Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

4 3
SENATE.
WAsHINGToSt, Feb. 28.--Mr. Cole moved
to take up the bin to lease to San Franrisco
a part of the Preside reservation, for pub
lie park. The bill was not taken up.
North Carolina.
NJ. Logan, from the Committee on
Elections, reported adversely to the claim
Of Abbott to seat from North Carolina.
Mr.. Carpenter for himself and Rice, made
a minority report in favor of Abbott,
Mr.. Cole asked that the Senate dispose of
the pending resolution, so as to hear the re-
ports OF the Committee on Appropriations.
Church and state. -
MIR. Schurz presented numerous memoir
ials from various parts Of the United States
with 1O,407 signatures transmitted from the
city of Boston, protesting against any
| amendment to the Constitution incOrporat-
ing therein a recognition of God or Jesus
Christ, as an attempt TO overthrow the great
principle of religious liberty on which this
Government was originally founded.
at the expiration of the morning hour
the Senate resumed consideration of the
resolution to investigate the alleged sales of
arms to French agents. r--r-.-r~
Mr.. Sumner said Besides the unac-
customed interest which this debate has
excited, l cannot fail to note that it has
wandered far from any original purpose of
mine, and into fields which have no de-
sire to enter. l shall try to bring it back
to the
Real Issue,
which hope to present without passion or
prejudice, and here, sir, | declare, what is
univ IF hot in hot I
to-day there shall not be a single word
which is not prompted by the love of truth
and desire for justice, but / venture to
ask you to remember that there is some
thing on this planet besides the Senate or
any Senator, something besides any high
officials,
Something Higher
than any political party. L mean the good
name OF the American people and the purity
Of the Government which must be saved
from scandal. In this spirit and with this
aspiration speak to-day.
Mr.. Sumner then referred to late events
in New York, and said there was
A Cry for Reform
now everywhere. Abuses were developed
in the Ordnance Office and W ere the subject
of universal scandal. 1t was time some
thing should be done to arrese the suspicion
thrown on our officials. His resolution had
been met by various objections. He had
been charged with introducing politics, and
illusions had been made to The Presidential
election.
Mr.. Logan interrupted and asked that the
ladies be permitted to occupy the cloak
rooms.
Mr.. Hamlin objected, saying
Two Field Days
one session are enough. MUrmWs Of dis
approbation.l
hr. Sumner continued, he was in earnest
for reform in the civil service, and should
always vote for every inquiry having that
object IN view. He had never heard of
this matter until weeks after the meeting
of Congress, and then from a distinguished
native born citizen who had not been men
toned in the debate. He did not believe
the introduction of the resolution would
prejudice the German Emperor on the San
Juan question, as the whole matter was
known In Berlin
long before the introduction Of the resolu-
ton in the Senate.
He then referred to the Alabama GLAZING,
and said that if our demand, against Eng
land could not be prosecuted except at the
expense of the purity of our own Govern
ment, they were not worth
The Terrible Price.
He then turned to the pending resolution,
and said that it presented the general queis-
ton whether there is not sufficient reason
for an inquiry into the sale of arms during
the French and German war. This natIl-
rally divided itself into two questions: tb e
first relating to international duty, and the
second relating to misfeasance on the part
of our own officials, and involving wha t
might be called the money question. Mr..
Sumner discussed both these points a t
length, and said an investigation could nc t
be refused without setting at defiance TIE
rules of
Decency and Common sense.
The question was then put on Mr.. Trmh-
bulls motion to reconsider the vote by viii Oh
Mr.. COnkling's amendment directing he
committee to inquire whether any Anne ri
can Senator or citizens had held unauthUr-
lied communication with any Foreign gov
ernments, or its agent, was adopted, and
the motion was lost. Yeas 10, nays tS.
The Republicans who voted to reconsider
were Ferry, Logan, Sprague, Trumbull and
West. Sumner and SchurZ did not vote at
all.
Mr.. Harlan replied briefly to Mr.. Sum
ner. He said all the so-called evidence intro
duced to justify the investigation was Of
French origin. He regretted to see the
Senator (Sumner) make the convenience of
the Senate in the interest Of an agent Of
Foreign power. He then discussed at
length the history Of the central order bust
ness in New York.
Mr.. Schurz offered an amendment to the
pending resolution, directing the committee
to inquire also whether breachh0ading musk
cts or other muskets capable OF being trans
formed into broach-loaders, have been sold
by the War Department in such large num-
bers as to seriously affect the defensive ca
pacity of the country in case Of war.
Mr.. Carpenter obtained the floor but
yielded for a motion to adjOuTn, and with
out further action the Senate adjourned.