The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-01
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, February 90.
SENATE.

Finance, reported OIL " eAelPt 'ioh
internal tax canned fish, preserves, pre-
pared mustard, DC. Passed.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the committee
on the Judiciary, reported adversely a
bill to permit the accused in criminal
cases to testify in his own defense, and
moved its indefinite consideration:
Mr.. Hamliu thought the bill had
better 60 upon the calendar. The rules
had been tried and maintained and found
to work we'll.
Mr.. Morton said remonstrances
against the bill had come from the
South, because it would tend to defeat
Justice in certain cases pending there
The bill was placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the Judiciary
committee, reported the bill to protect
purchaser of..lands sold for non-payment
of taxes in the late insurrectlonary
States.
Mr.. Sawyer, from the committee on
Education and Labor, reported adverse
" on the memorial for the establish
ment Of an educational test for suffrage.
Mr.. Chandler arose TO explain, and
read letter from a gentleman in Jack
son, Michigan, stating that somebody
had sent him certain Reform Movements
and Liberal Republican documents
under his (Chandlers) frank and that
of Senator Morton. The writer
expressed his astonishment that these
two distinguished Senators should cir.
culate such publications, and asked
Mr.. Chandler to send no more docu.
ments, unless they have the true ring.
Mr. Chandler said that his frank on
these documents was q forgery, but as
the whole Liberal Republican move
ment was fraud, he was not surprised
that those who were engaged in it re-
sorted to forgery.
Mr.. Morton also stated that the use
OF his frank On these documents, or on
anv such, was fraud and forgery.
Mr.. Upton rose to a personal expIa'
nation, and said he had been almost as
unfortunate as Mr.. Chandler. lie had
sent one Of the Senator s speeches TO a
constituent, and had had it Indignantly
returned, with a request that If he en-
dorsed such sentiments he wonld never
send his frank to that constituent again.
Laughter.
Nj. Cameron called up the bill to
admit six japanese youths to the West
Point Academy.
Mr.. CasserIy opposed the bill as pro,
posing an unwise departure from the
we'll settled policy OF the government
In respect to the academy. The bill
was passed.
At the expiration Of the morning
hour the Senate resumed the considera-
ton of the resolution 10 investigate the
alleged sale OF arms to French agents.
Mr.. Carpenter charged Sumner and
Schurz with unpatriOtism. He said
that Messrs. Golden and Bright de-
nounced the action Of the British
Government before the ALBANIA sailed,
but had said row on afterwards. de
maintained that intelligent writers all
concurred in his view, and that
government might pursue It's settled
| line of policy, the only question being
one Of good faith. Our Government
continued to do just what it had been
for wears, selling arms to whoever
wanted them. lie intimated that MIR.
Schurz had not thrown off his allegl-
auce TO his native country, and sug-
gested that this might raise doubt
whether our naturalization policy is
not wrong one.
Mr.. Schurz resented the imputation
on his want of tealty to the United
States.
The amendment OF Mr.. Schurz, to
inquire whether large sales OF arms
had not practically rendered the Gov
ernment defenseless, was adopted.
Mr.. Morton said the whole effect OF
this discussion and allegations would be
made on case for Prussia and no cry
OF corruption from these Senators can
rescue them from the position Of having
made up case for Prussia, and accord.
ing to Senator Sumner S own argument
in the Alabama case Prussia would
have a claim against US OF consequent
tial damages amounting to hundreds OF
millions. Prussia could maintain that
by supplying France with arms the
siege of Paris was prolonged, thereby
entailing enormous adiitio nal expense
upon her.
Mr.. Morton stated he would vote
for this investigation because he believed
the result of it would squeIch this
slander. There was nothing in it and
for that reason he wanted its utter
falsity exposed. He should vote for the
resolution. If he believed for one in
slant that there was the least foundation
for allegations, he would vote for
any investigation, for as an American
Senator he did not believe that it would
be expecei Of him that he should do 80
unpatriotic an act as to injure his own
country. The;idea of a case as made
up was adopted-ayes %, noes 5O,
Messrs. Cole, Edwards, Gilbert, Wright
and Harlan voting in the negative. :.
The question was then recommtted
on the preamble, when Mr.. Hamlin
moved to lay it on the table.
Mr.. Sumner replied to the intimation
that he could be guilty OF unpatriotism.
He read from the speech OF Richard
Golden heretofore alluded to, nd.sad
that that speech never was Of valuable
assistance in working up the case.
Mr.. Eimunds said no enemy OF the
country could have urged upon
the Senate with more persistence than
these Senators; no paid counsel could
have been more assiduous than they in
relating shreds of gossip, the tattle OF
correspondents and libels of slanderers,
all OF which tended TO nothing else than
the dishonor OF their country. These
Senators claim to have great love for
their country, yet what have they done
but 10 drag il down. They are abound.