Year: 1872

SENATE.


THE CLAYTON CASE.


The Vice President appoi nted the
following special committee to inyessl-
gate the charges against Senator Clay.
ton: Messrs. Wright. Morrill,. OF
Maine, and Norwood.


PETITIONS.


Mr.. Conkling presented a petition OF
the Ladies Union Relief Association,
asking that provision be made for
burying at public expense honor
ably discharged soldiers dying in pov.
erty. Also a petition of citizens Of
New York praying that bounties and
lands be given to classes Of soldiers and
seamen, equal with those who have
received them, but for whom no pro-
vision has been made.


Mr.. Cameron, from the committee on
Foreign Relations, reported bill au-
thorizing the Secretary OF War to admit
six japanese youths to be sent by the
Government of Japan to the military
academy at West Point, without ex.
pense to the United States, and asked
its immediate consideration.


Mr.. Thurman thought the bill illegal
The academy, he said, was not a pay
school. No citizen Of this country
could send his son to the academy by
merely agreeing to pay his expenses,
and he saw no reason why foreigners.
onI a foreign government, should have
the privilege.


Mr.. Cameron remarked that the
government Of Japan had requested this
as a special favor from our government,
and he thought it would be not only
courteous but policy to grant it.


Mr.. Morton thought it would be
sound policy for the Government OF the
United States to comply with the re.
quest Of the japanese Government and
that there would be no obligation to
follow the precedent in other cases. If
France, or Great Britain, or Russia
should make a similar request we would
not be bound to grant it because our
relations with those nations are entirely
different from our relations with Japan.
The Japanese were trying to break
away from their old system, which
secluded them from the rest Of the
world. They had recently sent com.
mission here to study our financial
system and had employed citizens OF
this country to superintend to some ex.
tent their own financial operations and
they were endeavoring in every way to
study and adopt our civilization. He
thought, therefore, in view Of the pres
ent attitude of Japan and their great
desire for the cultivation Of friendly
relations with them, that it would be
wise and in no way dangerous to admit
their youths to West Point.


Mr.. Thurman said that ifthe Japan.
ese wished to study our military system
and our institutions, the schools and
colleges OF the United States were open
to them on the ordinary terms, and
he therefore saw no necessity for turn.
ing West Point academy into a pay
school for their benefit.


Mr.. Sumner thought this an excep-
tional case, and thata compliance with
the request of the japanese government
need not be regarded a. a precedent.


Mr.. Cole thought it important to do
all in our power to cultivate friendly
relations with the Japanese government
Already there were over three hundred
Of these young men in this country for
the purpose OF study, while some 235
others had gone to Europe with the
same view. This showed that they
were earnest in their desire to get in
communication with our civilization;
and this being an exceptional case, it
seemed to him right to grant the re-
quest Of the Japanese government.


Mr.. Thurman denied that this was
an exceptional case. He saw no better
reason why the favor should be granted
to elk Japanese than to the same
number of Chinese, Peruvians, Boil
vians or Chilians. 1t was, Of course,
wise for us to cultivate friendly relations
with Japan and all other nations; but
it did not follow that We must, therefore,
turn our national academy into a
general school to teach foreigners the
art of war. There are thousands OF
American parents who would be glad
to pay for the education OF their sons
at the national academy as soldiers OF
the republic While they were ex
cluded he was not in favor Of opening
to foreigners who had no intention Of
becoming citizens, and who, in case OF
war with this country, would be bound
to use the knowledge and skill acquired
here against this country. He had
always been friendly to West Point,
but he did not believe that the people
would see it turned into pay school Of
war for foreign youths while their own
children were excluded, and let it stand.


Mr.. Carpenter said the bill was a
bad one, which ought not to pass. but
if presented al all it ought to be with
out the provision authorizing the Sec.
retary of War to exempt those Japan
ese youths from any OF the rules Of the
academy. One OF the most wholesome
and essential features in the discipline
of the academy was that the distinctions
existing outside were ignored and all
the cadets were upon the same level,
but this bill proposed to establish a
foreign aristocracy within the walls Of
L