New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-11
WASHINGTON.
THE FRENCH ARMS SCANDAL.

WILMINGTON. NAV 10.-The oehaVe @hino
rommttee held their final meeting To-Day anu "e'''u
- ,heir renort which will be made tolhorio"'
upon '"en 49,, thoir investigations the 9th OF
80 "a hel6 Al meetings, concluding on the 2Su oi
An Mnch Of the testimony is only hearsay' anu s"e
:, =, % NOT sworn TO- even at second hand; put ~ "n an
tat,on OF charges seriously affecting the hohor Oh
country and the character Of high officers OF the
oovernment, the Committee desired 10 receive every
thnc that might possibly shed light on the SUBJECT
SENATOR SUMMERS PROTEST.
tho witnesses before the Committee fully answered
IN, opestons put 10 them, except Senators Sumner ana
schurz each Of whom refused 10 answer certain ques
tons Of the nature Of which the testimony shows. Inc
Committee in reviewing the protest Of Senator summer,
sav that the resolution raising the Committee dlrecteu
an inouiry into the conduct of Senators touching the
srhiect matter Of investigation. This subject
ia regulated, not by the rules OF the Respective
Houses but by the acts of Congress, wmcn
exceptions in favor OF Senators or Others
fyipg before committee OF either House OF OonsIos
To exempt Senator from the effect OF the statue
snaop NAV do what the law declares person shall
do or that Senator need not do what the law uecas
rom fxnressins their astonishment that Senator
should cotbe himself with the innunues nS or
pertaned in ancient times 10 persons OF an ie11sla
caste it has been the purpose OF 'I veaTs TO
lion of Congress for she III PaSS citizens, without
regard TO station color OF sbd eeSSnay amenable
Of servluds For senator now TO invoke the artl-
eiai and arbitrary immunities belonging 10 tHe ext
spce Of caste in society is TO ignore the lundamentaI
ShS of republic that the officer the servant OF the
nSonle and responsible the law equally Win otner
1Itzens The law is voice Of the people, and no per
son, high or low. black OF %ei o rs pnroyisIons
Ii law is 10 bind any one IL certainty is noDd Int
estSpped Disobedence to any constitutional act OF
Congress crime but when committed ~ oe b
member Therefore, Notwithstanding the pl0te;sSI ol
Senator Sumner which they have gwen au9 Is
ton the Committee cannot doubt that supoma d fo
nroperly issued to him and that he was Douhu 10
obey It and testify before the Committee anu b
refusal 10 answer the questions "A4'i WIZ '' W ~
cannot be justified
THE QUESTION CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE
In regard to sale OF ordnance stores by the Govern
ent of the United States during the fiscal year ending
lime 90 1871 the amount kind, and description sold;
the purchasers thereof the dates fdelyery the price
for which Sold the amount received and the date OF the
authority of sale, fully shown by the eSlo,, ny
which IL appears that the net balance received was
so0SO7 c. all of which has been paid into the treasury
The Committee also directed TO inquire l1to l1e
determining what was intended by this requirement OF
the resolution they were guided by the debate which
took place in the Senate pending the resoiu'On' anu
considered the following questions
Were tey the best interests Of the Govern
g. Were they made without preference to purchaser
Were such circumstances to violate the oo
Hgauon United aneutrsl power pending TIC vi" De-
yhs the Government Of the Unite I9 st. St1is. a ss;
shS Cnnmttee duv Jealous Of the honor Of our coun
have great satisfaction in being able after the most
tboos6 and inpartIal inyestgaon to say that there
" noSinS in these transactions which reflects dshonor
upon either The Committee say that they nnu thU le
sales were made according the settled construction OF
the satnte i'm the war Department. with results exceed
iDgy favorable TO the Government therefore. they
hnd nothing the conduct of the secretary OF Warl or
ms subOrdnates deserving censure in this resp s
There doubt they az proceeded IN the run DeieI
that they acting strict conformity Win the law
IRREGULARITY SALES
The right to sell the stores cannot be questioned The
manner Of sale, at the most error irregu
lary in the "details of the execution Of an undoubted
power and in the result there sacrifice Of
interest of the Government The sales were conducted
openly and fairly and the prices received by the Gov
ernment were higher than could have been expected,
and much higher than the same stores now command
40 the effect is the testimony Of every competent wit
ness upon the subject. The sales conducted on the
part Of the officers in charge with single view
70 procuring highest possible price for the Govern
ment and without the least pIetense to purchasers
either as 10 opportunities conditions OF purchase, eX-
cent that persons were excluded from the opportunity 10
purchase who suspected of being agents OF France
then at war with Germany.
The Committee then proceed TO discuss the question
violate the obligations OF the United States a neutral
power pending the war between France and Germany y
After quoting the principles OF mternauo1 nal law,
rected the Secretary OF War to dispose OF
being engaged such sales prior to the war between
France and Germany had right to continue me same
during the war, and might in the City OF Washington
nave sold and delivered any amount OF such stores TO
made in good faith not for The purpose OF M
~
purpose OF the Government to sell its surplus arms and
no VIOLATIONS OF THE NEUTRALITY LAWS.
The United States therefore, having perfect right TO
sell these arms the Committee proceed to consider what
was fact done by the Government in the premises,
coming TO the conclusion, without hesitation that the
sales OF arms and military stores during the fiscal year
ending June 80 1871 not made under such circum-
TO violate the Obligations OF our government
neutral power, and tbs-to recaptulate-ior three
The Rennons not fact agents Of France during the time
n they were such agents such neither suspected
Itbey agents. II fact bad been known to
Cur Government Or H. instead Of sending agents Lo; Napoleon or
purchase arms been awful for us sell to either Of them
AZ I adopted BY the United S'''e p0'
There is not the slightest foundation for
pciOn that any officer of the War Department of the
Government, derived advantage from these sales
The Of Gen. Rufus ingalls, having been mentioned
this connection and he having been subjected some
criticism the Committee feel bound as mere act of
Justice, say that he is fully exoneraed His only
Connection with this transaction was the
cutlOn OF unofficial friendly Office IN de-
lvering a message 70 and making an inquiry of
the French Minister at Washington for which he neither
received expected TO receive the slightest c0nsdera
ton or advantage, and the Committee believe the con-
duct the Secretary OF War and his suDOrdlnates IN
these transactions entirely blaneess and resulted in
great advantage 10 the Government; and inasmuch as
the RemngtOns have also been mentioned in this con
necOn Justice requires at the hand Of the Commit
mttee the remark that this investigation has not re-
aalted IN mpeaching the high character which they
have long sustained for enterprise and business in
fegrity Our country may justly be proud of such
y TIE MARQUIS DE cHAMBRUN.
The Committee, in conclusion say an examination Of
the testimony cannot fail TO produce the impression that
the Marquis de ChaInbrun the Of all the asper
SONS which have been thrown upon our Government,
and The suspciOns which have been cast upon it's
officials His connection with the Legation Of France
from which he sometimes energies and under which, at
other times be shelters himself leaves in doubt what
was real purpose In all this At times be
10 haW hGQU nj n