Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
Party Caucusing in the Senate.
Morton as High InquiSitOr.
Schurz and TrumbulI Catechized
Blunt Questions, Sharp Replies
SENATE

SENATE.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The House bill
to repeal the duty on salt was made thC
special order for March 10.
Mr.. Conkling presented a protest from
the Western Union Telegraph company
against the postal telegraph scheme, anC
moved it be printed.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the resolution to investigats the alleged
Sales OF Arms
TO the French agents during the Franco
| Prus sian war.
Mr.. Morton having the floor continued
| bis speech commenced yesterday, anC
| claimed that Schurz remained In the Re
publican party for the purpose Of defeating
| it, and that he was In afiliation with the
Missouri Liberals who were
Making War
on the Republican party itself. Mr.. Nor
ton here read resolution in the Missouri
Liberal platform Of which he said, if 1t
meant any thing it meant free trade. The
platform also contained a covert reference
to the Sunday laws in some States. That
was of course intended for the Germans.
The whole platform was an essentially
Democratic document. He
Would Now Ask
the Senator from Indiana (Schurz) wheth-
er since the first Monday of December, 1870,
he (Schurz) had voted with the Republi-
can party in the Senate on any question of
political character.
Schurz-I think
Amnesty
is question Of political character. The
President recommended that amnesty
should be given, and am sure voted for
that. [Laugtter.]
MortOn-When did the Senator vote for
ii? II l mistake not, when the vote was
taken on the amnesty bill he either voted
against it rhe did not vote on it at all.
SChurz-I voted in favor of the amend
ments that were calculated to strengthen
the amnesty bill, and when finally the bill
was overburdened so that it could not pass
in that form did not vote at all, and Sena-
tor Morton will remember that he voted for
all of the amendments which he was sure
would kill the amnesty bill.
MOrton-I think the Senator voted 10
keep it in such form as that it would change
the naturalization laws.
Mr.. Schurz-The Senator will not dis
pute that advocated the policy proposed
by the President Of the United States in
his message, and l think that in that re-
spect, showed far better administration
than he did. [Laughterl.
Mr.. Mor,on-Ah sir, that kind of thing
will not do. l will not say that it is very
smart, but it is lodging the main question.
The Senator is for universal amnesty, and
he cannot say that the President or the
Republican party is in favor of that. The
Senator stands with the Democrats upon
the question Of amnesty, as he does on all
others, so far as know.
TrumbuII
said that Mr.. Morton's remarks tended to
place him (Trumbull) in a false position.
He had stated distinctly that he was in
favor Of the amnesty bill as it came from
the House, and he had voted against all
amendments, because he feared that they
would defeat the bill.
Mr.. Morton-How did the Senator know
it would defeat the bill? TWO or three ad-
ditional votes would have saved the amnes-
ty bill with all the amendments on it, but
that amnesty bin was not party measure,
and when the Senator from Missouri (Mr.
SchuTz) refers to that bill as measure on
which he has acted with the Republican
party since the first Monday of December,
1870, it is confessing that on all other ques-
tions forthe last fifteen months he has acted
solely with the Democratic party.
Mr.. Schurz-I can tell the Senator
Another Political Question
on which acted with the Republican par
ty, the resolution to investigate the abuses
Of the New York CustomhOuss. (Laugh.
ter.)
Mr.. Morton-The Senator did vote in ia
vor of that, but 1 regret that he has i'm
paired the force of that instance very much
for l think he himself has contributed ts
make the country believe that the majority
here opposed that investigation. l am glad
to have him even at this late day rectify that
huge calumny sent abroad over the coun-
try.
Mr.. Schruz-said he would mention
Another
subject-Civil Service reform. Laughter
Mr.. Morton said that Mr.. SchurZ had in
deed introduced the Civil Service Reform
bill, which had not been considered with
favor, but he (MOrton) would predict that
| if there should come a political measure
| for Civil Service Reform before the Senate
sustaining the President, Senators Schurz
and Trumbul would be found voting
against it.
Mr.. Trumbull-Does Senator Morton
! forget that the system inaugurated by the
| President was on an amendment offered by
me to an appropriation bill in the last Con
! gress and when the President in his message
| announced what he proposed to do, took
occasion to express my qualification at it 2
MT. Morton said the President had acted
| on the amendment Altered to an appropria
| ton bill, but the system adopted by the
| President had not received the appreciation
! of Senator Trumbull. He repeated thai
those who meant to sustain Republican
| principles must stand by the party. Tht
! Liberals seemed TO have an idea that tht
| Democrats would come over to them, bu
| they would soon find out their mistake
! The mountain would not go to Mahommed
The Liberals would find themselves dis
| solved in the Democratic party like
Flies in Vinegar.
! Laughter Mr.. Morton then discussed
the question of the sales of arms. Th
carcass of the resolution he said now la,
tApOoCN " plOitS EaEC' CAAAhilh5 a AIOS
unWholesome odOr arising from the un
truth character of its preamble and from
its hostile purposes. The Senator iron
Missouri (Mr. Schurz) had yesterday sub
stantially given up the charge of illici
manufacture of cartridges at United State
workshops. He saw that Senator
Shake his Head,
but if he had the Senator's speech he woul
prove what .he said. The Senator had ais
omitted yesterday his reference to the jo
and military ring
Mr.. Schurz-I virtually repeated yestel
day my language on that subject.
Mr.. Morton-Could not remember. II
would however acknowledge that Nj
Schurz made one new point yesterday whe
charging that our Government dealt direct
ly with the French Commission Of Arms
ment at Tours.
Mr.. Schurz said he had only quoted froI
French newspaper report the testimOn
of NJ. lie Cesne.
MIR. Morton said this was mere newt
paper statement; but admitting the repor
of lie Cesne's testimony to be correct, h
could show from Remington's statements
and from Schurz's admission, that the test
mOhy was false.
Mr.. SChurz-Remington says that h
L. L. FN.-J-