The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-27


Fornoy Rettres In DIsgust-The Georgia
Electton-Cameron's Mission South n Failure
No Cabinet Changes Probable ut Present.
from Oar OtCn Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. "a, 1870.
The week just closed will be marked as one
the most memorable of Grants admins
tration. 1t has made the breach between the
President and some of the ablest and most iuflu-
entiAl members of his party not only tangible
and positive, but to all appearances irreconci-
liable. The war with Sumner partakes of the
intensest type of bitterness, and it has made
many hitherto neutras take their bearings and
slecare Tor or against the coercive policy OF the
President The disorganization in the Senate,
Rnder the lead of Sumner, Patterson, and
Schurz, and soon to be initiated in the House by
Farnswortb, Logan, and others, is not inspired
so much by hostility to the acquisition of San
Domingo as by the strange and imperious test
of political fidelity made by the administration.
No Senator would have quarrelled with the Pre-
sident because he proposed and advised the
annexation of San Domingo but the
ablest and most respected Republican
Senators feel compelled TO resist measure that
looks to the acquisition of territory by vio
lent policy that ignores the Senate as part of
the treatymaking power. President Grant
urged the ratification of the treaty annexing
San Domingo during the last session. He went
even so far as to call upon Senators at their
rooms, and to lobby with them at the Capitol
to persuade them to support the measure. But
after the fullest investigation of the subject the
Senate rejected the treaty, and there it was
supposed the effort would end. 1t was then
that Buffers peculiar craftsmanship came into
play. He shines most when there is no regular
or honest way of attaining a desired end, and
he promptly came to the relief of defunct San
Domingo He found precedent in the violent
action of the Democratic party in the auneXa-
ton of Texas, and he spawned the resolution
of annexation, whereby two-thirds vote in the
Senate was obviated. In an evil moment
the President accepted the Butler pro-
gramme, and thereby made most dangerous
assault upon the prerogative of the Senate.
That such men as Sumner, Ferry, Buckingham,
Schurz, Trumbull, Carpenter and others should
feel like resenting such an attempt at usurpa-
tion was most natural, and Sumner would not
tolerate even for a moment the invasion of the
powers of the Senate. The preliminary struggle
came Off on Morton's resolution for a rowing
commission to inquire into the people, resources,
climate, ETC., of the proposed purchases
measure free from grave objections, but Sumner
accepted the skirmish as the beginning of the
grand battle, and the debate developed some
most disgraceful scenes Chandler and Conk-
ling were the leaders of the crusade against
Sumner, and the latter showed great aptness in
initiating the arrogance and buffoonery of the
former. Insolent threats were made on the floor
OF the Senate that Sumner would be forced to
yacate the craftsmanship of the Committee on
Foreign Relations--a position he has held for
ten years-and the most disgusting personalities
were induged in by some of the Senators. After
Senatorial brawl lasting until daylight, the
e.. resolution was passed with but few dissenting
4. votes.
The vote on Mortons resolution has been
proclaimed as a great administration victory;
but all intelligent observers we'll know that it is
but the beginning of a political storm of fearful
magnitude and power, and an organized oppo-
sition TO the administration inside of the Repub-
1ican party is the substantial result of the vic
tory which such men as Chandler, Butler,
Cameron, etc., swagger about so much.
Whether San Domingo, with its semi-savage
D eOple, its internal revolutions, and its un-
k uOwn and unestimated debt, should be made
pa Tt of our territory, is not the question. 1t
ma W or may not be wise to annex the island and
civ e it the rights of Territory but the states
mel of the Republican party will not consent
TO Its annexation in any other way than pro-
vide, d by the Constitution and the laws. The
Sena, se is a coordinate branch of the treaty
snaki Sg power, and it could as well surrender
its pON yer over leSlslatlOn as 10 surrender ltS
power over treaties. The President recognized
the rigl ITS of the Senate in the attempt to re-
ceiye S an Domingo by treaty, but when that
failed | le has been misled by the known and
notorious 'jobbers" of Congress-the Camerons
and Chal ,ders of the Senate, and the Buffers
of the Ho use-to invade the prerogatives OF the
Senate and annex the island in defiance of the
constitution val power of the Senate This has
made open and implacable war between the
President an Sumner, and has estranged many
of the best 10 en- from the President ALI dsin-
terested and aispassionate men say that San
Domingo cam OF be so important to the admin
istration or to The country as united Republi =
can party. and It is q sad misfortune that the
President has Mt Vt needed the sincere counsels
of sincere and il Intelligent men. The effort to
ACQUIRE San Dom, ingo in so violent a manner
but strengthens Il le numerous imputations of
speculation and fl aud in the purchase. None
implieate the Presi, lent in speculations but it is
accepted on all sides that the men about him who
are forcing the pre- ject must have something
more than patriotic n lotiyes to drive the admin
istratiCn into bitter war with its own friends.
Experienced political. as, who have observed
events here for many y,sars, regard the San Do
minpo scheme as but repetition of the Lecomp-
ton scheme of Buchanan. 1t hopelessly divided
the Democratic party and plunged it into des-
pair and defeat. and the s an Domingo rupture
certainly p,,omssgs quite as much for Grant and
Republicanism. Until the issue was made in
the Senate this week the discontent was smoth-
cred, and with care it might have slumbered for
months to come, or even until some opportune