The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-16
The French Arms Banging Right and
Left in the Senate.
Marquis de Chambrun on the Little
Difficulty.
The Wars of the New Orleans
Factions.
How They May Decide the Presi-
How They May Decide the Presi-
Dental Election.
FoRNEY BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE.
Custom House and General Or
der" Reform.


Tho Arms Selling to the Fronch-AcrimOny
In tho Senate Debate-Hints, Allegations
and Denanciations-Bro Person.
nlities.
The Senate's morning hour was made the vehicle
Of sensation through the reading Of personal
explanation replying to an attack recently made by
Representative Beck, OF Kentucky, on Southern re-
publican Senator's, during which he spoke OF Brown.
low as making OF Tennessee paudemonium and
escaping from the penitentiary to take refuge in
the Senate Chamber. Mr.. BrownlOw's attenuated
and palsied, worn face and peculiar appearance
always attracts the attention OF VISITORS and there
was general stir In the galleries when he rose and
had read thus attack on himself The clerk read the
Senator's reply, which was full OF the rhetorical
vlrulence and vehemence for which he has
been 80 notorious. It's language did no credit to the
Senate Chamber, and was properly checked by the
Vice President. The Senate, however, gave per-
mission for It's continuance and IL was read to the
end. In the extracts from Mr.. Beck's attack there
were some very pointed references to other South.
ern Senators, whose angry chagrin was plainly to
be seen on their cOuntenances.
After this abusive exhibition closed. discussion
was resumed on Mr.. Summers resolution Mr.. Har-
Ian having the floor. It became at evident that
the Iowa Senator had 'posted" himself since the
debate opened. His desk was covered
with ordnance books and files OF Official papers.
In replying to the alleged discrepancies between the
amounts received by the Ordnance Bureau and
those paid IN the Treasury, Mr.. Harlan read from
the oficial records Of the departments showing
clearly that no such discrepancy existed Answer
ing the charge that all the sales were not stated In
the recent report sent to the House, Mr. Harlan
read the Geographic bids received with the Bureaus
endorsements, showing them to have been rejected.
After making these points IN an effective manner,
he proceeded to examine the character of the
alleged French reports. &C.. read by Mr. Sumner as
proof OF his allegations. The attention paid to him
and the pleased looks Of administration Senator's
showed that his criticisms told. Mr.. Harlan
spoke for nearly two hours and was
followed by Mr. Frelinghuysen. who. in
keen and incisive manner, reviewed more
briefly the case MIR. sumner had made. The special
feature Of the New Jersey Senator's effort was q
striking arraignment OF the American senators,
who on the strength Of newspaper dispatches,
alleged reports and letters obtained no ono knew
how, came into the chamber and made haste to
bring charges afrecting the honor Of American on
ctals ana sought to put the nation in disgraceful
position where foreign powers might have plea
Tor apology and indemnify; this. too for the mere
purpose OF setting adopted citizens against the ad-
ministration. Mr.. Freinghuysen's effort created
marked sensation, and was evidently felt on
both sides OF the Chamber. The question was then
called. No one on the administration side rose to
speak. Mr. Schurz's chair was vacant, and Mr..
Sumner could be noticed looking anxiously round
the Chamber for his cOadutor. The Missouri
Senator came IN at this moment and addressed the
chair. He proceeded in a leisurely. graceful way,
with studied speech and nonchalanr manner to sus-
tam the preamble and resolution. His opening
sentences showed that he appreciated the force OF
the adverse criticisms which had been made, and
that yesterday Senators claimed to desire the inves
tlgation; to-day they thought the bringing of such
charges dishonor to American Senator'S He
adroty suggested that no dshonor existed in prov.
Ing corruption, but only fell on those who were
guilty. Schurz proceeded 10 review the case Mr..
Sumner presented, and in q careful manner eabo-
rated the more striking points In 1t. He brought
out more clearly the alleged discrepancy between
what Remington paid our government for arms
either direct or indirect, and the amounts he re-
ceived from the French government, and aid not
hesitate to express his belief that the three or four
millions involved was the price paid for the cor.
rupt connivauce Of American oficials. Mr.. Schurz
made an attack on can alleged military ring"
which, ne said, was believed to exist, ana by
which jobs were arranged. He then tried to show
that Mr.. Remington had received semi ofr1cal en-
dorsements from the Secretary OF War. General
Dyer, Senator Conkling and Others with which he
went 10 France to make good his case against M.
Victor Place.
Senator C0nkling made on explanation relative
to these letters saying that far as his endorse
ment was concerned 1t was merely statement to
Mr. Remington that he was known TO him as q man
Of commercial honor and personal integrity. The
letters Of Generals Beknap and Dyer were to the
effect that Mr.. Remington had always shown him.
self to be man Of honor in all dealings with his
own government The reason given by REM
ington for seeking these letters was that
N. Place had assailed his character IN
France. Mi. Schurz modi1ed his allegations on the
letter business after this and then proceeded with
general arraignment Of the loose manner in which
arms mad been sold. 1t was generally conceded,
after he closed, that Mr.. schurzs speech had saved
the whole attack from being complete breakdown,
though not from preventing Its failure In proving
anything more than that the French government
was well served In the matter Of obtaining arms and
not so well IN the matter Of honest dealing that
our ordnance officers took no special pains to find
out the principals in the large transactions that
were made; that the French government and Victor
Place had a vigilant and ratner meddlesome attor.
ney In the person Of Chambrun.
The resolution will pass TO- morrow, modified, so
40 to send the matter TO Senator Buckingnam's
Committee on Retrenchment. The preamble viii
he rejected.
What the Marquis dc Chambrun Asserts I'm
Regard to the Arms Sales Through she
RemingtOns 10 France.
The Marquis de Chambrun is unreserved In expla-
nation Of his position in the matter OF the transac-
tons in arms between this country anu France as
developed in the Senate to-day. BY his own state
ment he is the paid attorney Of the French govern
ment and the instigator OF the resolution Of Mr..
Sumner. The Marquis says that after the first
trial and acquitai OF Victor Place, late French Con-
sui General at New York, upon charges preferred By
mr.. Saniel Remington, OF conspiring with parties In
New York TO defraud his government In the pur-
chase OF arms In America, Mr.. Remington care
over from France and reached this city about tue
18TH Of December last. Here he applied to General
Eyer Chief Of Ordnance. for certain statements of
'ne sales OF arms BY the United states during the