Mr. Sumner. Certainly.
Mr. Conkling. He is engaged at this point, if I understand him aright, in supporting Mr. Remington in his character; and as the document from which he made the translation of my letter also contains stronger fortification in aid of the Senator and of Mr. Remington, I beg to call attention to it. The Senator might refer not only to my letter, but to letters written by Governor Hoffman, ex-Governor Horatio Seymour, Edwin D. Morgan, late a member of this body, General John A. Dix, not unknown here, and other citizens of the State of New York, who certify, I believe in somewhat stronger terms than those I employed, to the probity and standing of Mr. Remington.
Mr. Sumner. I am obliged to the Senator for the additional testimony that he bears. It only fortifies the authority of Mr. Remington, which was my object. I took the liberty of introducing the letter of the Senator, because he is among us, and had vouched for Mr. Remington personally. I gladly welcome the additional evidence which the Senator introduces. It is entirely in harmony with the case that I am presenting. I wish to show how Mr. Remington was regarded by the Senator, by the Secretary of War, and by other distinguished citizens,—so that, when he writes an official letter to the Chairman of the Arms Committee of Tours, he cannot be rejected as a witness.
The letter is long, and early in it the writer alludes to a credit from France and certain instructions with regard to it, saying:—
“This we could not do, as a considerable portion had been already paid out to the Government.”
Then coming to the purchase of breech-loading Springfield muskets, he writes:—
“The Government has never made but about seventy-five thousand, all told; and forty thousand is the greatest number they think it prudent to spare.”
In order to increase the number he proposed an exchange of his own, and here he says:—
“This question of an exchange, with the very friendly feeling I find existing to aid France, I hope to be able to procure more.”