New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-17

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we intended investigation all the time; we were rather
anxious for it than otherwise but 1t just a
had OF seeming to oppose IL at first for short time"
At last despite the open opposition Of the cxasperat
ing EI;nunds and the obstructiveness OF one two
Others Mr. Sumner allowed TO go on. II Is almost
always satisfaction to the noble figure OF the Massa
chusets Senator rise from his in the back for
Mr.. Sumner is not politician but great hisiori
cal character towering most OF his associates IN
Senate not In dignity of his purposes than IN
the elevation OF bis mind and the majesty OF MS personal
presence. Yet II must be confessed that ne an noV e
plain his resolution with the cearness and force tht
the occasion demanded lie was pestered with queS-
tons, and he could not always answer them. lie
sighted, rs it seemed TO me- some OF the strongest
points Of the case, and when he sat down
Mr.. Conkng regained his composure. and Mr. Edmunds
looked relieved As a suit OF the first days battle 1t
may be said that formidable campaign had been
opened but decisive advantage, so far as the unin-
formed public could had been gained on either side
To-day Mr.. Carpenter was seldom In his place. Mr.
Harlan made the first attack upon the resolution ana its
movers bringing the defense Of the Military Ring all
the resources of that sort of Western eoquence which Is
sometimes said to be "racy OF the soil" Mr.. Harlan
speaks tperhaps, TO make my description In keeping
| should say he "orates) with more regard to
the meaning Of words than their sound, ana
when he alludes TO M. Jules de Cesne, who
figures in Senator Summers preamble he calls him JOoes
Dee Ccsnee For all that lie is effective deDater and
if cannot say that he convinced that the alleged
discrepancy between the accounts OF the Secretary Of
War and the Secretary OF the Treasury had no existence
am bound to confess that he made imposing array
of figures which did not understand. But In point OF
fact conceded from the first that there was no
to believe that any real discrepancy would be
found here after thorough examination OF the books
1t only insisted that explanation required; and
explanation wnO doubt be given. Nh. Frenghuysen
rhetorical but his address carried no great weight
The skirmlshing and harassing fell to the lot OF Mr.
COnkling, and there is no IN the Senate Edmunds
perhaps, excepted, who can worry an adversary with
such small weapons, interrupt speaker with so little
excuse and make hIself in general thoroughly dlsa-
reeable as this leader of the Administration faction in
the state Of New-YOrk. On ordinary occasions
Mr.. Conkling apparently gives his mind, while
he is in the Senate Chamber to the
condition Of his fnger-nails. When he is not in the
Chamber it is reported. upon hardly know what
authority, that he is usually taking bayrum baths in
the basement OF the Capitol, while one OF the pages
holds the Senatorial and stockings the fire.
Coming up fresh from this invigoratiDg recreation, Mr.
Conkling and then goes for an enemy with the
strength and the wickedness Of giant He went for
Mr.. SchuTz to-day several times and he was Dadly
worsted for Mr.. schurz made him confess himself the
social political and commercial sponsor of Remington
and if Mr. Conklng is to acqit the Military Ring OF
completely fraudulent sales Of he can only do it
by showing that Remington the rascal and France
aud the United states were the victims.
OF the speech by Senator schurz dispatches will
have told you, perhaps enough. 1t was not only the
speech Of the day it Of the most remarkable in
cidents Of the Winter. Mr. Schurz stands among the
greatest parliamentary orators OF the time. II is
not only that his language is easy, SO dignfed 20
choice so correct fluent but in every sentence one
recognizes the impress Of clear, incisve intellect
and the severe training Of an educated
reasOner. Whatever obscure in the case he
cleared away. Whatever useless he discarded He
saw the strong points and pressed them with consum-
mate tact and at the close when he described the mis-
cradle effect riang with the neutrality laws had
wrought upon American citizens OF German descent,
when he told Of the remOnstrances without number
which had poured in upon the Government while these
transactions going and which he had wisely re-
fused at that time bring before the Senate when he
pointed his scornful finger at the Military Ring which
now sits In the high places Of power, ana Wnen nnay he
warned hide their heads III the sand ana
like the ostrich imagine themselves hidden when
they were only blind felt that ring OF true elO-
Gucnce stirred the great silent audience to its very depth
The galleries were fill. and Representatives from the
other House crowded the floor. Cenkling, Edmunds,
and Morton held whispered conferences and the gentle
man from New-YOrk evidently big with speech.
But for this day. MI SchurZ unanswerable, and
soon as he sat down, Mr. Cameron proposed to into
executive session. Probably 1t the wisest course
after all. j. r. o. II.