The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-12-30
Z VINEYARD.
BY WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.

bl WILLIAM LLO1O 0AhEAoONs
The Message of President Grant
to Congress, in its general tone and
purpose, will doubtless, receive tue
cordial approval of the American
people /; but that portion of 1t which
relates to the annexation of San
Domingo 10 this country, though
plausibly presented, should be re-
garded not only with distrust, but
as involving the gravest consequen-
ces.
There is something inexplicable
in the zeal and pertInacity which
Gen. Grant manifests In his advo>
cacy of the absorption of that re-
public by our own. Attic last ses-
sion of Congress he exerted his
great influence, and offered what
ever is tempting in Official patron
age, to secure the ratification of a
treaty to this end !; but in vain. In
no part Of the country was there
.the slightest indication of a wish or
thought to annex that island to our
national domain. Not a public
meeting had been held IN reference
to it /; the press, with scarcely On
exception, gave no countenanee to
the measure yet the President was
as strenuous for 1t as though he had
been elected expressly with refer
ence to its adoption, ard seems to
have made it almost a test of pers-
onal friendship IN reference to
members of Congress. 1t has been
publicly alleged that, because Mr..
Sumner, az chairman of the Cons
mIttee on Foreign Relations, resist
ed II as inexpeJient and uncalled
for, Mr.. Motley, hisin'Imate friend,
has been compelled to vacate his
post as minister to the Court of st.
James /; and the allegation has ley
er been authoritatively denied. 1t
may be utterly groundless, and cer-
talnly seems almost Incredible ; but
20 this hour no official reasons have
been given for a removal so unex-
pected and so very generally re-
GREETED. If it be said that the Pre-
sident is not bound to give bis rea>
sons, the answer is that, though
this may be technically true, new
crtheless it is contrary to the genius
of republican institutions for him
90 exercise arbitrary power, espe-
cially IN a matter OF such grave i'm
portance. He is but a servant OF
the people and they have a right
10 know tor what cause he recalls a
foreign minister whose reputation
may be,as dear to them as his own.
Either Motley has been true to his
trust, or he has not. Ii he has, he
should not have been removed ; for
the act is. on ITS face, an impeach-
Inent of his official capacity or idel-
ity. If he has not, the proof should
be furnished, and the rectltude of
the President thereby illustrated.
By the United States Constitu-
tion the President is empowered TO
rominate sand by and with the ad-
vice of the Senate" to appoint am
bassadors, other public ministers,
and consuls. etc. II the action of
the SeraLe is necessary to the ap
pointmcnt of such fupetlonaries,
why should it not be required in
ease Of their removal from Office p
To appoint at the Presidents own
discretion Is no more dangerous to
the public veal than TO remove ;
aad, if this Is not allowed IN the one
case, IT should not be in tho other,
because it offers unlimited scope to
the indulgence Of personal favorit-
ism or Official corruption.
1t cannot be otherwise than NOR
tifyIng to Mr.. Motley to find himself
dismissed from his high trust, with>
out knowing why or wherefore ,
and such dismissal looks, prlnla fdcie,
like q reflection upon his official
conduct. If no charges r prefer
red, how a be exonerate him P
Compelled by ~self-respect to resign
his position as minister at Vienna,
under the evil administration oil
Andrew Johnson, his unsolicited
appointment to a still moro impor.
tant trust by General Grant, "by
AMI with the advice of the Senate
gave uncommon satisfaction to the
country at large-not merely 81
Justly complimentary, but as q wei
deserved rebuke to th2t official ant
inquisitorial lmpertinonce which, eC
10 his retirement in the instancI
detisnated. Hence the general sur
prise at his sudden removal from
the English embassy. But not t
digress.
Giving no heed to TIE rejection
Of his pet project by the Senate, a
the last session, the President re
news mis- accommodation for tn
speedy acquisition of San Domine
with q zeal that is possibly all hi
own /; but with a tropical flow
rhetoric and Q r~ose-eolored pictur
of the advantages 10 be gained b
the measure cot at all In his lint
Who the rhetorician and painter TT
ally Is is not very material, seem
that the President assumes the re
sponsibilIty. Time, he says, ha
only confirmed HIM in his view
but the lapse of a few months ado
nothing for confirmation, and re
veaIs nothing that was not as we
known before. He would fain max
the delay a perilous one on GU
part! For he says he firmly b.