Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-03-27
ARMS
Congressional Investigation ogshs Sales Of
Arms TO Francs during the Franco
German War.

WASHINGTON, March 26. - The
Senate arms committee to-day e1E-
amined Senator Patterson, who teskl-
fed concerning his conversations
With Marquis De Chzmhrun.
senator Summer came into the room
and read q protest against being ex-
amined, on the grounds that senator
aclsOn his responsibility under sanction
OF his oath and the constitution, and he
says he shall not be and cannot be in
terrogated as to his conversation with
other senators, or IS 20 confidential
communications; and also that fha
constitutional committee, Contrary To
parliamentary law, were unfFiendiy
at the time OF the Investigation. a
subpoena was directed to be served on
Senator Summer to appear tomorrow.
The Senate arms committee, to-
day, examined SsaatOr Patterson.
who stated that Ia the e0nversa-
tiOns he had had with the Marquis
De Ohambrun, the latter had in
formed him a year ago that the
French consul at New York and
Remington and ingalls, were In some
way mixed up with personal interests
in the sale Of arms to the French, but
as he was French subject he could
not have access to the books OF the
war and treasury department to as
certain the facts. MIR. Patterson ac-
cordingly saw the secretary of the
treasury, and related the conversation
he had with Marquis De- Chambrun.
The secretary thought there had been
no fraud in the sales, and no viola
ton of the international law or the
treaty OF stiputati0ns.
De Chambrun said that threeor four
million dollars had dropped between
the American aud French govern.
ments, and his object was to get facts
to be used in connection with the
charges against the French consul at
New York. In the further ezamina-
ton Patterson said that Chambrun
told him he suspected that @. K. Gar
risOn and John Haley were in collu-
sion for the sale of arms. The wit.
ness had no information as to how
Senator Sumner obtained a COPY of
ths letter from Remington to Lecesna,
nor did he know how Chambrun OBJ
tained copy, nor had he knowledge
that any American citizen or gov
eminent official was directly or indi-
ACOtAS AAhCA0olOu III the 6diS vi dIul3,
only what he heard from Chambrun.
Senator Patters0n's testimony before
the arms investigating committee
was as follows:
Patterson testified that at the sug-
gestion of Senator Morton he showed
the President copy Of the Rsming-
ton letter. The President expressed
a good deal OF surprise when the letter
was shown to him, and he said that
he did not think it would turn out
that there was any fraud in the sale
Of arms, and expressed his anxiety to
have the matter investi gated, saying
that If any persons were shown to be
implicated in any fraudulent transae-
tions, they should be brought to pun
ishment.
The President thought that the wit
ness should say so to the secretary of
war. He did so. The secretary mani
tested good deal OF feeling, and said
that the whole business had been
transacted with great prOpriety, and
every transaction connected with the
sale Of arms was a matter OF record,
and that he would have it invesuga-
ted and make report to congress.