Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-06-07

q3ranfisn--.SenatOr Summers Speech.
On Monday evening last Mr.. SUMNER
occupied the attention of the United States
Senate for four hours, in a speech upon
GRANT1sM. Mr.. Schurz spoke at night
upon the same subject.
These gentlemen had, in vain, sought to
have time set apart for debate upon the
report of the majority of the committee
appointed to investigate the circumstances
connected with the sales Of arms by the
United States government to the French
government during the late war between
France and Prussia. Failing i'll this, and
seeing determination on the part OF the
administration Senators to prevent any
comment upon the " white-washing a." re-
port of the majority of the committee be-
fore the adjournment Of Congress, Mr.
SUMNER moved to postpone indefinitely the
question before the Senate. Pending this
motion, in accordance with parliamentary
usage as it obtains in the United States
Senate, it was competent for him to discuss
any question for any length of time The
motion took the Senate greatly by surprise,
and when its purpose became apparent It's
effect was like that of the explosion OF a
bomb-shell in a camp. For two hours Mr..
SUMNER devoted himself exclusively to
nepotism and gift-taking. We have space
this morning for only the following eN-
tracts
Pardon me if l repeat that ii is my
duty to make this exposure, spreading be-
fore you the proofs Of that personal govern
meGt, which will only pass without CEN
sure when it passes without observation.
Insisting upon reelection, the President
challenges inquiry and puts himself upon
the country. But even if his pressure tor
reelection did not menace the tranquility OF
the country, it is important that the per-
sOnal pretensions he has set up should be
exposed, that no President hereafter may
venture upon such ways and no Senator
presume to defend them. The case is clear
as noon.
TWO TYPICAL INSTANCES.
In opening this catalogue l select two
typical instances, nepotism and @ift-taking
officially compensated, each absolutely in
defensible in the head of Republic, most
pernicious in example, and showing beyond
question that SURPRISING egotism of pretnn-
sion which changed the Presidential office
into personal instrumentality, not unlike
the trunk of an elephant, up for all things,
small as we'll as great, from provision for Il
relation to forcing treaty on a reluctant
Senate or forcing a reelection on rcluc-
tant people.
NEPOTIsM OF THE PRESIDENT
Between these two typical instances
hesitate which to place foremost, but since
the nepotism of the President is a ruling
passion, revealing the primary instincts Of
his nature; since it is maintained by him
in utter uncOnsciOusneSs of its offensive
character; since, instead OF blushing for it
as an unhappy mistake, he continues to up
hold it !; since it has been openly defended
by Senators ON this floor, and since 40 true
patriot anxious for republican institutions
can doubt that it ought to be driven with
kissing and scorn from all possibility ofrepe-
tition, begin with this undoubted abuse.
There has been no call Of Congress for a
return of the relations holding office, stipend
or mOney-making opportunity under the
President. The country is left TO the
press for information on this important
subject. If there is any eXaggeratlOn the
President is in fault since knowing the dis
creditable allegations he has not fastened
to furnish the precise facts, or, at least, his
partlSanS nave 1alleQ IN not GAZING IOf the
official information. In the mood which
they have shown in this Chamber it is evil
dent that any resolution calling for it, moved
by a Senator not known to be for his
reelection would meet with opposition and
an effort to vindicate republican institutions
would be pronounced as an assault on the
President. But the newspapers have placed
enough beyond question for judgment on
this extraordinary case, although thus far
there has been no attempt to appreciate it.,
especially in the light of history.
One list makes the number of beneficial
ries as many as forty-twO-being probably
every known person allied to the President
by blood or marriage. Persons seeming to
speak for the President, or, at least, after
careful inquiries, have denied the accuracy
of this list, reducing it to thirteen. 1t Will
not be questioned that there is at least a
bakers dozen in this category-thirteen re-
lations of the President billeted on the
country, not one of whom but for this re-
lationship would have been brought for
ward, the whole constituting nepOtism
not unworthy of those worst governments
where Office is family possession.
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