New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-17
THE FRENCH ARMS SCANDAL.
CONTEST IN THE SENATE.
TIE wHIPPERs-IN CONSOLIDATED AND ANGRY
SENATOR MORTON TO THE FORE-A STUMP
SPEECH IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
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lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSRl
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator Morton is
nothing IL he is not political partisan. His speeches
seem TO indicate that he appreciate motive
except n political one, hence he drags partisan poll
ties by the into every discussion subject.
This is no feature of his speeches. Within two
weeks after the Inauguration OF Gen. Grant Pres-
dent he accused Senators who opposed TO repeal
of the TenureofOnce law as being unfriendy to the
President Those who desired to investigate the Hatch
imprisonment, and its bearings on the SantO Domingo
question: enemies Of the Administration. To ask
for investigation into the public practices Of such
fellows as Murphy and Leet & Stocking IN New-York
was "a reflection upon the Republican party" and
though neither Mr. Sumner Mr.. schurz has In one Of
their speeches mentioned politics in connection with the
investigation asked, MrMorton and his friends
nothing but political trick In IT, Hence the charac
ter OF Mr.. MortOn's speech to-day.
The result Of the long consultation OF Administration
managers last night, that Morton TO be put for
ward this morning, and that the Others Conkllng and
Edmunds, should prompt him. The Senator from Indi
ana did the talking; ihe Senators from Vermont and
NewYork furnished equal shares of the ideas and facts
After denOuncng the whole movement as an attempt to
ALLEVIATE the German vote from the Administration and
from the Republican party, and telling MI Schurz that
he did not carry ;tbG German vote in his brooches
pocket" he Tappled with the question of discrep-
ancy between the accounts OF the Ordnance Bureau and
those OF the L. s. Treasurer 10 the value OF and
ordnance stores sold. IL hard to why Messrs.
Morton and Edmuuds cared to spend so much time on
this point, Messrs Schurz and Sumner at in
formed them that had already been satisfactorily
planned by the Secretary Of the Treasury. But this was
the strong point OF the defense and they dwelt upon
it with apparent satisfaction the prompters repeatedly
calling back their spokesman to IT in order that they
might turn il over again and hold up their triumph to
the admiration of their friends. Having once got
away from this topic, Mr. Morton was not
successful in handling his subject. The three
conspiratOrs would blow up great bubble and appear
to be going swimmngly when Senator ochurz would
prick it and it would suddenly disappear Remingtons
letter absurd braggadocio" written to get money
out OF the French Government, Notwithstanding Remi
ton was ian honorable man." vOuched for by the War
Department and the Senator from New-iork. He at
tempted prove that the law ordering the sale of old
cannon. and other ordnance stores, now
lin 1861 in possession of the War Department,
which are damaged otherwise unsuitable for
the United States military service, or for the
militia of the United sretcs meant that the Secretary
Of War night anuflc his best powder and pig lead
into cartridges sale in the market for fear it would
il kept long enough become damaged or otherwise I'M
suitable use - bat OF course he failed lie was no
successful when he attempted 10 show that after
Remington had in October, $780, declared himself the
French agent il would be possible for him to go TO the
War Department represent himself the agent OF little
country lawyer OF Hon, n. " aud purchase 10000 stand
Of arms without arousins the cion that he was buy
ing on his own account
After hOuudrrns about among the allegations OF Mr.
Summers preamble an hour, Mr. Norton gave 1t up
and went on a tangent into a campaign stump speech.
Here he was AT home, and ne made AN earnest almost
impassoned, appeal for the denomination ana the re-
election OF Gen. Grant. Senator Upton followed with
speech which he showed the growth OF
the tyranny which the Administration, or Its
friends sought to exercise In the Senate since 1862
hut did not discuss the sale of guns al all.
The only business done during the morning hour IN the
Senate, to-day, the passage OF bill renewing
grant of land To- the Bay field 81 CrOix and Lake supe-
lor Railroad This road got its first grant G years ago.
had it renewed eight years ago. and has as yet, built
only ~ mil is road II engineered by Carpen
ter, aud rs ConklinS backed it, OF course, it went
through.