The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-28
THE ARMS.sALE INvEsTIGA.
~ l.its 10 TION. i ,Hl0a siI,'
M. Sumner on the Stand,

senate Arms committee met to-day Mr.
Sumner appeared and protested against
the summons served upon him. He en-,
teftalned the same views that he did yes.
terday on tile subject He took the oath
with the protest that the chairman was
disqualified 70 act In that capacity. He
however, testified under protest, that be
knew nothing ol this question until the
28d or Gath Of December. A friend In tho
Senate mot Schurz) first mentioned the
facts! Afterwards he saw Schurz, who
had seen some papers. Sumner, at
schurzs suggestion, saw Ohambrun,
from whom he received copies Of the let.
ters OF Remington 10 LIE Oesne, and Of the
letters from tho Secretary of War to the
Secretary Of State. He gave q oircum.
stantial account of the steps taken BY him.
self previous to the introduction Of his
resolution. In response TO q question, he
said he received numerous confidential
communications on the subject, but dc.
clined to give the names; he had handed
them over to Schurz. Mr.. Sumner de.
clared that he considered 1t his duty to
move for an investigation.
b The Senate Arms Committee this morn.
ing also examined Herman Funke, of the
house Of Herman, Baker & Co. Witness
having been asked as to the sale Of arms
ID October, 1870, said he became &c.
quainted with the facts at o North Ger
man house, and came to Washington and
called on Baron Geralt. He informed the
Baron that he would buy on the required
terms II he (Geral0 would guarantee to
him the same margin that this govern
ment demanded OF purchasers. He re-
piled that he could not do so, having no
authority; witness suggested that Geralt
should telegraph to Germany for such
authority, as the time for receiving bids
had been postponed;~ ;~he intended to mako
a bid for the whole lot; he thought the
sale was postponed from the 18th to the
18th Of October. On the 18th Baron
Geralt received q telegram from Bismarck
stating that Germany did not want arms.
Witness, however, went 10 the Ordnance
Bureau and madea bid, receiving 10000
Springfield rifles, which he sold to
Schuyler, Hartley s. Graham next day.
Mr.. Sumner, in his testimony under
protest before, the Arms Investigating
Committee, said he received from Cham
brun copies Of letters from Remington to
LIE Cesneand OF letters from the Secretary
of War 10 the Secretary oI State. In
picking up o newspaper he had found,
under the telegraph head, q dispatch
dated Paris, February 9th, in which it
was stated that the Committee OF the
French National Assembly on War Con-
tracts had adopteda q resolution asking the
United States Government TO furnish the
result Of the inquiry into the conduct of
American officials suspected of partici-
pating in the purchase OF arms for the
French government during the war with
Germany. He understood the same tele.
gram appeared in the New York papers,
and that 1t came through the Associated
Press. This telegram seemed to be un-
questionably genuine, and added to the
letter Of Remington, made it still more
necessary TO institute an inquiry. TWAS
under these circumstances he brought the
subject before the Senate.
Mr.. Sumner, in reply to n question as
to how Chambrun obtained the copies Of
these letters, said Chambrun told him
they were handed 10 him by Bellouet, the
French Charge d'Affaires, and that Bell
ouet did not consider the letter OF the
Secretary Of War confidential.
MIR. Sumner said he was at home under
medical treatment on the day this COM
mittee was appointed 1.-The had been In
the Senate he should have felt il. his duty
10 oppose the formation of committee,
and hold it up as ~ aagrant violation OF
law. u. alis ...ala5F. ,..1
After further questioning, Mr.. Carpen.
ter objected to Mr., Summers protests
going on record, as they assailed the
committee. ..- .r.. a.a.,
Mr. Hamlin regarded them as absolute.
ly insulting TO the committee. He then
asked Mr.. Sumner whether Cham
brun had4urnished him with the names
of the witnesses.
MIR. Sumner replied that he had not,
nor had he furnished to him sources OF
information. he thought he had men
toned one name, Gen. ingalls,. s.-
d Mr.. Schurz asked: "Would you con.
siderit illegitimate to derive information
or letter. on pnhlic business from any
agent OF q foreign governul1ut9
Mr.. Sumner-"Not' in the least.
should iail in my duty as Senator if l
did not obtain information from all
sources within my reach" 1f
Mr.. Hamlin- Would you deem it the
duty of q patriotic Senator to enquire OF
a foreign legation as TO aquestion tending
to put his government in the wrong with
the governments who have made no COM
plaintP aot' .aa.' H'a
Mr.. Sumner-That is an abstract quas-
ton, but on this point am obliged TO say
that no such question here arose.
Mr.. Hamlin-Answer my question.
MIR. Sumner-I answer 1t in my own
way. n'g9 i0 u!
Mr.: Hsmlin-I put it as general
question. g.
Mr.. Sumner-I consider 1t question
not applicable TO this case st-'.
Mr.. Schurz-Then put the question 10
Mr.. Summer, when Mr. Hamlin said, l
want an answer to my question first, to
which MIR. Sumner replied, u regard it
as an abstract question, not involved in
the inquiry. 1decline to answer It."
Mr.. Schurz then repeated HE question
somewhat In this form: In the. case be-
fore the government about the Venezuela
claims, when the charges were made
against the Commissioners Of improper
awards, and it was being investigated by
Congress, would you consider 1t proper
in order 10 ascertain the entire facts
as TO the conddct,of an American Com
missioner, for Senator to obtain informa-
ton on that subject from the Venezuela
Legation ?
/! Mr. Summer: He should deem It to be
his duty TO obtain information, no. matter
from what quarter On 6ffefing his reso.
luton for this inquiry, he considered our
neutrality had been violated, while his
judgment was that no complaint would
como from Germany. .57
MIR. Hamlln said that others might have