Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-03-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CoRREsfoNDENr
WASHINGTON, March /, 1872.
SUMNER RAMPANT.

Mr.. Summers allies in making war
upon the Administration seem to have
succeeded in holding him to the compact
of fathering the movement concerning
the Sale Of Arms investigation. Though
he had previously asked leave to with
draw the preamble, on account of the
false statements it was found to contain,
he yesterday again charged upon the con-
duet of the Administration in the sale of
arms to France that he believed there
was great wrong and crime in it.
He spoke in high terms of the Marquis
de Chambrun who he said was entrusted
with the delicate task of presenting the
American case before the Geneva confer
ence in the French language. 1t seems
to me that the mention of this engage
ment in the presentation of the American
case was a questionable argument on the
side of Sumner Il Co., who are doing all
in their power to show that the American
Government has been contcmptuously
violating the same neutrality laws under
which its claim for damages is now to be
presented by this identical spy or volun-
tary witness against us on the part of
France.
Mr.. Summers speech was powerful in
its vindictiVeness against the Admins
tration and pleases the Democratic press
and its correspondents here amazingly.
The same denunciatory and acrimonious
spirit in which they still palliate or justify
the assault of Mr.. Brooks upon him is
now made his special gorilcation by the
Democracy. He is petted and patted on
the back, applauded and pitted against
Administration men by his lifelong enc
mics, so long as he continues his diatribcs
upon his lifelong Republican friends, but
the moment he votes for Republican
measure, they uniformly vote against him.
His growing weakness in the estimation
of the people is becoming daily moro APP
parent, and he was yesterday obliged to
bolster his waning popularity among Re
publicans by reading letters from pro-
Tossed friends in different parts of the
country. What falling off is here,
when Senator Summer is required to de-
fend his views as a Republican before the
Senate Of the United States.
CARL sCnuRZ AS CIVIL SERVICE
REFoRMER.
Senator Schurz is still hammering away
at the President and all who sustain or
defend him. When Mr.. Schurz was
Minister to Spain, and subsequently, a
Major General, he was known as II sup
porter of Lincoln's Administration. If
he had been charged at that time with
supporting the Administration because he
was " bought up" or Obliged to sustain
it to keep his place, he would no doubt
have branded the insinuation as n calum-
ny. But now he is guilty of the same
offence. He reads public criticism in II
newspaper and at once denounces the
editor as Collector whose opinions are
entitled to no weight" Mr.. Schurz is
too we'll informed not to know that argu-
ments have inherent force, which cannot
be augmented or diminished by the stand
ing of the author. There may be moro
selfshness in seeking to wrcak pearonal
vengeance upon the President than in
volunteering defence, in 50 far as he is
unjustly assailed. An indiscriminate
abuse of the Civil Service is not the best
way to reform it, and in point Of fact
silence and Indifference to political affairs
is more likely to render office holders
positions more permanent than taking
sides. The Senator has contributed much
to make American politics more rcpulsive
and disgusting than ever before.
INVESTIGATION or THE DISTRICT
GOVERNMENT.
The House Committee on the District
of Columbia has been in session for three
weeks, and taken testimony equal to three
thousand pages of printed matter, which
no one save the proof-reader will ever
read. Thus far some minor blunders and
extravagances have been shown, incident
to all new systems, but no corruption nor
corrupt practices whatever. On the con-
trary, contractors have been held strictly
to the terms Of contract.
NUMBER or MALCoKTENTs IN THE
SENATE.
| have Just aseertained that there are
thirty anti-administration professed Re-
publicans in the Senate. Some deny this
but figures never lie, and the cyphering
contained in the following tabular state
ment proves the number correct to dot,
viz
Trumbull, schurz and Sumner r....,....."....3
Upton
Total
FIRST GUN FROM MICHIGAN FOR COAL
ITIoN.
Austin Blair has declared his opinion
in favor of the nomination Of Trumbull
by the Cincinnati Convention. 1t is ru-
mored that he has hopes Of being placed
on that ticket for the Vice Presidency
; Trumbull and Blair are good-yery. But
Seymour and Blair were better.
PRESIDENTIAL AUCTION.
Senator Trumbull recently offered O
joint resolution to repeal the eight-houl
law which is one of the planks of tho
Z Workingmen's platform. How will this
: affect his chances tn ont .Iu1pa naUia