Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-28
THE SUMNER REsoLUTIoNs.

full on which Senator Sumner made his
scaihing speech yesterday, brief synopsis
of which win be found in cur Geographic
columns. 1t is understood that Grant
win submit Ben. Wade's report to Con-
gress without any Recommendation for the
present:
Whereas, Any negotiation by one
nation with people inferior in popula-
ton and power, having in view the acqui-
sition of territory, should be above all
suspicion of influence from superior force,
and in testimony to this principle, Spain
boosted that the reincorporation OF Domi-
Dica with her monarchy an 1861 was &C
complished without the presence OF
single Spanish ship on the coast or
Spanish soldier on The land, all of which
appears in official documents; and
Whereas, The United States, being re-
public founded on the rights of man, can
not depart from such principle and such
s. precedent without weakening the obi
cations of justice between nations, and
inflicting blow upon republican institu-
tons; therefore,
Resolved, That in obedience to correct
principles, and that republican institu
tons may not suffer, the naval forces of
the Unite States should be withdrawn
from the coast of San Domingo during
the tendency of negotiations for the &C
QUESTION of any part of that island.
Resolved, That since the equality Of
all nations, without regard to population,
size or power, is an axiom of interna-
tional law, as the equality of all men is
an axiom of our Declaration of indie
pendence, nothing can be done to q small
or weak nation, that would not be done
to large or powerful nation, or that we
would allow to be done to ourselves, and
therefore any treatment of the Republic
of Hayti by the navy of the Hnite q
<,s~sS's ems principle, is
an infIaction of international law in one
of its great safeguards, and should be
disavowed by the government of the
United States.
Resolved, That since certain naval Of
ficers of the United States with large war
vessels, including the monitor called the
Dictator and The frigste Severn, with a
powerful armament, acting under instruc-
tions from the Executive and without the
authority of an act of Congress, have en-
tered one or more ports of the Republic
of Hayti, friendly nation, and under
the menaces of open and instant war have
coerced and restrained that republic in its
sovereignty and independence under inter-
national law; therefore, in justice to the
Republic of Hayti-slso, in recognition
of its equal rights in the family of ma
tons, and in Difference TO the fundamen-
tai principles of our own institutions
these hostile acts should be disavowed by
the Government of the United States.
Resolved, That under the Constitution
of the United States the power to declare
war is placed under the safeguard of an
act of Congress; that the President alone
cannot declare war; that this is a pecu-
liar principle of our government, by
which it is distinguished from monarch
cal governments, where the power to de-
clare war, as also the treaty making pow
er, is in the Executive alone; that, IN
pursuance of this principle the President
cannot, by any act of his own or by an
unratified treaty-obtain any such pow
sr, and thus divest Congress of its su-
pTene CONTROL; and that, therefore, the
employment of the navy without the su-
thority of Congress, in acts of hostility
against a friendly foreign nation, or in
belligerent intervention i'll the affairs of
foreign Laiion, is an infraction Of the
Constitution of the United States and q
usurpation of powers not conferred upon
the President.
LII
without any previous declaration If war,
by act of Congress may defend the coun-
try against invasion By foreign enemies,
he is not justified in exercising the same
power in foreign outlying islands which
have not yet become part of the United
States; that the title un'er an unrstified
treaty is almost inchoate and contingent
while il is created by the President alone,
in which respect it differs from any such
title crested by Congress; and since it is
created by the President alone without
the support OF law, whether in legislation
or a ratified treaty, the employment of
the navy in the maintenance of the Gov
ernmept there is without any excuse Of
defense as also without any excuse of a
previous declaration of war by Congress.
Resolved, That in any proceedings for
the acquisition of part of the island
of San Domingo, whatever may be its
temptations of soil, climate and prOduc-
tons, there must be no exercise of ipfu-
ence by superior force, nor any violation
of public law, whether international or
constitutional; and, therefore, the present
proceedings, which have been conducted
at great cost of money, under the con-
stant shadow of superior force, and
through the belligerent intervention of our
navy, acting in violation of international
law, and initiating war without the au-
thority of an act of Congress, must be
abandoned, to the end that justice may
be maintained, and that proceedings so
hostile to correct principles may not be-
come an example for the future.
Resolved, That instead of seeking TO
acquire part Of the island of San Domin-
go by belligerent intervention without the
authority of an act of Congress, it would
have been in better accord with the prin-
ciples of our republic and its mission of
peace and benefcence bad our govern
ment, in the spirit of good neighborhood
and by friendly action, instead of bellig
erent Intervention, striven for the estab-
lishment of tranquility throughout the
whole island, so that the internal dissen-
sions of Dominica and its disturbed re-
lations with Hayti might be brought to a
close, thus obtaining that security which
is the first condition to prosperity; all of
which, being in the nature of good off
ces, would have been without any vio-
lstion of international law, and without
any usurpation of war powers under the