Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-16
FOrty.Second Congressional Session,
WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. IS.
SENATE.

dSltNu 10 Lll6 COtDlQlttec on euuC;l-
uon ami labor to inquire into the eXpediency of
an amendment to the constitution providing
some educational test in the exercise ofthe cleo
toral franchise
Gov. Brownlow, the senior senator from Ten
nesSee, is PARTIALLY paralyzed. He is not only
nearly deprived of the use of his limbs, but he
cannot speak above whisper, and he is, conse-
quently, obliged to submit any remarks that he
may desire TO make, in writing, to be read by
the secretary. This morning he submitted Il
somewhat cauStic reply to Mr.. Beck, of Ken
lucky, and there was some discussion as to
whether it should he read.
Finally all opposition was withdrawn, and
the remarks were read They are, as was said
of one OF the governors speeches in Tennessee,
"a blister i'll the shape of Il speech and they
will draw hard on Mr.. Beck. Gov. Brown ow's
recital of his own sutferings, while in rebel
prison, and of Mr.. Beck's conduct during the
war, were dramatically interesting.
While Gov. Brownlow's remarks were being
read, Secretary Boutwell, came into the senate
chamber, and soon retired to the coak-room
with Mcssrs. Sumner and Schurz, where they
remained some time in conference. 1t was al-
terward intimatcd that Secretary Boutwell, as
Sured the senate that the accounts for the sales
OF arms are correctly accounted for in his de-
partment.
Mr.. Harlan took the floor at quarter past one
10 resume his defence OF the administration in
the sales of arms 30 persons who may have sold
them to French agents.
Mr.. Harlan said the government sold arms TO
our citizens during the Franco German war, but
there was not the slightest particle of evidence
that our authorities were cOgnzant that any of
the arms sold were destined for the French. In
reply to the intimatiOn that all the money re-
ccyed on account of arms sold was not paid
into the treasury, he read from the report of the
chief OF ordnance of sales of arms, and claim
ed that the discrepancies alleged by Mr.. Sumner
did not exist.
In reply to the intimation that certain sales of
arms had not been included in the report of the
chief of ordnance, to support which Mr.. Sumner
had read an associated press despatch stating
that such sales had been made, Mr. Harlan eX-
planned that no such sales were made the bids
having been rejected; and, in proof of this he
produced the records OF the war department.
He asked Mr. Sumner where he got access to
to the FRENCH record.
Mr.. Sumner stated that it was an official re-
port, printed in the official French journal, and
copied into New York papers.
Mr.. Harlan said he would submit 70 the peo-
pie whether newspaper authority was sufficient
on which to arralgn a high officer of our own
| government before the American senate. He
Said the explanation was that the French gov
ernment wanted the information to proceed
| against its own officials.
MIR. Frelihghuysen reviewed the preamble
and said that it contained some false statements
| and that none Of the assertions furnished ioun-
| our country was seriously compromised. The
| investigation must now 90 on, but he hoped it
| would not be made by the committee proposed
| in the resolution, because the originator of the
| resolution was chairman of it. He thought the
| committee of investigation and retrenchment a
| proper one TO make the investigation.
Mr.. Schurz then took up the preamble, and
| reviewed ii point by point He said that, when
Remington applied for $4,000 muskets and H.
100000 cartridges, the government should have
been more than ordinarily circumSpect in dis
pOSal OF its ordnance stores. Hid would not say
that the secretary of war knew at first that
Remington was the agent Of the French govern
ment, but Remington soon disclosed himself as
such. Reports made to the French government
showed that all lots OF arms sold here went TO
France.
Mr.. Conklng denied this, and Mr.. Schurz
said that at least an overwhelming majority of
arms went TO France.
MIR. Schurz read from letter of Remington,
Of Dec. 13th TO show that he bought fifty bat
teries ETC., Of the government, after he declared
| himself French agent.
Mr.. Coniling said we had the word of the
| secretary of war that no arms were sold to Rem
| ington after about the middle OF October, 1870.
Mr.. Schurz SAID that Richardson, the alleged
| attorney Of Remington & Son, was lawyer of
| Hon, N. Y, and had ordered fifty thousand
muskcts He thought that very helicose APP
| pearance for a country lawyer. He had since
ter from the secretary of war.
MIR. Conkling said Richardson had been cues
toned, impeded and baffled in his transactions
in arms far beyond anything to which he had
known citizen of any other country to be
subjected, and when his character had been
questioned abroad, he applied to the war de-
partment for a certificate; but the department
consented only to certify that in his transac-
tlons in arms with the government, he had been
found trustworthy.
Mr.. Schurz said American born Germans had
urged MIN, by petitions, letters, etc, last year
TO attack the government for the sale of arms
to France, but he refused to do SO publicly He
had, however, spoken to the government offc-
ials in private. The secretary OF war had said
that the government had right to sell arms to
American citizens, and he had no knowledge
that arms went to the French. After the No
vember election of that year, the secretary of
state promised TO interfere, and the sales were
stopped In conclusion, MIR. Schurz said the
people had an impression that, somewhere in the
country, there existed military ring, which
was eXering a corrupt and dangerous influence
on he administration; and, if the proposed in
yestigation should either show that this impress.
sion was unfouUded, or should discover the
guilty and bring them to punishment, 1t would
render very important service to the best inter-
ests of the American people.
Without reaching vote, the senate at 1880,
went into executive session and soon after ad-
journed.
HOUSE,
The house went into commltte of the whole
on the naval bill.
Mr.. Hale offered the following;
Section 2, That the secretary of the navy be and
heN u hereby authorized to sell at public sale such
vessels and materials of the United States navy as
in his Judgment are not suitable for or capable of
prohtable use, repair or lifting out providing that
before any such sale be made public notice shall be
gwen by advertisement in some leading newspaper
or newspapers in at least four of the principal cities
of the United States, which advertisement shall
state the number of vessels and tine amount of ma.
terial proposed to be sold with dissertation there
OF, so far as the same shall be practicable, together
with the time and place, when and where such ma
terias eau be seen and examined and the secretary
OF the navy shall at the opening of each session of
congress make full report TO congress of his acts
under the authority given by this section which
report shall contain statement of all vessels and
materials sold, the parties buying the same and the
amount realized theTCfrOm, together with sueh
other facts rs may be necessary to a full understands
ing OF his acts, and all net proceeds of such sales
shall be carried iuto the treasury of the United
states; and provided further, that nothing In this
section shall be construed as compelling the secre-
tafy OF the navy to accept any bid or Offer which,
IN his Judgment, is grossly inadequate to the value
of the vessels or materials offered for sale
Mr.. Wood suggested that no vessels should
be sold except after condemnation by board of
naval officers.
Mr.. Maynard suggested that exceptions should
be made Of such historical vessels as the Con-
stution, Macedonian, Kearsarge aud the yacht
America, which should always be maintained by
the government.
Mr.. Swami stated that. in case of war, there
were no six vessels in the navy that could be
relied on and he felt convinced that there was
at present imminent danger OF war.
Mr.. Maynard offered an amendment, except
ing from the sale such vessels as had been
distinguished in the naval history Of the coun.
try.
Mr. Maynards amendment was rejected and
MIR. Hale's adopted.
The, compitIee then arose aud the bill was