The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-03-07
Schurz and Sumner-EXeun

Senator Charles Schurz dashed madlJ
forward to the footlights six weeks ago
and with blanched brow and lurid eye
with upraised fat and hair erect exclaim
ed !: "Ha the Administrations rushes t6
its doom! This French-arms swindle Is
a trap which | will fling like lasso at
Gen. Grant. and it shall explode in the
midst of the Republican camp, carrying
death and devastation" These were bis
words-or nearly SO.
Exultingly he moved the appointment
of committee of investigation. Exult-
ingly the other Charles (he of Boston)
joinedthe serried ranks of the bold Mis-
sourian, and together they rushed to the
fray. The resolution to investigate every
body passed. The investigation began
yesterday. Mr.. War, Secretary Belknap
testified that for the last seven years a
good many old or rejected muskets and
corresponding ammunition had been sold
! by the United States Government, accor-
individuals, but that none had ever been
sold knowingly to the agents Of any ma
tions at war. The amount realized from
the sale was SO, 748, 942, which has been
duly transferred to the Treasury. He is
not aware of any discrepancy in the ac-
counts; doesn't think there is any !;
doesn't know of any Government officers
directly or indirectly interested in the
sale of arms, ,and has sought in vain from
the Marquis de Chambord and Mr.. Sum-
ner for such informa ion as would enable
the Government to dismiss any such per-
sons. Gen. Belknap testified that he
bad repeatedly charged Gen. Dyer, Chief
made to any French or Prussian agent !;
and no such sales had been made.
1t strikes US that this is good time
for Messrs Schurz and Sumner to with
draw their light from the hilltop and
put it under half-bushel somewhere.
Their failure UP to date is complete and
humilialiug. In the most insolent and
unpatriotic manner they alleged a wan
ton violation of law against the Presi-
| dent, and their allegation has not shad-
ow of foundation in fact.
All that has been proved is, that, as
provided by law, the War Department
has sold off considerable of the debris of
the war for the Union. These sales
began in 1865 under an act of Congress,
aud the arms SO sold to private indlvid-
| uals were of course resold to other gov
ernments This transfer was conte'n-
plated by the act of 1865; the only pro-
vision being that care should be taken
not to violate our obligations as neutral
power. The Remingtons began to buy
in 1866, and they bought freely from the
War Department and sold publicly and
openly to dozen different nations of
Europe, Asia and South America. AT
last, in 1870, secret information came TO
the President which led him to believe
that the Remingtons were really buying
for the French, who were at war with the
Prussians. Then the War Department
declined to consider the Remington bids !!
This is the whole of the ''withering ex-
posure = and it has withered. indeed.
Sumner and Schurz have both of them
made terrible speeches-terrible in their
length Sumner takes the ground, vlr-
tualy, that the War Department ought
not to be permitted 20 sell any discarded
arms to any man until all the nations OF
the earth shall be at peace, and then
swords are transformed to pruning hooks
lf;t does ne claims, some ration that is
at war may buy them. Schurz goes fur
;her, insisting that a patriotic President
{, would not sell thous and old canon al,
three hundred old mortars to any man
without compelling him to give a bono
that he buys them all for his own exclu
siye personal use! This would avoiC
trouble.