Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-22

That assertion he would put his eWn tha.
Mr. Morton had not even touched the ar.
gument that Mr. Schurz had made Tues
day. He
OOuld not Allow
Mr.. Morton to define his political position
by other mSn's speeches. Mr. Schnrz de-
MED that he was attempting to build up a
German Know Nothing party.
Calls for question on
The Amendment.
Mr.. Conkling said that as the said SPY
had been criticized as offensive, be word will
ing that it should be struck out.
Mr.. Sumner said he wished to call the
attention Of the Senate to tue meaning Of
Conkfng's amendment. Mr.. Sumner then
read from Vattel and other authors, to show
that the employment Of spies belonged only
to state Of war, and that when caught
they were condemned to capital punish
ment. Therefore, the Senate would bear
In mind that if this French spy should be
caught, he must be
Exchanged,
according to thelaws Of war. daughter
he also read the definition of an emissary.
He said these two words, used by Csnkling
In this amendment, not only implied
Ignorance OF Language,
but was also an insult to friendly power
France.
Mr.. Conkling said he was after things,
and noe words, in his amendment, and he
wanted 1t understood that be should follow
this investigation wherever it might lead.
He then said he must say word in refer
ence to the very airy exhibition made yes
terday by the Senator from Missouri,
(Schurz.) How the Senator had told US
he had stood on the perilous edge of battle.
Schurz-Me? No.
Conkling-Not in those words, Mr..
President, but he told us that he had stood
on the battle field and faced thousand
men.
Schurz-I did not say that.
Mr.. Conkling-How many thousands Gid
the Senator say he had faced?
Mr.. Schurz repeated correctly what he
did say on Tuesday.
Mr.. Conkling (excitedly)-Mr. President,
| the Senator did not say that. | appeal to
the Senate, and to those who heard he did
not say that. The Senator made a state
ment which raised litter in the gallery,
and appeal to the Senators who hear me
when deny that that was the statement.
he said he had stood in the presence of men
referred to him (Conkling), and he said he
had stood in the presence of thousands of
them and his heart had not blanched.
Mr.. Schurz-I will repeat now to the
Senator my exact language. l said: "On
the paths of duty l have walked, l have
met men far more dangerous than he is and
before a thousand of them my heart will
not quail.7 l repeat that. r bdued ap-
plause.l
Mr.. Conkling said that , hurz had
also assumed that he was .lgh or too
well known to have his Conduct inyestigat-
ed. He (Conkling) did not know that in
the Republic there was any one too high to
be the subject of investigation, but if any
such person existed it certainly was not
that member of the Senate who came here
to insinuate that the President of the
United States had drabbled the robes of his
Great once
in the nasty mire of personal corruption.
[Subdued applause The Senator from
Missouri (Schurz) had made this imputa-
ton. 1t was contained in pamphlet which
was circulated by the Democrats in New
Hampshire. The Senator who could make
such an imputation with no reason to be-
lieve it to be the truth, and with every rea-
son to believe it to be false, must not think
hard if investigation pointed to hin lest the
uncharitable could remember that it is the
hit bird that hutters. TSubdued applause. I
Mr.. Schurz said if he had done anything
yesterday that looked like strutting, he must
beg pardon for having encroached on the
Exclusive Privilege
of the distinguished Senator from New
York, [laughter,1 and if he had done any.
thing like boasting it certainly was not very
much. He had only said that he would
not quail before a thousand men of thi.
kind, and surely that would be no great
demonstration of courage [Renewed
laughter.l But, said Schurz, the Senator
has leveled one shaft at me which, Il
judge from the magnifcence with which hE
pronounced it and from the fearful pom
derosity of his looks, he deemed decidedly
crushing; be said l had lere thrown ou
insinuations against the chief of this Re
public as to his being connected with very
questionable practices in New York. Sir
let me say to the Senator and to the coun
try, that all the statement / ever made OF
that subject l am willing to stand by to-
day. Mr.. Schurz then repeated what he
said in the Senate in the debate on the res
olutiOn to investigate the New York Gus
tomhouse about "the
Mysterious Power,
stronger than due regard for public opinion
and stronger than the Secretary of the
Treasury himself, which sustained the gen.
eral order system in New York" He in
sisted that he stated only facts, and drew
from them the only conclusion that every
sane mind drew. Conkling might talk
abont insinuation, but he could neither dis
1 fIa
Mr.. Conkling read from Schurz's former
speech on this subject, to show
How AtrOcIOus
it was, and repeated that the man who
threw out such insinuations against the
highest officer of the Republic must not be
too tender when his own conduct
was pointed out fer investigation
Mr.. Schurz hoped that even the Senator
from New York did not mean to insinuatC
that he wanted to avoid investigation. HI
had already promised to vote for that Sena
tors amendment, and he would vote for it
as he said yesterday, with all the scorn /
deserved. The people would Judge between
himself and the Senator from New York
between the man who stood before the
country exposing himself to obloquy fortht
sake of cause which he had shown to bt
founded on truth and honesty, and another
who vociferated against it and who had ney
er shown that he had
The Courage
in the face Of the powers that be, to draw al
/ henest conclusion.
: Mr.. Conkling's amendment was modife,
by substituting the words gentleman or Of
fcer" for spy or emissary, and was theI
adopted, yeas 49, nays MIR. Spragne.
Mr.. Sumner proposed to withdraw tn
/ preamble so that the Senate might act di
} rectIy on the resolution, but Mr.. Sherman
B objected, and the Vice President decides
that the preamble was part of the resolution
: and could not be withdrawn.
Mr.. Harlan offered an amendment direct
g ing the committee to investigate the sale
!. of arms for the whole fiscal year, and omit
n ted the direction to inquire who the rea
: parties were that invested. Adopted.
: Two Committees.
Mr.. Trumbull said that it was desirabl
i that the investigation should be conducted
Y by a committee, the members of which
we're in favor of it, and as the adoption o
: the Conkling amendment would make
! s., I,oy Of fbio -,