The Portland daily press., 1870-12-22
XLIst OONGRESs---Third Session.
EHNATE

ed unanimous consent to forward to the Score
tary and have read portions of an article In
this mornings Daily Patriot OF Washington,
headed efforts to bring about a reconciliation
between the President and Sumner The ar
ticle stated that an attempt had been maze
within the last ten days by mutual friends TO
bring about reconciliation or at least better
understanding between the President ana
Sumner, that after consultation the President
was approached on the subject by distin-
guished New Eng. Senator. 1t then proceeded
The President manifested good deal OF feeling
and utterly refused to be persuaded that the
differences could be recOnciled or even give
his consent to any movement having in view a
reconciliation. The good OF the party, etc.,
was earnestly urged but in vain. The Presi-
dent in response to all suggestions of "let ms
have peace" replied emphatically that Sum,
ner had attacked him in executive sessions OF
the Senate; had spoken bitterly of him public
ly in street-cars and other public conveyances.
and had grossly abused him 10 Boston and
curing his journey west. The President add
ed that Sumner attributed dishonest motives
to him, and if he were not President of the
United States he should hold Sumner person
ally responsible tor his language and demand
satisfaction of him. This was somewhat start
ling talk from man whom the Republican
party have almost worshipped as couquerer OF
the rebelllon; to put peace makers to Hl9h
for it as plain that the 'Olive branch" would
not be accepted on any terms. Staff officers
about the President share hsfeelings in the
matter and one of them (Gen. Babcock) is re-
ported to have gone so far as to declare II ne
were not officially connected with the execu
tive he would subject Sumner to personal VIC
lence. This whole matter creates great deal
of talk among those who have been aware OF
its extent and nature. Mr.. Sumner then said :
If there was any reason to believe that TINS
statement would be confined to the newspa-
per in which find it, do not know that I
should call attention to it, butt was apprised
last evening that statement of this character
would be made by telegraph and was asked
to give some sanction to it.
replied at once that nobody would have
authority from me nor would say word on
the subject TO anybody, and last evening and
the evening before l was approached in the
same way and each time gave the same ans.
wer. now find the statement published, and
as have reason to believe, it is already COM
munlcated extensively over the country, l
deem it my duty SO far as am concerned, to
set the statement right In the first place
there is an allegation that Mr.. Sumner has at
tackled the President in executive sessions OF
the Senate. appeal to my associates in this
chamber, one and all. appeal to my friend
from Indiana, Mr.. Morton, and ask him to
say to the President simply what he said to me
personally yesterday with regard to this allega-
ton. have never alluded to the President in
executive session except in the most respect
full kindness and challenge anybody to say
to the contrary, I have criticised acts OIL his
as Senator. I was obliged to do it. So much
for that Then comes the generality, to which
will not allude AMPLY on account Of its
vagueness. I proceed to the next point
(Reading) The President added that on some
of these occasions Mr.. Sumner had attributed
dishonest motives to him. Never. I challenge
every citizen of this republic, from one end of
the country to the other, wherever may have
been l challenge every Senator to testify on
that point know too well his position and
nv swn to make any such impeachments.
70 Vuhat I have said nf ha Prasidopt /.
going back again to this allegation which is SO
vague; have summoned one witness, the
Senator from Indiana, Mr.. Morton, 1 now
sumon two others and L hope my voice will
reach them wherever they lnay. be. One is the
Secretary of the State and the other the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, both members, of the
Cabinet, and have to say, that have written
to the Secretary OF the State the words If the
President and his acts as strong at least as any
have expressed in the most private inter-
course, and am iuclired to think stronger. 1
have said in society in the presence of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury hard things of the
President, and he knows whether they could
in any way justify this imputation. do not
seek in any way to involve these distinguished
friends, but summon them to tell the Presi-
dent what have said of him.
The Senate then proceeded with the regular
order Of business.
Mr. Edmunds introduced bill which was
referred to the Pension Committee, increasing
the pensions of disabled soldiers and sailors
and their widows and children % per cent.
from the LIST of next March.
Mr.. Corbett introduced bill to fix the sala-
ries of the heads of executive departments and
the Judges of United States courts, as follows
Heads of departments, $4,000 each; Chief
Justice Of the Supreme Caurt, $50, 900; Circuit
judges $500; District judges, judges of the
Court OF Claims and judges of the Supreme
Court of the District OF Colombia, $4,000 each.
The resolution investigating the Dominican
affair came up at l clock as the regular order.
During the discussion Mr. Sumner endeav-
ored to convince the Senate that MIR. Morton's
resolution could not possibly pass before the
holidays for want of time. 40
Mr.. Morton and Mr.. Conkling remarked that
if necessary the friends of the resolution would
sit it out to-day; the former remarkiHg that he
did not think the ingenuity of the Senator
occasion for delay.
Mr.. Bayard delivered lengthy argument to
show that the proposition for a commission
was UNCONSTITUTIONAL; after which Mr. Sumner
addressed the Senate in long speech, in
which he reviewed the whole subject of the
proposed annexation of San Domingo and se-
verely criticized the administration for its con-
nectiOn Herewith. He said the resolution bs-
fore the Senate committed Congress to a dance
of blood, and was new step in the measure of
violence in which several steps have been
taken already. Instead of a measure simply of
inquiry the resolution actually created these
diplomatic officers, and its real object was to
commit Congress in advance in favor of annex
alton by a prearranged report by the commits
sion, having the color of diplomatic authority.
Looking to that end the President could now
appoint an agent to visit San Domingo with
out the necessity of any resolution. He said
the information which had reached him from
that Island since the rejection of the treaty
confirmed him in his belief that its negotiation
had been consummated in violence, and so far
it had been maintained had been fought with
violence ever since, to the in6nate discredit of
the United STATES. He used strong language
but only such as the occasion required as a
Senator and a patriot. He could not see his
country suffer in its good name without an
earnest effort to save it. Entering into the
history OF the Dominican negotiation Mr.. Sum-
ner said it had its origin with firm of three
political jockeys, Baez Fabens and Ozenu who
seduced into their firm young officer of the
United States army emitting himself an aide
de-camp to G. S. Grant, President of the Unit
ed States of America, and his special agent to
the Dominican republic, and they together had
gotten protocol in which the young officer
proceeded to make certain promises on Eehali
of this country.
any title or instructions in taking this step the
fact was conceded and no inquiry thus far has
been able to penetrate it, Such an Office as aid
de- camp to the President of the o. s. was I'M
known in our governmental history, and prob
ably no correspondingly similar designation
has ever been assumed in the diplomatic histo.
ry of any government; but this young officer,
in attempting to represent the q. S. of Ameri-
ca. had signed treaty by which the Presiden]
Of the United States had pledged the use Of
his influence among me mbers of Congress to
make the annexation measure popular, and all
the Senate knew how faithfully the President
had carried out that pledge, not only using but
exceeding this influence 10 favor of the annex
alton scheme. Mr.. Sumner went on to show
that at the time and since, Baez, with whom it
bad been made, had been maintained in power
by the presence of our ships of war in Haytien
waters. In other words Baez was sustained by
country. He [Sup,ner1 would challenge the
Senator from lid. Morton] to deny that fact
or to doubt it by a single utterance. We were
now treating Baez as puppet in order to OBJ.
tain possession of that territory, precisely as
England treated the Mosquito chief Docu.
ments in the Naval Department prove all this
aud it was further substantiated by the testi.
mony of naval officers who had returned from
there.
Mr.. Morton here remarked chat the best
means of answering the broad statement made
by MIR. Sumner was indicated by the resoiu
ton as an actual investigation by a commits
sion. He wished to submit question to the
Senator whether all parties in San Domingo
both the adherents of Baez and Cabral were
for annexation? If that was so than all that
Mr.. Sumner had said was immaterial and friv-
olous, and its only effect was, as intended, tt
obscure the subject in the public mind.
Mr.. Sumner, in resentiDg the charge of friv
olity in Its application to his remarks, asked
was it frivolous for him to protest when he saw
the mighty power of the republic degraded to
an act of oppression? His answer to the Sen
ators question, as to the favorable disposition
of the people of San Domingo to annexation
was exactly to the contrary, Tor the information