Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-15
Forty-second Congressional Session.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. IA.
SENATE.

ing grave suspicious against our Own country,
and the other affecting our relations with for
eigu powers He had for some time been in
possession of the facts, but he knew that The
president and the secretary of war had also
known them, and he had awaited a report
made by their order, but had waited in vain. He
would introduce two characters: One, Monsieur
Place formerly consul at New York, twice tried
and now convicted of fraud in the sale of arms
and Mr.. Remington of Hon, n. Y, who had
purchased arms rs the agent OF the French huG
in his own name, and who had employed sub
agents to make purchases. Remington'S con-
duct finally excited attention in France, and
the war contract committee of the French as
sembly has adopted resolution asking for in
formation concerning American officials sus-
pecfed of wrong doing i'll the purchase OF arms
for France. He would present the case on sus-
picions excited abroad and sustained by evil
denCC at home.
The morning hour had expired and Mr.. Cole
claimed the consideration Of the appropriation
bill.
Mr. Sherman appealed to the senate. He did
not believe that Il senator would vote against
the resolution for inquiry. Why not have the
examination without ta6ingfup days in discuss
inc the preamble for political purposes. Mr..
Sherman said, in conclusion, that he desired to
transact the public business. He did not think
it right that few senators should be permitted
to come in whenever they pleased with resOlu-
tons provoking debate, just as the matadorS in
and iucite the animals 10 fight. He desired to
speak plainly. He hoped the resolution would
pass, and he felt sure that there was not a Scna-
tor that did not desire the investigation would
he made; but he did not think Il single senator
should bring on a long discussion.
Mr. Wilson thought that there should be Il
full discussion, as there were doubtless two
sides to the question. Charges have been made
and should he investigated. He went on to say
that he courted investigation and did not want
to have even the appearance of avoiding it.
Mr.. Morton said if the consideration was
postponed, no matter what the cause might be,
the most Infamous reports concerning it would
be telegraphed all over the country.
MIR. Trumbull asked il a political debate must
necessarily follow, 10 which Mr.. Sherman re-
piled by declaring that the senator from Illinois
must be innocent if he did not see that Il politi-
cal discussion must ensue. Neither was it fair
to those accused that they should be arraigned
before their conduct had been examined.
Mr. Sumner discaimed any desire to eneer a
political debate.
Mr.. Carpenter said that it was useless to dis
gusc the facts. The president was on trial. He
was before the country as IL candidate for re-
election, and it was no secret that there were
four or FIVE senators opposed to him. A bomb
shell had been filed, which was to blow the
present administration into sphnters, and the
senator from Massachusetts had lighted the
fuse. Let it be fired, and let the guilty, if there
and the republican party are to be blown up,
why make any trouble about appropriation
bills? He hoped that the discussion might go
on, that he might learn the worst.
Mr.. Scott welcomed the investigation. If this
administration Is guilty of pccnlaton, the peo-
pie should know.
Mr.. Morton was ready to vote upon the reso-
luton without debate but had no power to
avoid debate, and if he had he would not
Mr.. Sumner-"I give notice to my friends
that | am not going into political discus
sion"
Mr.. Scott welcomed the resolution as an ndi-
cation that we are TO have in this country gen
uine civil service reform.
Mr. Sumner said be would neither introduce
the name of Gen. Grant, nor make any alluSion
to him. He was about TO consider a practical
question, which had become important, not
through any action of his, but by events at
home and abroad.
Mr.. Morton-"I understand the senator to say
that the circumstances he states amount merely
to Il suspicion, Now desire to know whether
mere suspicion is sufficient to warrant an elaho-
rate speech in advance of anV proof as to the
facts on which even the suspicion itself is to be
created
Mr.. Sumner-"The senator is trying to drive
me into making an allegation against some per-
son, but he shall not. | content myself with
standing on facts"
Mr.. Sumner then discussed, at length, the
question Of the obligations of ncutras,
Mr.. Frelinghuysen replied. From the preanl-
Bile, it appears, from communications previous
ly mentioned, that one Thomas Richardson was
the known attorney of Remington & Son, and he
asked MIR. Sumner where in those communci-
lions that fact appeared.
Mr.. Sumner said he understood that it was a
well known fact that Richardson was their
agent, but he did not know that it appeared in
the communication referred to.
Mr.. neutrality-suspicious. the preamble is err
1, 1Y,t=
important fact stated in the preamble"
Mr.. Sumrer-"I understand, in point Of fact,
that Richardson was and is the attorney of
Remington, and is now acting for him in
France
Mr.. Sumner in conclusion, argued that it was
the duty of our government to have made care
full inquiry as to who the persons were to whom
they sold arms, so as not to run the risk of vic.
lating our obligations as a neutral power
Mr.. Wilson, chairman of the committee on
military affairs, felt called upon, by seTSe of
duly to the war department, TO make brief
explanation. He was now, as always, in favor
of the fullest Investigation, and, if any wrong
had been committed in this matter, he wished
it exposed and punished. AT the close of the
war, our government had arms, ammunition
and other war material on hand, to the value of
millions of dollars, which congress authorized
the secretary Of war to dispose of. The sales
commenced in 1865 and continued until 1871
Arms ETC., sold by the government from the list
of April, 1865, 10 the Both Of June, 1871, amount
ed to S151 ,026, 1921; every cent of which had
been accounted for and paid into the treasury
As to the alleged sale of arms to the French
government, he was authorized to say that our
government had never sold dollars worth to
that government or to any man whom they
knew to be its agent.
The government at the time of the sale to
Richardson, had no knowledge that he was
agent, counsel or attorney, or in any way con-
nected with Remington & Son. As to the sus-
picons expressed by the French assembly, il
should DC remembered that these purchases
were made mostly by the Gambetta govern
ment, and that the existing French government
was hostile to them and trying TO cast imputa-
tations upon them.
Mr.. Harlan made similar statement, and
said the government had no reason TO suspect
Remington & Son to be acting for the French
government.
Without acting on the resolution, the senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Crockcr, member elect from MasSachu-
sets, appeared and took the oath Of office.
Mr.. Beck of Kentucky asked leave o offer
resolution, calling for Information as TO sales of
material by the navy department since June,
1860 aud the disposition made OF the proceeds.
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts, objected.
Mr. Finkelnburg of Missouri, frOmIthe commit
tee of ways and means, reported bill to repeal
the duties on tea and coffee. He said it was re-
ported in obedience to the order of the house,
but the majority of the committee were adverse
to the passing Of the bill. The bill was reported
without recommendation and referred to the
committee Of the whole.
A hill for the construction of an addition to
the post Office building in indianapolis, at a cost
of 500 900, was passed.
A bill for the construction Of post office and
custom house buildiugat Hartford, CT. at a cost
not exceeding 100000 was passed.
A bill for the purchase Of site for govern
ment building at Cincinnati, to cost 100000,
was passed.
The house went into committee on the naval
appropriation.
Mr.. Banks paid high compliment to the
navy, and expressed the belief that the secreta-
ry would re'cstablish the navy in the affections
of the people. He condemned the system of
Bureaucracy and lavoritism, which, until re-
Gently, prevailed in the navy department, and
read from a letter Of the commander of the
Kearsarge complaining of the system, and say
ing that he had ceased to expect any attention
TO be paid to any request, chiefly because those
who controlled affairs could not forget he had
sunk the Alabama. The present secretary of
the navy, however, was fast breaking up that
bureau system.
MIR. Niblack commended the economy of the
committee on appropriations.
The discussion was continued by Messrs
Conghlan, Beck, Sargent, Conner and Cox.
The committee considered fhp hill bv nara.