New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-16


OF BooKKEEPING-THE BELLIcosE LAwYoR
FROM ILLION-TUE CASE BADLY HANDLED
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEHl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Mr. Summers resolu-
ton was the unfinished business in the Senate to-day
with Mr. Harlan the floor; that the debate begun
yesterday went on to-day without fopposition. As
far as he dealt with the charges contained in the
preamble and resolution, except the discrepancy
between the accounts of the War Department
and those Of the Treasury, Senator Harlan
contented himself with denying them in general terms
The United had IA right to Sell the arms; Ameri
citizens had hight 10 purchase and sell them again
The Government HAD not knowingly scd TO any agent OF
wrong These, and other assertions equally unsup
ported by facts and figures, were the burden
the apparent discrepancy between the accounts
Of the Secretary Of War and those OF Gen spinner MT
The printed report Of the Treasurer The apparent d
GreS nc 4odes of but 0'
study of his figures will be required to CON
eether satisfactory Mr. Harlan expended his greatest
efforts to prove that this whole movement had been IN
sgsted BY the French Government and that somebody
had been in unofficial communication with the French
Legation in order to obtain certain papers incorporated
iu the preamble. lie seemed to think this crime OF the
baokest dye and dwelt it long to the evident salts
faction OF Conkling IL Co.. for the Senator from New
York bowed approyingy, and bestowed ON Harlan his
most encouraging smiles.
The obvious 10 all this Is that the source oil the
information has nothing to do with the facts III there
has nfractiOn OF the Neutrality laws or II the
United States officials suspected Of improper prac
tees IL Is say that the information came
from foreign government, nor has the motive OF
France giving the facts Senator any bearing on
the question. Nobody will deny that France
applied the War Department for fnforma-
which Mr. Harlan showed to-day, was contained on
pages of book in the office Of the Chief Of Ord
nance intending o the paper in the trial OF victor
Place. But answer was received for 20 days ana men,
after the trial the representative OF France
Ia al .rrpks 10
any else connected with the Legation may OF may
not have been justified Ia communicating the dGts ne
there can be no doubt az :, 70 IN, me- ,o,, auey
alton whole proceeding as scheme to iJure our
Government by charges winch, II estanlshcu, "1ud
give Germany right 10 demand an apology and dam
ages bat "a pleasant day next June" he continued,
aDOut the meridian Of philadelphia, VIII clear away
tie charges OF fraud. when are now epueuic anu VIC
shall once more be happy and united.
Thus far, there had been defense yet the Admins
traton members ready 10 let the Yeas and Nays be
called when Mr. Schurz took the floor and delivered one
OF the most logical and impressive speeches OF the
Winter. He cleared away the obscurty and confusion
in which Mr. Sumner lhad left the matter involved
Yesterday be took up the preamble and showed It's pro
prety point by point He frankly confessed that ht Oe
eyed lie discfe pancy of accounts between the War
Department and Treasury Do capable Of eX pana
tion; but he held that no thorough explanation
had vet been given and justly demanded.
Tile point upon which he Laid most stress was the
probable violation OF neutrality IN selling arms 10 the
Known attorney OF Remington, after Remlngton's rela-
ons 10 the French Government had been declared The
absurdty ~ surprising that little country lawyer on
lion n Y should stand Of for his own
amusement bullets at tine heads OF the Judges
instead VI arguments, was fully exposed,
Tnis hellcose little lawyer gave Conkling great deal
Of trouble, and in colloquy which the latter had with
schurz about him. the Senator from NewYork got much
the worst Of t. Conkng having yOuched for RcminS-
ton in the Senate yesterday 1t came out today that the
has during the present Winter, given the latter
a letter OF Introduction for foreign use. ConLlnS
therefore felt It incumbent upon him to explain the
contradiction between tho Secretary OF War, VINO
reports that no guns ordnance stores were sold TO
RemingtOn after Oct 10, 1890 and Remnstons own let
ter months later in which ne says that lie
tnTe Of Cartridge made deposits, &c But far
cp so Was Obliged to admit that Remington did
Sny; q. arms m'' OF The war Department, but said
tue ntrpostlon of the agent argued did change
Remingt0us relations 70 the transaction but ne failed
to see That defending his neghbor the French agent,
he npeached the testimony OF the secretary OF war,
any bids irom bennington the 18TH of October but
that sold Remington arms. MI SehuI just crit
cism on tnis transaction was that the Government
officials must have been binder than bats uoes,
else the whole transaction was piece or the most trans
parent jugglery.
Another point brought out strongly IN Mr.. schurz's
eloquent speech was, that the law under which the sales
were ouly authorized the sale of arms and ord
nance stores possession Of the Government,
and suitable for In the army The fact Is this
law contemplated draining the country OF arms,
and leaving 1t without enough 10 arm hardly
division OF volunteers, should they be Suddenly
called cut as they in 1861 nor did
it contemplate the manufacture Of ordnance stores for
sale To prevent any such Interpretation Of the law Inc
phrase now in the possession &c, was used. IIe
peroraon Of Mr. schurzs speech in which he referred
To the effect these things had exerted upon our German
citizens and denounced the Military Ring, which has
done SO much disgrace the AdmnstTa OF
his mort powerful efforts. Conkhng aud Morton had
taken elaborate notes. but neither seemed equal 20
reply without time for reflection and motion OF Sir.
Cameron the Senate went at once into Executive
sion After the Senate adjourned, Senators COuklng,
Carpenter Edmunds. and Frelinghuysen for long
tms i'm earnest consult toD Ia Of the Senate
mlttee rooms 1t ia believed that they have fully planned
their line OF DEFENSE and Will enter the contest
with VigOr,