New-York tribune., 1872-03-27

IBY TELEGRAPH To THB TRIBUNE
W.sVrNGToN, March Ex-senator Patterson
-. testimony before Senator Hamln's Committee Of
,ury IN regard TO the sale OF arms to-day which threw
~ much light the manner In which the transactions
- xtuyestiratlDg were first brought 20 public notice
a. .ad that about year ago. the Marquis De Cham
-, came 70 him and tod him Of certain trans
.,.us In connection with the sale OF arms,
ING the French war. He said that the French
o.,CaLGeneral at New-YOrk was IN some way
,,ed no with these sales and that he thought some
,e. might be thrown upon the subject by comparing
~ rapers in the Ordnance Bureau with the oihea ae
nts OF the French Government. In order 10 40 this
=, ished that an investigation might be made. BE IN
oa,ed further that he Thoughtful possible that some
r,.,.d States officers might I've Implicated Ibe senator
o 10 see the Secretary Of War, and told him what the
MARQUIS had said. The Secretary replied that there was
ed could be no wrong ABOUT these TRANSACTIONS tHat
No treaty stipulation had been violated anu no rule Of
International law broken. Mr.. Patterson tod
n. Marquis of his interview, hut the Marquis
al, continued anxious 70 get the facts in the matter
=. A said that he wanted 10 them in some way IL
connection with the trial OF the late French Consul
Sepea Place During the Executive session the Marquis
Amin called Mr. PattersOn's attention to the matter ana
soded that the very bad one Al that u0e'
h. urntioned the names of several persons whom De
thought had obtained Of the money paid for the
arms bv France but which never reached the United
s,a,es Government. Among those whom he suspected
NJ mentioned the RemiugtODs, Geu Rufus ingalls, ana
,ndiroctly referred te officers OF the Ordnance
Bureau
Here the matter ended untl the begnnne Of the
present session AZ that time The Marquis aE4n "ehi
% the senator and related to him fully some of
the circumstances which nc considered suspicious he
then mentioned the names OF G. X. Garrison and Mr..
Hoe a. having had connection With the transac
tons. He said that NJ Place had been remoTed from
bs position account OF hs connection with the sale
8. arms and that trial had taken place In France
No thought that if all the facts could be brought %
brst II would affect the result OF new trial,
which was yet to take place, by greatly relieving
Place from some OF the charges which had been made
AGAINST hm. The trial. he said. would wait for an IN
yes,l-aiion II begun here. He also sad, ~
conversation held that time, that the French Gov
eument had entered into contract with G X Garrison
10 purchase 50 batteries condition that the batteries
should b, delivered within given time If they were
no, delivered within that the the contract was 10 be
VOID For some reason. Garrison unable to Obtain
the batteries 10 time but after the close Of the war,
Cen ruraUs came 20 Washington in the interest
az Cngress and attempted TO influence the French MIN
is;f 70 induce his Government TO take these batteries
THis De 0ambrun said IN opposition TO his own
awe and he surprised 70 learn that the frehoh
toyerament had taken the batteries, and paid N2NCOO
for them At o; these interviews DE Champrun
showed 70 Mr. Patterson the letter from Remington 20
"a Caspe wlsch has been Incorporated in
NJ SINNERS resolution, and asked him 20 in
troduee resolution of Investigation. This Mr. Patterson
refused 10 do upon the ground that he no longer
member OF the Committee Retrenchment and because
h motives conducting some previous Investigations
had been criticised severely, If not msrepresented
Besides he thought that any officers Of the Govern
ueut were guilty OF wrong in this matter It was his duty
10 tell the President Of it, the matter be nvcs
GATED by the friends OF the Administration
On the same day he met Mr schurz, and IN converse
ton told him OF the letter which De Chambrln had
shown During the morning hour, he went % seLa-
his IN the Senate and asked him he
did think his duty so TO the President and tell
hIn ali Mr. Morton advised HIM TO DO SO. and
he acted Immediately upon that advice. The President
listened the whole story expressed surprise and sad
that II any officers Of the Government had been con
nected with the sales or were guilty Of any
Improper conduct desired that they should be known
and punished and asked the Senator speak to the
ary of War This Mr. Patterson did, and the socTe
tary epeated what he had said months before. He
sid not believe that there had beer anything wrong
sactOns The Senator suggested that the
seretary see the Marquis, and have conversation
with the subject, bat before tins Interview took
place Mr. Patterson went home for the holiday
On his return the Secretary who told him what De
Cambrun had said and added that he was preparing
wport which he hoped 10 send to Congress at early
DAY THIS report IA the same which was senJ TO TIE
HOuse Jan o. ana contains statement Of the arms
.d the nalnes the purchasers, and tue amount Of
money received Mr Patterson did not know VINO fur
uished ar sumner with the letter from Remington TO
L Csne tie had q copy the letter Of Secretary
Belknap 10 Secretary Fish IN his possession
Mr 5 inner was then called and having read the let
pto MIR HsmHn inviting hIn appear before the
Committee assed leave read and file IN reply pro
tst
NJ Summers protost o. follows: r rsouaily. OBJ
Zee 20 X...uaji0n; "iin"} W"d-0 submit "a the
mos, sescu- scrutiny not only 10 the present Gaze,
bur .sy public life There n not au act letter, or
eoIyerr5f on at any time which would from in
ve,tsfiion ma ke this remark. because I would not
have protest open 70 the suspicion that tDer" - any
thing desire 10 cancel any examination
woa.a AVOID. But. appearing before the Com
mite on az invitation, wMch D.. IL the @ @na'pr
nevcd by into the sale Of arms 70 France, an OBJ
hgcd % cOusder duty as senator. Personal lh'
AatOns whatever they may ee, canuot be iuy guide
mus DO har belongs 20 senator under the ctrcun-
-~nces OF he case Before answering any question:
tm constrained consider the competency O the Com
miijee which has summoned me IL u OF no les
Importance what these questions may De, although
there are certain obvious limitations 10 which wLl a
Jude at outset. The examination OF Senator u'
Committee Oi the senate on mater outside OF the sen
sb and not connected with his public duties: is sus-
tlled by precedents as when Mr. seward and Mr.. VII
sr examined with reference 70 the eApeduoh o
loan BfowD; but any examination with lsgsTs
batter which Se rs feli t he duty % iay before the
e ia the discharge Oi his !bo duties. IL OF very
aocttiul prUprety. Ia his pubic conduct senator
aG ou ls responsibility under the sanction or an Oatn
anu Constitution declares that for any speech or de
6re he shall not questioned n any other place Iuls
prohibition while preventing questions OF certain
character tue inquiry but the law steps Tor
ward with its requirements, acc0ruing 70
EHSh II II plain tn"t a Senator cannot
BE- lnterfogated: first with regard 10 his
Conference with other Senators pubhc business, and
secondly with regard 10 witnesses VINO have connden-
aaly communicated with aim.
Senator sumner then quotes Greenleaf on evidence,
and says rule Is equally imperative with regard TO
v!tlesses who have cOundeutiay communicated with
senator After again, uOting from the same authority
be continues as follows am led to make these remarks
ahd aduce these authorities because peruslng the Jes-
linouy OF NJ III. 1nd that BE- interro9ated on
these very mattert anu l. too, summoned as a
witness desre q put record my OF the impro-
lJicty Og such Questions IL important that they