The New York herald., 1870-03-28
WASHING GTON.
Mr.. Summers Speech on the St
Domingo Treaty.
WORK ON THE NEW POST OFFICE.

WASHINGTON, March 27, 1870.
Senator Sumner Misreprcsented--His Views
Regarding the Presidents Policy-Pr0spects
Of the Rejection of the Treaty.
The views OF Senator Sumner as set forth In his
recent speech on the ST. Domingo treaty, have. 1t
appears been greatly misrepresented in some OF the
newspapers. A New YORK paper Of Saturday, in q
conspicuously displayed despatch from Washington
stated that Mr.. Sumner mad made some rdiculously
absurd statements in his speech relative to the
affairs OF st. Domingo. AS an instance,
he is rep resented as saying that there were
5000 men in arms against the Baez government in
st. Domingo City, The truth is, as / am informed
by those VINO heard him. that MIR. Sumner made no
ausion to CabEal or any OF the other opponents of
Baez, except IN an incidental way. He
read from the Official dispatches. recently
received OF Mr. Perry, the United states
Commercial Agent at st. Domingo, relative to the
condition OF affairs on the Island what IS therein
contained Of the movements OF Cabral. Mr.. Sumner
does not hold himself responsible for this, as 1t IN
furnished officially TO the State Department. He
supposes it to be correct. So far from his making
vague statements being at fault in his facts Mr..
Sumner considers that he is well posted In all mat
ters that relate to st. Domingo as any other man
in this country. He did not make up his mind to
oppose the treaty until he had posred himself thor
In his speech he set forth many facts OF which Gen.
eral Babcock andothers connected with the negota.
ton OF the treaty were entirely ignorant Mr.
Sumner disclaims any prejudice against those
who negotiated the treaty, and he believes
that in his earnest support Of It the President is
entirely honest. He does not consider it wise to
annex the Island at present, nor without having .
thorough knowledge OF Its Indebtedness ascertaned
by regular commission appointed Tor that purpose.
A Senator who has made a canvass OF the Senate
TO ascertain the prospect OF the treaty being ratified
says there are forty-twO senators against 1t. If
this be the rejection OF the treaty Is assured
and the annexation OF the island In the method sug
gested in these dispatches few days ago-namely,
by the passage OF joint resolution as In the case Of
Texas-wlll also be defeated, because according TO
this count Of noses there is clear majority OF the
Senate against the annexation In any shape.
According to the understanding on Friday last the
Senate tomorrow will resume the discussion Of the
st. Domingo treaty. ShurZ has the floor against
the treaty. When he shall have completed he Will
be replied to oy Senator Cole II Is understood that
O request will be made tomorrow, an
opportunity offer, TO allow both Senators Sum-
ner and Morton to prepare their speeches
for public circulation These two cover the
ground very generally, and are said 10 have been
exhaustive arguments on the two sides OF the ques.
tl0n Morton was particularly StronR and pOlnted
out the great advantages possessed by ST. Domingo
over any other island in the West Indies as
an American province. He showed that
it was the entering Wedge in the break
ing up OF Spanish authority in the
West Indies. The island stood between Cuba and
Porto Rico, and would result in the downfall OF
Spain in both those Islands. He showed that In
1889 the value OF the productions OF ST. Domingo
reached the enormous sum OF $l50.0Oo,O 600 per
annum, ana her commerce employed 700
vessels and 1000 seamen. If this were the case
then what would st. Domingo be under the enlIght-
ened and mild rule Of the republican institutions OF
the United Statesp 1t is now thought that the DIS
cussion will be continued for few days, and then
that the treaty will recommtted, to be again
sidered by the committee. Senator Sumner had an
interview with Admiral Porter at the Navy Depart
ment yesterday afternoon, during which full ex-
animation was made of the dispatches in possession
OF the department relative 10 ST. Domingo and all
matters concerning recent observations by naval
officers at That place.
The Public Buildings In New York.
The Secretary OF the Treasury, In c0mmunica
uon to the House Of Representatives, says that the