New-York tribune., 1872-06-05
THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE DEFENSE.


when Mr.. Summers speech was printed that 1t
could never be successfully answered. lie
stated nothing which is not known OF all
men. Almost every charge he made was sup
, ported by undenable proofs. He drew no in
ferences from them which were not reason
able and logical. He dealt in no case in
hearsay He did not even give rein to the
personal dislike which, of course, he cannot
but entertain towards man who has done his
utmost to injure and af1rOnt him. There were
but two ways, therefore, in which the speech
could be answered-by attacking Mr. Sumner
personally, and by abusing the speech gener-
ally without specifications.
This has been the course pursued. The per-
sons who have been put forward 10 break the
force of this great philippe clearly enough in
dicate the impression it made upon the ad-
herents of the Administration. There are
among the adherents of the President in the
Senate some men of ability capable of appre-
ciating and answering an argument. There
are men of education, of reading, of profes
siOna experience, who can hold their own
against the best when they have cause But
not one of them chose to assume the defense
of the President. after Senator Sumner had
done with him. His speech so bristled with
unanswerable facts that it was as unhandy to
pick up as a sleeping porcupine. But it was
Just the sort of speech to form O text for
raging and roaring about, and Mr. Flanagan,
Mr.. Carpenter, and Mr. Logan were the proper
persons selected for the purpose. Mr.. Logan
cares no more for facts or logic than the artist
Fuseli did for Nature. They "put him out"
They interrupt the fine flow of his loud and
sOnorOus speech. 1t is well-kn0wn that vis-
tors in the diplomatic gallery, who know no
English, regard Gen. Logan as the first of
American orators. But thoughtful Yankees
find it difficult to account, on any theory of
the fitness of things, for the fact that the
most superb voice in Congress never has any
thing to say. He could say nothing this time
but that Mr.. Sumner was malignant SLAM
derer. He said this with some feeling be-
cause, in common with many other uneducated
men, he deeply resents any sign of culture in
Others He feels it q cruel wrong TO himself
that some of his colleagues know q little
Latin, and while he has the spirit of q
freeman he will protest against any such
aristOcratic distinction. This may do
"fOr Massachusetts," he screams, "but the COM
I" mon people of the country won't stand it,"
They must be very common people who object
to it, Mr.. Logan lodges the whole question
of Mr. Grants fitness for President by clamor
about the battles of the Rebellion. These are
not now in question. Gen. Grants services
have been generously recognized by the cOun-
try, which has striven to pay him by un-
bounded praise, and rank and money. But all
this forms no reason why his conspicuous fail
ure as President should not be regarded
when his Obsequious creatures are trying to
perpetuate his Administration.
Mr.. Carpenter was equally abusive towards
MIR. Sumner, but, being somewhat of a lawyer
thought it necessary to 90 a little into detail
In his speech. He Jared very unsuccessfully at
every such attempt. What could be more
absurd than his justification of the illegal
employment of army officers at the White
House, on the ground that they were very
fond of Gen. Grant, that there was nothing
for them to do at Army Headquarters, and
that Mr.. johnson entertained four of the same
hndf How desperate is the case which COM
pels such nonsense from lawyer. who bas
the habit of arguingi And again, referring 10
MIR. Summers statement that the President has
given offices to men who have given him
pTesents, hh' hPohVci' hoU ueDylng tne facts,
simply declares that the consideration had no
influence upon the Presidents mind. Does Mr.
Carpenter keep the Presidents conscience
When Mr. Sumner showed glaring violations of
law in Gen. Grants Santo Domingo negotia-
tions amounting to hostile acts against Hayt,
Mr.. Carpenter pretended to regard these acts
az innocent, simply because no battles were
fought nor towns bombarded by Gen. Babcoel
Throughout his entire speech, Senator Car
penter looks beyond the fact Of violation of
Law, and seeks W prove that no serious harm