than weak
cned by this agitation and investigation. The
| House have hada special committee Investigating
| this same subject for some weeks pt,t, but then
proceedings attract little attention
The next most notable investigation is that now
in progress known as the Robson investigation.
Ever since his failure q obtain the office ul Col
lcctUr Of the port ct New York -Chas. 4. Dana,
a" the pirate Of the Press has as-ailed Gen.
Grant and everyone connected with his admins
tratiun. In his lihel1us, black-mailing sheet,
" The New York sun In the most reckless. un-
truthful and malevulent manner Recently he
has continued 10 utter the most scandil1us char
yes against the administration 90 the Navy De
parnent, applying 90 the Secretary Che yile-t and
most opprubriOuS epithets. Mr.. Robson at last
called for congressional investigation, and
Dana was summoned on here 10 prove his char
Us. lie came, accompanied by sharp little
! Iumb's lawyer, as though he were the one 70 be
tried. Thus far lie has not been able 10 produce
u particle OF proof in support OF his airociou.
charges except htdrsay evidence, generally what
some one had heard another man-who is nov
dead-say. lie will he proved by this iuyesiga-
ti0n to he malignant liar, but Will Of course ~
hack and invent or procure and publish other and
more lies about Grant and his Cabinet officers
! \ spechl House committee, OF which Judge
/ Poland l. prominent member, has spent tie
whole winter in investigating the affairs of the
/ District Of Columbia, on charges preferred by tho
old democratic BJurbunsand certain disappointed
contractors here, against the new District gov
eminent and the B1ard Of Public Works. The
amahe patient and long suffering committee
/ have spent nearly three months in wlunowing the
great muss OF chah offered M evidence without
obtaining scarcely grain Of fact IN substantial
/ ton of the charge
There are some half n dozen other committees
inyestigatng-seneca stone, and the Lord only
knows what else
In the early part OF the session predicted that
Congress would not adj iurn On the 29th Of May,
as they had resolved 10. but didn't then i0ro,ee
these investigations. Every member OF all these
committees will vote for the earliest possible nd
luurnment, as the only means Of escape from TIN
Odious committee work. lnoWs.