The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-22
DAILY PRESS,
PORTLAND.
Tuesday Morning, March %, 1870.

Tuesday Morning, March %, 1870.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 16, 1870.
THE SAN DOMINGO TREATY.
The Senate Committee on Foreign rela-
tions have, as the telegraph has ere this in
formed you, decided By majority of one to
report adversely on this important treaty.
The report is made by Mr.. Summers casting
vote, but it by no means argues that the
Senate will accept and ratify the committees
action. Senator Morton, whose confidential
relations with the President are well under
stood, has determined, it is said, to make this
question a test one on Mr.. Summers supreme
control of such matters. The administration
at least the chief is-very much displeased
at this action, even though it was not unex-
pected. There are many ill-natured COM
ments upon the readiness of Mr.. Sumner to
eaborately sustain the purchase of the Rus
sian territory, and his refusal to not only not
aid Cuba by sympathy, but also to carefully
examine into the merits or dement's of the
proposed annexation of San Domingo. Yet
the reasons which were given for the pur-
chase Of Alaska, bear with greater force, and
are in the same channel, when applied to
San Domingo.
Commercially the latter is worth more at
present, and will be as valuablesprospectively
as Alaska can be.
Politically it is even of greater value. If
Alaska will grind the British rule out of
British Columbia and Vancouver's Island,
will not our possession of San Domingo do
the same in the West Indies, both for Great
Britain, Spain, France and Sweden. Our
flag in San Domingo gives the command of
the Gulf, and ultimately of the Inter- Oceanic
canal route across the Isthmus. As for pop
ulation there may be not much to choose,
seventy thousand aborigines against one hun
dred thousand or so of colored creoles. But
in territory and its availability for our use
San Domingo is certainly worth as much as
Alaska. The Presidents argument, that the
sparseness of the population will enable us to
Americanize the civic and social life with
comparative ease is certainly well worth con-
sideration and weight. There is probabili-
ty that the Senate will adopt Gen. Terry's
motion to amend the standing rules so that
treaties for annexation will be discussed in
open Senate. This course it is understood
the President has urged with regard to the
pending treaty, believing as he does that the
more thorough and open the examination in
to the merits of the question, the more popu-
lar will it become. As for the revolutionary
opposition, its value may be gagged when it is
remembered that Cabral himself when in
power offered to consummate similar treaty
to the one affected by BaeZ.
There is little bit OF history connected
with the recent troubles in Hayt which is
very creditable to Minister Bassett. 1t ap-
pears that Secretary Fish directed the Minis
ter to remain perfectly neutral in the contest,
except so far as to recognize the government
de fdcto. He even forbid the shelter of the
American embassy being given to refugees
an order which does not strike me as being as
cIeditable as Mr.. Bassetts deliberate disobe-
dience of it. In such times as those that fol
lowed Salnave's downfall, the flags Of neutra
and friendly nations are made to serve the
| interests OF humanity. Mr.. Bassett hoisteC
| the stars and stripes above his res
| idence, and opened its doors 10 the de
leEceless members of the defeated party
their wives and children. Without a man-of
war in harbor for defence, he was for tint
at the mercy of the infuriated soldiery of Sa
get. His dignifed courage bore him through
and on recital of the facts the Department
has fully sustained his action.
By the way it is stated that General Tate
the late Haytian minister, who is now in New
York, intends to settle in San Domingo, ,wher
annexation is consummated and thus becom
citizen of the United States. II Hayti fol
lows its Dominican neighbor's example, Gen
Tate will be citizen, equal in privilege ant
opportunity to the purest scion of Puritan O.
| caviller stock. Gen. Tate is the ablest man
| have ever met among bis race, as well in Pat
urai as acquired ability. His wife is a fine
| looking and elegantly accomplished lady, tht
youngest daughter of the Haytian President
Boyer, believe.
1t would be no more strange to see Gen
Tate in the United States Senate than it is t
see demure but knowing and seltpossesset
Mr.. Revels there.
| GEORGIAN AFFAIRS.
| The President has vowed himself in favo
of the Butler bill without the Bingham
amendment. There seems very little doubt
now that we shall be spared the shame O
seeing Republican Congress surrende
Georgia to the rebel Democracy on PROPOSE
| ton so illogical as one that recognizes legis
lature provisional by law up to certain point
which has never been reached and illegal anG
| fraudulent throughout-as body so. lega
and independent that it expires by Limitation
of a term, which in law and fact it has never
| had.
SENATOR CHANDLER.
| 1t appears that the chief advocate of pro
| tection-to Michigan copper, salt and lumber
the utter representative OF Anglophobia
must have been converted during his recent
tour in Europe. He objects to the Senate
| ordering the printing of the Report of the Sc.
lect Committee on American Commerce-de-
claring it is worthless, &c. 1t is understood
that this rabid antagonist of Great Britain ia
vors the repeal of the Navigation laws, the
registration of foreign-bu;lt ships, and the
lavish subsidizing' of American mail steam
| ship lines. In case Mr.. Chambers free trade
| policy outside of his pet monopolies-is {
| success, what will become of the copper tariff
The Senator is well coppered himself in NOR,
ways than one, and can doubtless give rea
sonable reply. SPECTATOR.
| DICKENS AND HIS BARONETCY.---Th
statement that Mr.. Dickens has been offere,
a baronetcy is somewhat amusing, considere,
with reference to some caustic observations @