The New York herald., 1871-03-28
ST. DOMINGO.
Senator Summers Speech Against
Annexation.
Arrangement of the Adminis-
tratiOn.
Baez Denounced as a Traitor
and Usurper.
Babcock, ''the Young Plenip0ten-
tiary," Satirized.
The History of the Scheme
Narrated.
"NOw, by St. Paul, the Work Goes
Bravely On!"
Grant Charged With Usurping
Kingly Prerogatives.
Unconstitutional BeI!igerent In
terventiOn.
The Friends of Annexation Hauled
Over the Goals.
Grant Charged With Usurping
Kingly Prerogatives.
Unconstitutional BeIIigerent In
terventiOn.
The Friends Of Annexation Hauled
Over the Goals.
An Earnest and Pathetic Plea for
the Niger.

WASHINGTON, March "a, 1871.
Long befor the hour OF the meeting OF Congress
yesterday the galleries and corridors leading to the
Senate chamber were densely packed by an i'm
mense audience. eager to hear the speech or the
Senator from Massachusetts, who had been
nounced 10 address the Senate on ST. Domingo
The Diplomatic corps and the Ladies' galleries
were almost entirely monopolizcd by tae fair sex.
At twelve O'Clock the spectacle was one of the
most animatlng ever witnessed in the Senate Cham
Der. Mr. summers appearance on the foor was vel
coined 10y the galleries with applause.
Upon the conclusion of the reading OF the Journal
Mr.. Sumner took the floor, and asked for the read
ing the resolution recently submitted by him and
already published, against the use of United States
naval forces TO uphold Baez In an attempt to
sell his country, in violation OF its constitution,
and threatening the integrity and existence OF The
friendly Power OF HaytL He then submitteo and
had read by the Secretary an additional resolution,
declaring that, after the failure OF the 81. Domingo
Treaty In the senate, all pretext of title ceased so
that our government was IN all respects, stranger
to the territory OF that island without any
apology for interference; and, therefore, that any
belligerent intervention act Of by the United
States the Of ST. Domingo after the failure
Of that treaty IN the Senate was unauthorized
violence.
pressure To gain admttance to the galleries hun
dreds of ladies had been excluded. He therefore
moved that the cloak rooms and corridors In the
rear Of the Senate Chamber be opened for their
commodation.
There being no objections the Sergeant-at-Arms
was directed 20 carry out the motion the order OF
the Senate
Mr.. Thurman hoped that the Senator from Massa-
chusetts tMr. Sumner) would not be interrupted at
the expiration OF the morning nour, but would be
allowed TO proceed regularly. Ii was SO ordered.
Mr. sumner then arose and addressed the Senate
at length speaking from the seat OF his colleague
Mr.. Wilson.
SENATOR SUMNER IS SPEECH.
MI. SUMNER-Mr. President, entering again upon
this discussion perform duty winch cannot be
avoided. | wish 1t were otherwise, but duty IS a
task-master 10 De oDeyed. On evidence now before
the Senate II Is plain that the navy OF the United
States acting under orders from washington, has
been engaged In measures OF violence and OF beli-
serent intervention, being war, without the gu
tnority OF Congress. An act OF war without the
authority OF Congress is no common event. This is
the sinplest statement OF the case. The whole busl
ness is aggravated when it is considered that the
declared object OF this violence is the acquisition Of
foreign territory, being Laf an island IN the Ca
robeaD sea; and still further, that tins violence has
been employed, first, 10 prop and maintaln weak
ruler, himself a usurper, upholding him in power
that he might sell his country; and secondly. II has
been employed to menace the black republic of
Hayti.
Such case cannot pass without inquiry. 1t is
which has been the agent Tor the sake OF the ad
minstiatiGn under which the navy acted, for the
sake OF republican Institutions which suffer when
the great republic makes itself pattern o violence
and for the sake OF the republican party, which can
not AFFORD TO become responsible Tor such conduct,
the case must be examined on the facts and the aw
and also IN the light oi precedent, 50 lar as prece
den holds It's torch. When speak Tor republican
institutions II is because would not have great
example weakened before the world and our good
name tarnished. And when speak for the republic
can party il is because from The beginning have
a
see II strong aud triumphant. But eyond all these
considerations is the commanding rule oi justice
which cannot be disobeyed with lmpunity.
QUESTION STATED.
The question which present Is very simple. II is
not whether the acquisition oil the island OF 81
Domingo, In whole or part, with population foreign
In origin, language and institutions, is desirable
pul mletne. we are Justlusu ~ Tue means elnpioSeu
10 accomplish THIS acquisition. THIS question is
essentially preliminary In character and entirely in
dependent OF The main question: On the main
question there may be difference OF opinion-some
thinking the acquisition desirable and others not de-
slra0ei some anx ous Tor empire or at least
sdnstdrt1n III the tropics, and others more anxious
for black republic where the African race shall show
an example OF seli-gOvernment, by which the whole
may be uplilted: some tnlnking OF gold mines
salt mountains, hogsheads OF sugar, bags OF coffee
and boxes OF cigars, others thinking more OF what
we owe 10 the African race. But Whatever the dlt-
Terence OF opinion the main question, the EVIL
dence now before us shows too clearly that means
have been employed which cannot be justified And
tion Of the Senate.
REASON FOR INTEREST IN TIE QUESTION.
mere, slt, venture 10 relate now ana al WnaC
time became specially aroused on this question.
The treaty FOR the annexion OF the Dominican peo-
pie was pending before tue senate and was occu-
pied In considering IT. asking two questions:-
First, Is IL good for and, secondly, Is
II good for them The more / meditated
these two questions / found myselr for
getting the former and considering the latter,
or rather, the former was absorbed IN the latter.
Thinking OF our giant strength my anxiety In
creased for the weaker party, aud thought OF
what was good for them than for u.s. Is annexion
good for tnemf This was the question on my mind
when / was honored 10y ylslt IRON the Assistant
secretary or state, bringing wiih nlm handful OF
dispatches from st. Domingo. Among these were
dispatches from our consular agent there, who
signed the treaty OF annexlon, from Which II dis
tncily appeared that Baez. while engaged In selling
his country, was maintained In power by the navy
of the United States That such was the official re-
port OF our consular agent, who signed the treaty,
lnere can be question. and this onciai report was
sustained 10y al least one other consular despatch
1 confess my emotion as i READ TINS palnlul
revelation. Until then had supposed the proceed
ing blameless although precipitate had not
imagined any such terrible ana indeiehsloie
irtegularity.
the navy was keeping Baez IN power he visited the
Navy Department and examined the Instructions
under which our naval ofncers were acting, ana also
their reports. These confirmed the otner testimony.
he then wenL on:-
Violence Dege,s violence, and that In st. Domingo
naturally extended. IL Is with nations as Win lndl-
yauals-once stepped IN, they 60 forward. The
harsh menace by which the independence OF the
black republic or Heyu was rudely assaied came
next IL was another stage In be.llgerent interNeh-
psA- "A these things were uniolded let mat