Year: 1871

result For himself ne washed his hands Of IL in
every aspect. He appealed for postponement.
Senator Morrill, OF Vermont, cOntended for imme-
diate action.
Senator Schurz again obtained the floor and pro-
ceeded to reply to the argument of Howe concerning
the social relations OF the President and the Secre-
tary Of State with the chairman Of the Foreign Rea
tons Committee as the reason for Summers dlspace.
ment He pointed out that the three distinctive
branches OF the government-the executive, the
judicial and the legslative-were separate and lnde
pendent, and held that the Senate should be free
from Executive interference. He denied that
Sumner had ever refused to hold relations
OF any kind with the President or the
Secretary OF State, and, on the contrary,
showed how Sumner had been insulted. He
characterized the question OF social relations but
fmsy pretext, referring for Illustrations to the
administration OF Andrew Johnson, with whom
Sumner was not on speaking terms and charged
that the question OF the annexation OF st. Domingo
was at the bottom of this whole business.
Schurz related the substance Of an interview
he himself mad had with the President, In
which he endeavored to dissuade the President,
in the interests Of the party anu the country from
pursuing the St. Domingo scheme any further,
when 1t was evident that it would be finally de-
feated. He said there were rumors abroad-and
there was good ground TO believe them-tfat in the
change which was now proposed the Executive had
taken controlling part which was rather stronger
than In the pure days OF the republic. He pro-
tested against such Executive interference,
and contended for the independence of Senators
and the dignity of the Senate. He
would not speak OF the consequences, but he
sald In conclusion. that 1t time for the repub-


can party to consider whether they were quite
ready yet TO sacrifice their cause to the whims Of
one Individual.


Taking this last remark as his text, Senator
Edmunds, OF Vermont, who replied 10 Schurz en-.
deavored to turn the tables upon him by making it
apply not to the President, as Schurzintended, but
to the Senator from Massachusetts. Edmunds con-
tended that the change was made because II was
necessary to the transaction Of the public business,
and protested against insinuauons Of Executive


Corbett, OF oregon, defended the course OF the
caucus, and Scott OF Pennsylvania, took Schurz to
task for his remark that there were rumors anoat
and there was good ground to believe rhem that in
the change which was now proposed the Executive
had taken controlling part. which was rather
stronger than in the better days of the republic as
was entirely compatible with the Office and the
dignity Of the Senate, and Scott argued that
any charge that the Senate was influenced
by Executive dictatioh should be repelled


Schurz. who is ready In debate, responded efec.
lively 20 Scott, denouncing the course OF the Execu
tive and defending Sumner. 1t was he said IN
closing, an interesting spectacle to the Massa
chusets Senator in that seat in which he had been
assaulted by Southern ruflan, giving his blood for
the liberation Of the slaves. going to be struck
down by the men Of his own party. Applause burst
forth from the galleries as Schurz took his seat.


Howe made long speech In support Of the action
of the caucus and he was followed by Stewart, Of
Nevada, In o similar strain. Wilson made another
powerful appeal against the measure, upon the
ground that the proposed action OF the Senate 10
this matter would be fatal to the interests Of the re-
publican party and the country. He asserted that
ninety mine out OF every hundred men who voted
for General Grant In 1865 would condemn the act
Nye spoke at length In his usual facetious style
in support Of the recommendation Of the
caucus. He was followed by Logan. who made
some strong points on Summers side. General
Sherman, he said. had refused to recognize
Secretary Stanton, but General Sherman had not
been removed from the head Of the army. After
pronouncing an eloquent eulogy upon Sumner
Logan referred to Summers speech on the Alabama
claims. which expressed the universal sentiment OF
the people Of this country, AMI said that now, at
the very time when the Joint High Com
mission was here q discuss those claims,
the Senate of tn0s United States was
about to depose him from the craftsmanship Of the
Committee on Foreign Re4ations. and it would be
considered by the British Commissioners as evidence
that the country did not intend to stand by him In


the position he had taken the question Of the Ala
bama claims.


The House OF Representatives having adjourned,
the prominent members poured into the Senate
Chamber and listened with eager interest to the re-
mainder Of the debate. Senator Tipton OF Nebraska
created some amusement both by his eccentric style
and his revelations Of what had occurred in caucus.
He asserted that Howe had admitted there that, as


majority OF the Committee on Foreign Relations was
opposed to the annexation OF ST. Domingo, Sumner
should be removed from the Craftsmanship Of that
committee so as to bring the committee more in
harmony with the majority OF the Senate. Trum.
BULL Of Illinois, made brief, logical and stirring
speech In support Of Sumner, and the crowded au.
dience in the galleries. regardless Of the rules gave
loud expression to their feelings In applause when
he said that he had stood BY Sumner when he was
stricken down in his seat by the powers Of
slavery and he would stand by him now, when
the blow came, not from those who would perpe.
tuate slavery and make a slave Of every man that
favored freedom, but from those who had been
brought into power as much through the instrument
tality OF the Senator from Massachusetts, az any
other individual in the land.


Senator Sherman In advance explained his vote,
ana said that While ne did not think the reasons
signed for the change as valid, and while he con-
sldered the change lmpolitic and unnecessary, he
would vote for his removal on the principle OF sup
porting the course determined on by the majority Of
the members OF the caucus Of his party.


Senator Craig made similar explanation. Nor.
ton made short but strong appeal to the repupl-
cans to stand by the recommendation of the caucus
upon the principle of the absolute necessity or party
discipline Wilson briefly replied to Morton, con-
tending that while he was a party man
and believed In the sublime mission
of the republican party, there was something
greater and higher than mere party discipline


and That was the divine principle of right. He
pointed out the fact that the majority Of the
was really minority OF the Senate He repeated,
that nine tenths OF the people who voted to place
the present administration In mower umld nisnn.