The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-12

General Grant, then Chief OF the Army, aud Mr..
ditlon OF aliairs there. General Grants report
was briei non-committal and unsatisfactory.
while Mr.. Schurz's was lengthy, elaborate and
suffrage and the pr rejection oil the negroes Mr.
Johnson's reception OF these reports showed MS
own bent OF mind, SO Tar as the South was CON
cerned, by ignoring the repor. Of Scnurz and SUD-
uniting TO the Senate that OF General Grant.
When the message OF the President was read GU
closing the report Mr.. sumner rose ana sdlu =
1--WE have message from the President wh nc Is
like the whiewashlng message OF Presldeh. rg r
with regard TO the atrocities IN hans"s no,i,ri a
sentiment led TO bitter dispute, MI, pooHtle
using the word ..whitewasnlng." But Mr.. sumner
would not withdraw the woru anu ,nsisteu
IN regarding the message PSsssent Pierce IN 1881
This was the irst evidence OF dissatisfaction on Tue
part OF the republicans towards Mr. Jonnson: Inc
history of this angry controversy between the
President and the republican party is TOO fresh in
the public mind to be now treated or Dlnerence
aIrer dlrerence followed, and the breach grew
wider and wider until II eliminated IN the i'm
peachment During the trial on the impeachment
Mr. sumner led the extreme radical wing OF the
party aud made exhaustive speeches on the right
and duty OF the Presidents removal. This brought
him INTO angry relations with MI Fessenden and
Mr. 1rumbull and Others and many angry debates
followed. The result was the impeachment con-
troyersy and the triumphant election OF General
Grant, in 1863 which gave Mr. Sumner an un-
challenged performance in the republican or
ganization and led to his unopposed reelection to
The Senate for the fourth time, IN 1862.
GRANTS ADMINISTRATIONS.
With the election OF General Grant Mr.. Sumner
can party ana there was an impression that ne
would be chosen as Secretary OF state. But the
President, although he had the highest respect for
Mr.. summers abilities, felt there difference
OF temper which would have made his services in
the Cabinet almost an imposslbilty. Throughout
the Senatorial life OF Mr.. sumner he never permit
ted any considerations TO swerve him from
what lie believed to be his duty. This never
more remarkably made manifest than on the occa-
sion OF the appointment OF President Grants Cab
met, when scene took place which the late Hor-
ace Greeley was in the habit OF characterizlng as
honorable
an American senator. IL will be remem-
eered that IN the composition OF the Presidents
first Cabinet Mr.. A. 4. Stewart, OF New York,
was nominated to be secretary OF the Treasury.
This nomination was in con,ravenuon oil an act
ONCE forbddng any person engaged IN COM
merce to hold position in the Treasury. The
President was not aware of this barring clause in
the section when he nominated MIR. Stewart and
accordingly the next day he addressed message
BY the rules OF the Senate unless senator OBJ
jects any measure OF this kind must receive lmme-
date consideration. The President was IN the full
triumph OF election. Behind him was compact
disciplined and oDedent party, and as soon as his
wish was Known the general tendency was to con-
sent 70 IT, When the question arose II any objec-
ton would be raised TO the consideration OF the
message there was a long pause. VICE President
Coliax was about to declare the question carried
when Mr.. sumner, looking round the room with
astonls hment, expecting some democrat to critl-
else the message, rose and said, .Mr Presi-
dent, | object" adding that so nasty thing as
suspendlng law or the country that had been IN
operation over seventy years should not be con-
out due elaboration. This, however, was regarded
simply as the expression OF an Independent Sena
tors opinion, and 1t did not disturb the harmOnl-
GUS relation then subsisting between Mr. sumner
and General Grant, Tor we fno Mr.. sumner max
ing an elaborate speech IN 1869 supporting the
demands OF secretary Fish for the settlement OF
the Alabama claims. During the first year OF the
administration the relations between Mr.. Fish and
MIR. sumner were OF the most intimate and cordial
character. Mr.. sumner was one OF the lew
public men Mr.. Fish was acquainted with
when he came to Washington for they had neld
Mr. sumner gave to the President and MS Cabinet
consistent friendly and generous support But
issue, angry IN character, took place. Mr.. Mot
ley was Minister to England. and some OF his acts
did not meet the approval OF the President, who
ment, and ne was removed. This act OF removal
wounded MIR. Sumner very deeply ior Mr.. Motley
pointed 10 England at his request by President
Grant, as he had previously been appointed to
Austria at his request by Mr.. Lincoln.
THE QUARREL WITH THE PRESIDENT.
final rupture took place ON the ST. Do
mlngo question. The history OF this has been
tod both by the President and Mr.. sum.
ner. According to the President, after he had
resolved on entertaining relations with the gov
eminent OF st. Domingo, and had received rom
his agents a lul statement OF what had been done,
he called upon Mr.. Sumner at mis- house and ex-
planned to him what had been accomplished. and
left with him a copy of the treaty anneXing ST.
Domingo. In time, however, report was maze to
the Committee on Foreign Relations, and speech
istration project. The President commended that
this act on Mr.. Summers part was breach OF
1altn towards nlm-eu-dt any Tdte d surprise WHICH
no senator In harmony with the administration
should nnict upon the government. Mr.. sumner
commended tnat he had never given any
such evidence OF intention to support the
administration, but at the same time admitted he
might have been thoughtless IN not informing the
President OF his purpose with regard TO ST. Domingo.
But Whatever the real truth oil the history may be,
II is certain that all friendship between the PresI
dent and Mr.. sumner was at an end. With That
venemence OF character " h Ich char acterlZed Mr..
sumner, he continued his opposition to the admins
tratlon earnestly and In the piainest and most
.lnfn (lna nj he n
ton was that he removed from rne chairman
snip oil the Committee Oh Foreign Relatons-a
position ne had held since the dominance OF the
republican party MIR. sumner lett aegrieved at
this action, but continued to act with the party
TIL the rise o. The liberal republican party when
his health began TO suffer from the breaking
out OF the old wounds inflicted on him by
BROOKS Nhen the Convention met at Gin
clnnatl his name was not mentioned for the
Presidency. Many whom he had champIoned
abandoned him and Mr.. Greeley was selected. Mr..
Sumner went to Europe suffering terribly. He
spent some time IN Paris and was received with
great distinction by President THEIRS, the Duke
D'Aunae and other leading statesmen OF that
country. He returned home, wrote a strong letter
in favor OF Mr.. Greeley Tor the Presidency. but
took no active part in the campaign, except to de-
liver speech as senator attacking President Grant
and bitterly denouncing his administration on IT'S
course III the French arms question. All OF this,
however, Is too familiar to our readers, and may
be dismissed with lew sentences. Mr. sumner
since the reelection OF Grant has continued 10 act
as an independent senator, devotlng himself par
ticnlarly to the passage OF the Civil Rights bill.
Those who have Known Mr.. Sumner well Will not
be surprised AT ais death. He has never been in
full bodily health since the cowardly and cruel as
sault made on nim by Brooks. He was man OF
Astounding industry ana wide tastes, who gave
his lie TO study he married late in life. His mar
rage was not happy one, ana his wife separated
from Tim and lived In Europe. The reasons Ior the
separation have never Deen known, but Mr.. Summer
submitted the case to two or three Of his warm
friends, among whom was the late Mr.. Greeley, VINO
decided that he had acted under tie crcum> tdnces
with all the deicacy and courage OIL man OF high
honor.