The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07
Opinion Respecting the Extraordinary Con-
ference at the State Department.
A GRAVE MISTAKE COMMITTED.
The Presidents Final Determination to Stand
BY our Case.
The Anti-Grant Feeling Spreading
Among Republicans.
BLAINE OR BOUTWELL, FOR PRESIDENT.


WASHINGTON, May 9, 1872.
What IL Thought and Said About the
Extraordinary Conference the Ala
bama Claims-Fernando Woods Ar
raignment OF the President.
BY common consent, irrespective of party feel
ing, the partisan gathering at the State Depart
ment, on Saturday morning, to discuss a vital
international question from which every party
sideration should have been excluded, Is declared,
IN and out of congress- to have been grave mis-
take-an error not surpassed in the whole course OF
treatment ofthe difference with Great Britain. When
General Banks received an invitation to the State
Department to discuss the Alabama claims he was
so confident that he had been addressed as a
member of the Committee Of Foreign Relations in
stead of as mere supporter Of the administra-
ton, that he approached his democratic colleagues
and entered into conversation with them on the
subject In such manner as left no doubt that he
supposed them to be In possession Of similar invi-
tatons The ignorance Of the democrats speedily
notified General Banks of his error, but it was too
late to retrieve 1t.
The Washington despatch of last night to the
HERALD had been telegraphed back in full this
morning and nearly everybody was prepared for
some alusion to the matter In the House to-day.
arraignment OF the Executive would have met the
highest requirements of solemnity that could have
imposed themselves upon deberative body on the
most grave occasion The question was approached
and treated with great dignity by Mr. Wood, and
though the rulings of the Speaker supported by Mr..
Bingham and the fealty of the majority overbore
the question of privilege that was supposed to give
authority for the speech, the Representative from
New York gained his material point, and won
support for his argument that was not wholly par
tisan.
MT. Wood rose and said he had had the honor to
have been appointed at the commencement of this
Congress, by the Speaker member of the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs He had discharged the
duty faithfully and diligently, not emitting one
meeting or avoiding any of the duties The COM
mttee from its nature was non partisan. 1t had no
cognzance OF political subjects questions of party
character. No discussions of this nature had ever
taken place In it. For himself he had looked upon
the grave questions relating to intercourse with
foreign nations as above party, and had always
maintained that on subjects so vital and delicate
as those which involved the peace Of the
nation, no other considerations should
be thought Of other than those appertaining to
the honor and interest of the United States. With
such sentiments, upon which he had always acted
as a member OF the committee, he was the more as
tonished at the course which had been pursued to-
wards him upon the occasion to which had risen to
refer. On Friday morning last the Cabinet re-
solved upon a meeting of the two Committees
OF Foreign Affairs Of the two houses,
with the democratic members OF each
to be left out. At about two O'Clock on that day
the republican members OF each committee
ceived commands from the President to convene
at the State Department at two O'Clock the follow
ing morning. This order was signed by General
O. E. Babcock, the military secretary of the Presi-
dent. Promptly at the hour each of the republican
members attended, the President and Secre
tary of State present also. The Committee of
Foreign Affairs of this house had been thus called
together by the President, and the three democratic
members had been excluded from the meeting,
BY what authority does the Executive convene
committee of this houseg and by what authority
can a committee OF this house be convened
at all in part and not as whole
He charged, therefore, that the Presi-
dent had grossly infringed the privileges Of
the House, and had invaded his rights as a member
of the House and a member OF the Committee OF
Foreign Affairs. proceeding on the part Of the
Executive so extraordinary must have been
prompted by some important consideration. IT Is
impossible that at this late day the motive could
have been merely for consultation our
present relations with England. Our adj
vice has never been sought before. Some
higher object must have prompted the movement.
Can 1t be that the Legislative Department is to be
now invoked through the action OF a partisan ma
jority to cover the intended retreat from I'M
tenable and unjust positlon9 Or is it designed to
obtain Congressional countenance to some
coup detat which will require popular sup
port Or is the small device an effort
En- Inv Tho han,n tIp naYts
of the administration of facts which may prove
disastrous to the party in power as represented in
the governments Whatever may be the motive, l
profess against this Executive interference with
my rights as one OF the representatives of the
people, and denounce 1t as usurpation and I'M
warranted invasion Of the privileges OF the House
OF Representatives.
General Banks said this did not involve question
OF privilege such as the House could take cogni-
zance of.
The Speaker said he did not see question OF
privilege in it.
General Banks said Mr.. Wood was wrong in his
assumption that there had been meeting OF the
committee as such.
Mr.. Wood asked whether he General Banks) had
not had notice for the meeting, as stated by him
(Mr. Wood, and whether this notice had not been
signed by General Babcock, the military secretary
OF the President, and whether he had not met the
President and the republican members Of the CON-
mittee there
General Banks replied that he was invited to
meet the Secretary Of state at the State Depart
ment
Mr. Wood said he had asked General Banks ques
tions which he had not answered, and that he de-
sired reply, or no.
General Banks admitted that he had been invited
by a note from General Babcock, and that he had
met the President and the members Of the commit
tee stated.
Mr. Wood said he had, then fully sustained his
accusation. Comment was unnecessary.
The Speaker ruled that there was no question OF