Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
Political Campaign In the Senate.
Sumner Denounced as O Falsifler.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, June 3.-Mr. Scott called
up the bill relating to limiting steam pres
sure on towing and freight boats on the
Mississippi river. Passed.
Mr.. Chandler-I give notice that at an early
day l shall attempt to vindicate the memo
ry of a personal friend,
Edwin NJ. Stanton,
from the foul aspersions cast ON it on this
floor. knew Edwin NJ. Stanton in life. /
honor his memory, and shall attempt to
vindicate if.
At the expiration of the morning hour,
unfinished business, sundFy civil appropria-
ton bill, came up.
Mr.. Pomeroy moved to postpone it in
definitely, and yielded the door to
Carpenter,
who addressed the Senate in reply to Mr..
Schurz's criticisms on the report of the
Committee on sales of arms to France. He
said that the Senate had been quietly pro-
ceeding with public business, when pre-
amble and resolution introduced by Mr..
Sumner IN relation to the sale of arms
came on the Senate like clap Of thunder
out of a clear sky. As soon as that pre-
amble and resolution were read, every
friend of the administration saw that full
investigation was necessary, and the reso-
luton could have been passed in ten min
utes. But Mr.. Sumner, by insisting on the
preamble, forced on the Senate debate of
two weeks, though at the end Of the de-
bate he became ashamed of the preamble
and voted to lay it on the table.
MIR. Carpenter had extracts from tEe
Globe read to show that he had declared
himself in favor of the fullest and most
searching investigation, and that every Sen
ator subsequently placed on the committee
voted for the investigation. He argued
from the manner in which the committee
proceeded that the investigation was fair,
and full and complete. Therefore, he said,
when the Senator from Massachusetts, de-
nouneed the report of the committee as a
Whitewishfng Report,
he violated all decencies of parliamentary
life and all truth that should govern and
control a gentleman. 1t was apparent from
the first, however, and the subsequent
course of the Senator from Massachusetts
had shown that his object was not to have
a full and fair investigation of the arms
sale, but to make deliberate, premeditated
and malicious assault on the Administra-
ton, without regard to truth or Justice.
In reviewing the course of the investiga-
ton Mr.. Carpenter read Mr.. Summers
statement in his protest against being called
as a witness, that under other circumstan-
ces he would willingly submit, not only his
conduct in this matter, but the conduct OF
his whole public life to the closest scrutiny,
and Congratulated him on his
SInguIarIy VirtuOus
condition, saying that never before
since the loWly NaZarene walked beneath
the palms of Palestine had man appeared
on earth, except the Senator from Massa-
chusetts, who could say "every act, every
letter, every idle word Of my past life meets
nv present appreciation" Laughter.
rat this point and enthusiastic gentle
man in the gallery applauded loudly, and
forcibly resisting the attempt of the door
keersr to put him out, protesting that it was
a violation of the constitution.
Passing to Schurz's speech reviewing the
report Of the Arms Committee, Mr.. Carpen-
ter said the Senator from Missouri (Schurz
was clearly philosopher, and came within
the Scotchman's definition Of metaphysi
clan philosopher, one who talks about wha
nobody understands and what apparently
/ he does not understand himself. FortI
nately the most brilliant discourse, the mos
striking rhetoric, if not founded on fact o.
reason, could not make reason in this coun
try, and the Senator from Missouri Ough
/ not TO fail to consider this, because what ht
aimed at was
Nothing Less than Revelation.
{ That Senator had drawn beautiful pic
ture of our present condition, and saw tina
the report of the arms committee indicates
an unhealthy political atmosphere, and GER
| tainly the atmosphere here did seem yer!
offensive to the Senator's nostrils, especial!
since his return from the pure ether Of Gin
cinnati, where not an Offce-seeker went
and where, of those who did 60, not ont
would hold an office for forty years
TLauohter.] Senator Schurz had also ex
| pressed great fear for the liberties of tht
country because the arms committee, com
posed of lawyers, had endorsed a soldier
construction of the law. Indeed the Sena
tor is exceedingly hard on. tn
soldier and on all who ser ed this countr
in the late war. But l apprehend n
dangers from that source. My fear for th
perpetuity of our institutions does not res
| OLl IUS VI nOACGbi bASI4h oSANASAE
1t is not by these that the liberties OF ma
tions are overthrown, but by the efforts
the artful, intriguing rascals who hav
gained the public ear, artful, designing
Jesuits,
who have swept away the foundations
free institutions, while pretending to defen
and maintain them. The liberties of Rom
were not struck down by the military usul
nations of Cesar, but were finally ovel
come by the artful intrigues cf Augustu
Caesar. If our liberties ever go down the
will 90 under the manipulations of a set {
designing and artful men who stand out 4
models Of republicanism purer than the
followers.
Mr.. Carpenter then made long legal al
eument in reply to Schurz's arguments, an
In support of the report of the Arms Con
mittee. He maintained that there was 4
violation and no wrong of any kind in Il
sales of arms, and against Schurz's opinio
that they were in violation of intern;
tional law, he put the reported opinion
Bismarck, that they were not.
Inreply to Mr.. Summer, Mr.. Carpentt
then spoke to the length OF over S,OC