Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-15
Our Partin FFaHeO-PrusSianWar
A Cabinet Minister Implicated.
no" Our Government Is liable to
Germany for ssAIabdnia Claims,
SENATE.

A"F AAGOoma Claims"
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-Mr. Sumne
called up bis resolution for investigation
into the alleged manufacture of arms fol
the French in the workshops of the United
States.
Mr.. Conkling was anxious 10 have the
resolution disposed of.
Mr. Sherman said the resolution would
lead to political debate, and appealed to the
Senate not to be diverted from practical
business. If Mr.. Sumner had been content
to omit his long preamble, and offer a SIM
pie resolution Of inquiry, it might be passed
without debate.
Mr.. Anthony objected to taking up the
resolution until the appropriation bill
should be disposed of:
Mr.. Conkling said it was not for the i'm
portance of the resolution that he wished
to have it taken up at once, but on account
OF its peculiar character, which the rules
did not permit him properly to describe.
lie would, however, suppose case, the
introduction Of resolution casting gross
and hateful aspersions even on the
Senate, and not, as this did, uponthe Anne
rican Government and the American name,
! and he wotild say to the Senator from
! Rhode Island Mr.. Anthony that in such a
case he would insist on the immediate con-
sideration Of the resolution, even If a hum
| dred appropriation bills were waiting. So
he wanted this resolution disposed of, be-
cause OF the imputations and statements
accompanying it, groundless as he believed
| them to be.
After further discussion the resolution
/ was 70 ION ~ nd
the Senate. The subject, ne said, was in
terestlng and Important in two aspects, as
1t concerned ourselves and as It concerned
lorelgn powers. All must unite in a desire
to redeem our country from the suspicion of
moral obfquity. He would speak not of
men but of
Facts,
and if anybody should be pointed at bv the
statement ne was about to make, it would
be the fault of the facts and not his, He
had brought forward this subject with great
reluctance and after long delay. The main
facts had been brought to his knowledge
before Christmas, bat ne had postponed
bringing them into the Senate. be-
cause he knew they had been laid
before the President and the Secretary of
war and he had reason to believe that thev
would institute an inquiry. They had not
done so, but the Secretary of War had made
to the House of Representatives. a rep6rt
upon this subject. The character of that
report would appear as he proceeded, and
the Senate would judge whether it did not
fall under some of the suspicicr which is
attached to tllc Whole transaction. In SET
ting forth the facts he must introduce two
characters upon the scene, Mr.. Place, late
consul General of France at New York,
and Samuel Remington, of Hlion, New
oTk. Place had been accused of fraud
and upon his second trial had been convict
ed mainly on the testimony Of Remington,
who was authenticated as a witness
In the French Courts by a ceHi-
tcate from our Secretary of War.
AT the expiration of the morning hour
the legislative appropriation bill came I'D as
unfinished business.
Mr.. TrumbUll moved to postpone It and
continue the discussion of Summers resolu-
ticn.
John Sherman appealed to the majority
Of the Senate not TO allow themselves to be
drawn into political debate by taking I'D
this resolution. If they did he would not
be present. He warned the majority that
it was unwise for them to permit their ad-
versaries to drive them into wrangling DO
litical debate every time they chose to wave
Red Flag
in their faces. Everybody knew that there
was no objection to any proper inquiry into
this matter, but the Senate ought to object
to this attempt to get up political debate in
advance upon alleged facts not yet investi-
gated.
Mr.. Upton reminded Mr.. Sherman of
the storm which greeted tie tactics of those
who OrrCsed The resolution for the INQUIRY
at New York, and said the real motive for
opposing this one, was not because it had a
preamble, but because it proposed a thor
ough, bold, manly investigation. He didn't
wonder at it because a majority
Had Got EnOugh of Investigation.
but must take little more, and could not
escape it by any political subterfuge.
Mr.. Wilson favored an immediate and
full investigation of this subject, and didn't
fear that it would iniuTe the Administra-
ton or the Republican party.
Mr.. Morton was ready to vote upon the
resolution without debate. He had no
power to avoid debate, and II he had he
would not do it. Here was a resolution in
volving the most enormous suspicious
against members of this government. and
reaching even to a member of the cabinet
even, if not higher. He believed there was
robbery IN it, that it was mere
Blank Cartridge,
but he knew very well that if the Senate
should refuse TO consider it now, no matter
for what good reason the refusal would be
made the basis for the most infamous
calumnies. The Senate had better. there
fore, let the cartridge be exploded at once.
Mr.. Trumbull thought Mr.. Sherman's
speech was remarkable, and wondered
what he meant by speaking of
"Our Adversaries,"
and cred flag"
Mr. Sherman said he had alluded to the
Senator from Massachusetts, (Sumper.1
who had introduced this preamble and res
olutiOn, and he appealed to Mr.. Trumbul
to say whether he had ever known a Sena-
tor moving an investigation to insist on
putting into the preamble the facts to b e
investigated.
Mr. Trumbul said the basis of the pro-
posed examination must be set out in some
way, and 1t was a mere matter of taste |
whether 1t should be stated in writing in A !
preamble or orally in the Senate. In either !
case they go before the public. But what |
did the Senator (MT. Sherman) mean bv |
talking of "adversaries?" Surely the SEN |
ator from Massachusetts was not polite |
ally an adversary Of the Senator from Ohio. |
And why did the Senator expect a political |
debate on this question? Surely this was
not a political question.
Mr.. SheTman-My honorable friend is |
very innocent. [Laughter.] Can there be
any motive under heaven in pressing this
resolution now, except to invite a political
discussion? My friends from New York
and Indiana (Conkling and Morton) are
eager for the fray, and my friend from Mas
sachusetts (Sumner) is eager for the fray.
Sumner-I give notice to my friend that
am not going into political discussion.
leave that to those the Senator calls ad-
7ersaries. [Laughter.l
Mr. Carpenter said the country was on
he eve Of political campaign. 1t was
veil understood the President was to be
and it was also generally un-
lerstood that three or four Senators had long
'een preparing
A BOmbsheII,
which, at the proper time, would be explo-
ed, and blow Gen. Grant and his friends |