Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-29
THE SALE OF ARMS INVESTIGA-
TIOy.
Marquis De (hambrun Again Before
tie Aennte Committee.

the Senate arms committee again to-day, and
continued his statement with reference to the
alleged sales OF ordnance TO France by tn
United States. Before he commenced, Mr..
Harlan said he had been requested by the Sec
rotary OF War 10 say that he relieved the Mar
quis of all restraint in regard TO any converse
tons between himself and the Marquis; and by
| this the Secretary meant personally and OH
cially. He was perfectly willing that the Mar
quis should disclose any conversation or CONVEX
sations between them.
THE MARQUIS RESUMED
as follows: "On the 18th of January last my re
lations with the Secretary OF War had ceased.
the legation had requested me not 10 go any fur
Their, and NJ. Belonnet had decided that the
letter OF the Secretary of War was not a dipio
matte Communication. i understood very vel
what effect the recommendations given by
American officials would have at the second
tIlal o. Place. Remington had not supported
the charge on the first trial but was now better
prepared. In January, 1871, party named L
W. Peck, an agent OF Remington, desired me L.
examine the books of the firm, and see if they
were not correct. / consulted the Charge d
Affsires, and he decided that i had better not
examine the books, and so informed Mr.. Peck
who said that Remington had placed in hi
hands $40 eco TO prepare the Remington recon-
mendatiOns. but not TO buy testimony. Mr. A
q. Reed heard this conversation. My suspicious
were increased by this circumstance. In Sen
tember, 1871, the chief book keeper of Reming-
ton & Sons called on the French consul at New
YORK, and for 500 900 proposed to show that the
hTm has detrauded the French government
The Marquis here read from the report OF the
consul to the French Minister for Foreign Az
fairs in regard to this propostiOn.l
Mr.. Hamlin-'We are not here to investigate
French affairs, and that report is not germain
TO this investigation"
Marquis lie C.-"Excuse me, Mr.. Senator; al
low me, II you please, to read and will connect
United States"
Mr.; Hamlin.''we!l, that report does not APP
pear to ne pertinent
Marquis de C.-.'That report will connect the
transaction with the ordnance office, as think
l will presently show; ] believe Remington's
books at that time were the nucleus Of the whole
submit my point"
Mr. Ames,-'I certainly don't see that Rem
ingtons books have anything TO DO with this in
vestigation."
Mr.. SchurZ.-"But the testimony which the
Marquis proposes to give, as | understand it,
VIII throw light OH other points on which we DO
relevant"
MIR. Ames.-'we can go to the accounts of
our own officials ourselves, and even Reming-
ton s books, to ascertain the very facts which
the Marquis proposes to bring OUT
Mr.. Hamlin then instructed the Marquis to
state only such facts a. would connect Reming-
tohs books with the government Oh the United
States.
Marquis de &. 81 am giving a history OF the
matter as have ii in my mind
Mr. Hamlin.-''We shall be glad to hear any
facts connecting Remington with the govern
ment, but We do not care for your impressions"
Mr.. Logan.-''If those books show the prices
be different from those on our own official re-
cords the q stimOEy is important
Marquis de c. i was greatly impressed with
what Remngton's book-keeper said about dis
crepancies in r.. accounts. And here l will
say that the French government has no inten-
ton whatever of going into a suit TO recover
damages. | want to convince the Sena tor from
Iowa on this point. About the 18th of January
last Mr.. Sumner spoke to me about the Remny-
ton letter, and told me he had received some
CONFIDENTIAL CONGREGATIONS FROM OUT
SIDE PARTIES
IN this matter. | knew Mr.. Sumner very well
indeed. personally, but we have very seldom
talked business In the conversation referred to
told him had several papers bearing on the
subject which were my private property, an
thai ! should not hesitate to communicate
10 him the contents OF the letter of Rening
ton. told him, however, l could no
give him copies for some time, because !
did have all the papers in my possession at the
time. furnished him with COPY of the letter
OF Remington to lie Cesne four or five days be
fore he introduced his resolution in the Senate
Still later / gave him copy of the telegram
from Squires TO Remington; also a COPY OF Sec
rotary Belknap's letter. ] put 10 injunction o.
secrosy upon the Senator nor did suppose the
papers were 10 he the starting point OF an in
vcstieation. ] confess was afraid he would DO
Something with them. He did not say what h.
proposed 10 10; had he done so, 1 might have
gwen him other papers, kilograms. &c. The
INST time he mentioned the matter to
me was about ten twelve DAYS be
fore lie introduced his resolution. L did
not solicit any public action on Mr.. Sum
ner : part, nor did consider our conference a,
confidential in any sense. did not really car
for a Congressional investigation, for the rea-
son that had failed with the Secretary of War
and What he had refused to do did not EXPECT
Congress TO DO. There was no connection be-
tween the conversation had with the Senator
from Missouri and Mr.. Sumner. When was in
New York recently read in the Times that 1
was TO be summoned before this committee. l
thought had better prepare myself. so | asked
several persons in regard to the delivery OF
arms. This was before the Senator from Mis-
souri, was requested to appear before your com
mite. / found out later that the Senator from
Missouri was better informed than was"
Mr.. Schurz here said that Mr.. Sumner had
SHOWN HIM LETTER
when contained the substance of the converse
ton between the Marquis and the gentleman IN
Mr.. Hamlin:-''who was the author of tina,
letter."
Mr.. Schurz:-.T refuse to give the name OF
the author"
Marquis lie C.:-''when read in the newspa.
pers on the 9th OF February the telegram from
Paris, that the French Assembly had asked the
govern ment of the United States to investigate
frauds in the arms transaction, was greatly
surprised and amused. The French Charge d
Affairs here thought the telegram was a trick o:
X, mington. Since that time have received
il tier, the contents of which | could have COM
municated to YOU last week, and which would
have thrown some light on the telegram. Stree
last week, however, L have received another
letter from the author. who instructs me TO re-
gard his former communication a. confidential
II dit not relate TO the action OF Congress at all
When Mr.. Summers resolution was telegraphed
to Paris the telegram sent here on the 9th OF
February Produced much amusement. IThe
Marquis then read copy Of a contract en-
tered into by Gambetta, when he was Secretary
OF War of France, during the Franco Prussian
war. with certain parties in France to furnish
the French government with p batteries of ar
tillery and 10000 Enfield rifles to be made in
United states arsenals, and to be furnished
very soon after the contract was madel The
words "srsenals OF the United States" were
used in the contract which had no connection
with the firm OF Remington. On the 18th o.
February following. the then French Secre-
| tary of War telegraphed to New YORK
| that since the contract had not beer
complied with it was null and void
| The gentlemen who were Interested in the SIN
tract applied 10 g. X. Garrison wild whom they
had contracted to furnish the arms and he he.
came very nervous, and applied to The French
| consul (then Nj. Place. to intercede with the
| French government in his behalf and get An
| extension OF time. Place could not do this. AND
then Mr.. Valentine and Mr.. Billings came 10
Washington in the interest CT Mr. Garrison. on
the 18th Of February, 1871, and stated their case
to ID. Ireillard, who treated the m very politely
\ but refused to do anything. M. Treillard re
i quested me to examine the matter and give
i him my opinion. did 50, first SUBMITTING Il TO
Hon. Caleb Gushing, who agreed with me that
| the contract was null and void. Later Carr.
i nd Gan liz