Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-02-22
Congressional Debate.


lowing sharp debate was had in consher-
alton of the resolution as to the sac of
arms to the French, during the Frnch
and Prussian War:
Mr.. Morton said that Mr. Sumner would
have great difficulty in convincing the
country that the introduction of this sreso-,
luton was not move ON the Presidential
chess board intended to affect the, next
Presidential convention or election by
alternating the German vote from the Re-
publican party. Whatever might be said
of the substance of the resolution its
form was ineXcusable, for it was SO drawn
that the Senators could not vote for the
preamble without asserting that the alle-
cations to be Investigated were true, and
it was as absurd to ask the Senate to do
this as it would be for a jury to linda ver-
dict first and the evidence afterwards.
The preamble assumed that there was q
discrepancy of over one million seven
hundred thousand dollars between the ac-
counts of the Treasury and those of the
War Department. That was not true.
Mr. Sumner said the preamble did not
assume the actual existence of discre
pancy. 1t only asserted that there was an
apparent discrepancy in the official reports
OF the two Departments.
Mr.. Morton-That is the very point
deny that it appears from the reports of
the two Departments, and | aver that the
reports show that there is no discrepancy
and that it has all been explained. Even
Schurz admitted Yesterday that he had 10
doubt it could be explained.
Mr.. SchurZ said that what he had said
yesterday was that the Secretary of the
Treasury had explained an apparent dis
crepancy for the fiscal year ending 1871,
but had failed to explain a previous dis
crepancy, although he believed that it
could be explained.
Mr.. Morton was authorized to say that
the charge that there was a discrepancy
was frivolous, and without foundation.
Ml. Edmunds said that if any one would
intelligently examine the accounts in tile
reports he would see that there were no
discrepancies.
Mr. Schurz said the Secretary of the
Treasury had admitted to him that all
moneys paid into the treasury from the
sales of arms did not appear IN the re-
ports. for the reason that some OF the ac-
counts had not been settled when the re-
port was made.
Mr.. Sumner said the Secretary had told
him 1t had taken some time to look into
the accounts at the Treasury, to sift this
matter to the bottom.
Mr.. Morton-Yes, and he told you in
the same conversation it was all right.
Mr.. Sumner-1es.
Mr. Morton-Then we will consider the
discrepancy out of the case Mr.. Ed
munds insisted that there was no appar-
ent discrepancy; and Messrs. Sumner and
SchurZ had fallen into the mistake OF
supposing there was, by looking for the
item under the wrong heading in .tls9
treasury report.
Mr.. Sumner said that in his remarks
the other day he had contrasted the tig-
ures in The report of the Secretary of War
for the fiscal year with those in the report
of the Treasurer for the same fiscal year,
and said that the discrepancy showed that
there was at least reason for inquiry, and
he insisted that the fact that three davs'
discussion was necessary to explain the
discrepancy, fully justified that assertion
Mr. Morton said ii was now admitted
that there was no discrepancy at all The
next question was whether there had ever
existed any sufficient ground for suspicion
to justify its introduction into the Senate
/ and he insisted there was not. All great
governments were always selling arms fol
which they had no use, and that was
what our Government did in this case
and cartridges were manufactured because
arms couldn't be sold without ammunition
adapted TO them; for it might safely be
assumed, that there was always powder
on hand which was liable to get damaged
unless used in that way.
| Mr.. Morton said that the officers of the
Ordinance Department had the power tc
| do that.
Mr.. Wilson said it was their duty to dc
it.
Mr. Morton said Mr.. Schurzs narrow
construction of the law showed the des
perate straits into which he had beer
drawn.
| Mr.. Schurz said he would undertake t.
take care of himself. He reminded Mr.
Morton that in this case cartridges wer,
manufactured not for the purpose of get
ting rid of damaged powder or pig lead
but because they were asked for by agent
OF the French government
Mr.. Morton said the Prussian Govern
ment had known all about these transac
tions at the time, and could have bough
the arms themselves if they wished, bu
they declined, and made no complaint
because the arms were sold to others.
Mr.. Conkling said Baker & Co., refer
red to by Mr.. Schurz, were German firm
who, he was informed by high authority
had bought arms of our Government
which had afterwards passed into tn,
hands of the Prussian Government.
| Mr. Morton said when the Prussiar
Government permitted arms to be sold by
our Government and shipped openly from
New York to Brest and Havre withou
objection, it was very extraordinary tha
an Intervention in behalf of that Govern
ment should now be made in the Senate
Mr.. Schurz asked whether he meant e
insinuate hat either Mr.. Sumner or him
self (Schurz) was acting on behalf of tn,
Prussian government.
Mr.. Morton said he did not mean t.
say that, but he did mean to say that whe1
the Prussian government made no objec
ton, there was no occasion for American
Senators to try and convince them tina
they had cause to complain.
Mr.. Sumner-I know nobody who il
trying to convince the Prussian govern
ment. We are trying to convince tn,
Senate that something has been done
which ought to be inquired into.
i Mr.. Morton-But if you can convinc,
the Senate that our government has VIC
lated international law. you will convinca
the Prussian government at the samt
time, and you viii do it at the very hou
when that government is sitting as an ar
bitrator on very importan. question be
tween the limited States and the pOyern