New-York tribune., 1872-02-13

THE SENATE.
JBY TBLEGRAPB TO TIE TRBUygl
WASHINGTON, Monday Feb. H. 1872.
Senator sumper threw bOmbshen into the Admins
tratoD camp this morning, in the shape OF resolution
accompanied by long preamble, providing for a spe
cl committee to investigate the sale of arms tn,
French Government during the late France erman war
Mr.. Summers preamble was drawn up with consummate
skill, and contains within itself charges specifications
and proofs and when no began to read 1t produced
a in the Senate. Senator Conklng who happened
to be sitting in Coles seat the opposite from his
pairing his nails was for once, obliged Senator Sum
He generally has letters write when the Massa
obusets Senator Is speaking but before the latter
half through he walked TO the seat OF Edmunds,
who sat with his hands In his whiskeTs, and,
apparently, In deep menitation. After short
consultation, Conkling walked back to his scat, and
went pairing his nails Morton, who writing laid
the reading throughout unable TO keep the look
Of dspleasure from his face. The Democrats looked
peculiar shake which means, "What do you think OF
thatP and the only ones who did not
or two senators who were in the secret The facts on
which this resolution is founded and which have already
cation made by the French National Assembly. 1t
turers Of rifles first sold to the French Government such
arms as they had hand aud then he came from the
Of arms from rom our War Department. ier After
WHILE in the Fall Of Js0, it became known that the
RemiDgtons the agents Of the French Government
Secretary quoted in the preamble refused entertain
their bids Then they bid through one Thomas EGhara
known as their attorney. The heavy sales were made
Metz, aud were effected through him But II seems that
through some misunderstanding between the RemlnG-
tons end the French Government portion Ot the money
due the former for rifles of their own Dan1eere was
withheld and an investigation begun from which as aI-
mittee War Contracts asking the United States to
inquire INTO the conduct Of American officials, who
suspected Of participating in the purchase Of arms
m. ftgf
have come out which impcate somebody in the employ
several striking features in the preamble to MI Summers
resolution. Tue first Is the discrepancy between the
Of money which the Secretary OF war reports
having received and that which the United States
Treasurer accounts for In his report Secretary Benap
stores TO the amount Of scCoco0O have been Sold and
the entire proceeds except small sum retained 10 meet
passed into The treasury beyond the control of this
Department" Tne United states Treasurer, in
his account Of receipts during the year. has this
item: ION occoun OK ordnance stores, ss2s7 3l TO-"
Nobody dOnes that The Departments here VIII be able
TO explain this difference. but there are many who viii
anX0usly await such explanations. The next point is
the difference between the amount OF money paid by the
received by the United States Government. Tie French
Government paid for the arms purchased of the United
in gold or, at tine rate OF exchange at that
time, aud the premium gold about sl4 4OOocoo in
French Government, who received Two aud half per
cent commission for their part OF the business. Ii Will
pointed, to ind out who 90; the 100000 which
stopped between the French Government and
ouT own. Another striking feature Of this business
is that, by tie letter 10 Remington, quoted
by Mr. sumner, and also by tie letter written by the
Secretary u War to the Secretary Of state last month,
proved that the Government workshops were set 10
work their fullest capacity TO manufacture cartridges
for the Frcnch Government while IL was at with
Prussia. THIS Is probably The most serious charge
in the wholoT preamble, and II Is the
which there can be The least doubt Some
Of the most profound international lawyers
ia Washn don onieht searching vain for pecc-
dent for this act they say the United States has
nifted more agrant violation OF the neutrality laws
than any committed by England during or rebellion,
and that the parallel would have been the building
of rams in tie doeyards Of the British Government to
lie sold 10 the Rehel-. Tie grgvest appre-
tensions are entertained 20 what The
coursc OF the German Government may he
toward Ms, unless able to explain this olarGe
Mr. SUMMER will try action on HE resolution
tomorrow though il Is probable that an effort Will be
made delay it, and to reicr the matter 10 some com
uiitee already appointed II tie resolution s opposed
it j. probable that further faets VIII come OGt ~ debate
in support o. iLose already maGe known, and quite az
startliug in character.