The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-04
evening State Suilrnat.
MONDAY EVENING, MARCH A, 1872.
Close of the Debate on Summers Resolution.


Close of the Debate on Summers Resolution
Mr.. Corbett offered as substitute fo
the pending resolution preamble and res
olution, setting forth that the allegations
made have not been sustained, and that tn,
extended and elaborate discussion which
has prevailed for two weeks has demon
strated that the War Department officials
are guiltless of all blame. He then re
viewed at length the circumstances at
tending the sales of arms to Remington ant
Richardson, and maintained that there wa;
no evidence to show that the United States
officials were cognizant of Remington's
connection with the French government
There was nothing in the circumstances tc
lead them to imagine even that the arms
were going to France. They had just as
much cause to suspect that they were 60.
ing to Prussia.
The amendment of Mr.. Schurz, directing
an inquiry as to whether the defensive ca
pacity of the country was not impaired by
the large sales of arms, was adopted with.
out opposition.
The question then required on the SUBJ
stitute of Mr.. Corbett, when
Mr.. Conkling said the amendment of Mr..
Corbett was eminently just and emincntly
true, but we are now in the midst of dis
cussion in which advantages arc sought to
be taken, dictated by neither Justice nor
truth. To adopt the substitute would be
to place the Senate in false position.
Mr.. Corbctt then withdrew his substitute,
remarking that he did not believe that any
one could vote truthfully against it.
The question then recurring on tho reso-
luton, it was,
On motion Of Mr.. Harlan, amended to
inquire whether any American citizens
have been in communication with the
agents of any foreign power.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen suggested whether it
would not be best to amend the resolution
to provide for the investigation being con-
Quoted with closed doors, as it concerned
our relations with foreign powers.
Mr.. Sumner said this was domestic
matter altogether. 1t was question of
the misconduct of one of our own officials.
Mr.. Morton said if this was not ques-
ton of our relations with foreign powers,
it was nothing. Every charge against our
own officials had been abandoned days ago.
1t would not do for Messrs. Sumner and
Schurz to raise the howl of corruption it
would avail them nothing. Suppose the
committee brought in report charging the
chief Of ordnance with violation of his du-
ties it may result in breaking him Of his
office, but no one is after him.
Mr.. Morton then went on to argue that
the real effect of such report would be to
make up case for Prussia. That will be
the whole effect of it, and no cry of cor
ruption from these Senators can rescue
them from the position Of having made up
a case for Prussia. For, according to the
Senator's (Mr. Sumner's) own argument in
the Alabama case. Prussia would have a
claim against us of consequential damages
amounting to hundreds of millions. Prus-
STA could maintain that, by supplying
France with arms, the siege of Paris was
prolonged, thereby cntailing enormous adj
ditional expense upon her.
Mr. Conkling said this was not even as
strong as the case made by Mr.. Sumner.
That Senator argued that France was utter
ly.prostrate, that we had in fact set her on
her feet and enabled her to continue the
struggle.
Mr.. Morton would vote for this investi-
CATION because he believed the result of it
would squelch this SANDER; there was
nothing in it, and for the reason that he
wanted its utter falsity exposed he should
vote for the resolution. If he believed for
one instant that there was the least founda-
ton for these allegations he would not vote
for any investigation, for, as an American
Senator, he did not believe that it would be
expected Of him that he should do so un-
patriotic an act as TO injure his own coun-
try. The idea that if case was made up
for Prussia she would not press it was abb
surd could we expect Prussia to be more
magnanimous than our own Senators?
All the eloquence of these two Senator's,
all the flowers of rhetoric, all the cry of
corruption, could not deceive the people
that, apart from the political object which
these Senator'S had in view, the only result
of their course was to make up case for a
foreign government against their own coun-
try.
Mr.. Cameron expressed his great regard
for the character and ability of the Presi-
dent. He said some Of those who were
opposing the President now also opposed
Mr.. Lincoln; but they afterwards came to
think he was very good man. When
Lincoln found a man was opposed to him he
always invited him to tea. laughter
He (Mr. Cameron was perfectly willing
that Mr.. Sumner should be chairman of
this investigation committee, and that every
enemy of General Grant in the Senate
should be put on the committee.
THE RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
The question was then taken on the reso-
luton, when it was adopted-yeas, 50 !;
nays, 5, Messrs. Cole, Edmunds, Gilbert,
Harlan and Wright.
The question then REQUIRED on the pre-
amble, when
Mr.. Hamlin moved to lay it on the
table.
Mr.. Thurman suggested the doubt that
the adoption of this motion would have the
effect to carry the resolution with it.
Mr.. Hamlin insisted that his motion was
in order. He said he wanted to get rid of
this subject; it had been before the Senate
long enough. In the language once used
by Erskine in Parham INT, it was ''impu-
dent, insolent, and public lie."
Mr.. Edmunds made point of order that
the preamble could not be laid on the table
without carrying the resolution with it.
The Vice-President oyerruled the point
of order, when
Mr.. Edmunds appealed from the decision
of the chair.
Mr.. Sumner, on the question of appeal,
proposed to withdraw the preamble; but
objection was made and Mr.. Sumner was
proceeding in his remarks, when
Mr.. Sherman made the point Of order