Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-04-04
SAN DOMINGO.
Summers Anti-Annexaiion Speech
A Bitter TRADE Against
the President.

ded Senate chamber, Mr.. Sumner
made his long threatened speech
against the annexation of San Do
mingo and bitterly denouncing the
President for attempting to promote
it. The speech occupied three hours
and half in delivery. A lengthy
report of it was sent out by telegraph.
and advance copies of the speech as
il was last week intended to be de-
livered, were sent to some of tho
principal newspapers ofthe country,
among others the Chicago Tribune,
which prints five columns in small
type. We give the substance Of tie
speech as follows:
Upon the conclusion of the read
ing of the Journal, Mr.. Sumner took
the floor and asked for the reading
of the resolution recently submitted
by him and already published, against
the use of the United States naval
forces to uphold Baez in an attempt
to sell his country in direct violation
of its constitution, and threatening
the integrity and existence of the
friendly power Of Hayti. He then
submitted and had read by the Sec
rotary, an additional resolution, az
follows:
RESOLVED, That whatever may be the title
10 the territory under an unraifed treaty, il
is positive that after the failure of the treaty
in the Senate. all pre,ext TO title ceased, so
that our Government is in all respects a strang-
er on the territory, without excuse or apology
for any interference against his enemies, for
eign or domestic and therefore any belliger-
ent intervention or acts OF war on the coas of
the island OF San Domingo, after the failure of
the Dominican treaty in the Serate, is unauih-
orzed violence, utterly without support in
law or reason, and proceeding directly from
that kingly perogative which is destroyed by
the Constitution of the United States.
Mr.. Sumner then arose and add
dressed the Senate at length, speak
ing from the seat of his colleague,
Wilson. He commenced by assert
lug that it is now on evidence before
the Senate that the navy of the UNI
ted States, acting under orders from
Washington, has been engaged in
measures of violence and belligerent
Intervention, being war without the
authority of Congress. The whole
business is aggravated when it is
considercd that the declared object
of this violence is the acquisition of
| foreign territory, being half of an is
land in the Caribbean sea and still
| further, that this violence has been
employed, first, to prop and main
tain weak ruler, himself an usur-
per, upholding him in power, that he
might sell his country and, second,
it has been employed TO menace the
black republic Hayti. Such a case,
Mr.. Sumner continues, is too grave
for silence. For the sake of the ma
Wy, the Administration, republican
institutions, and for the sake of the
Republican party, which cannot at
ford to become responsible for such
conduct, the case must not pass with
out injury. But beyond all these
considerations is the commanding
rule OF Justice. The question is not
whether the acquisition of San Do
mingo is desirable, but whether we
are justified in the means employed
to reacomplish the acquisition. And
the evidence now before us shows too
clearly that means have been EN-.
ployed which cannot be justified.
He had supposed that proceedings
Were bIameIess until, while il was
pending before the Senate, the Assis-
tant Secretary OF State brought him
a number of dispatches, among which
was one from our consular agent
there, who signed the treaty for an
nexation, from which it distinctly
appeared that Baez, while engaged
IN selling his country, was maintain
ed in power by the navy of the Uni
ted States. Other evidence has ac-
cumulated to show that we were en-
gagged in forcing upon a weak peo-
pie the sacrifice of their country.
The State Department and the Navy
Department each contained a record
Of disgraceful. intolerable, and de-
plorable proceedings, and still they
pressed consumation. The story OF
Naboth's vineyard was renewed -
Unless the reports Of the State and
Navy Departments are discredited
1T is obvious, beyond doubt, tina:
our Government has seized the war
powers, carefully guarded by the
Constitution, and, without the au-
thority of Congress, has employed
them to trample on the independence
and equal rights of two nations CO.
equal with ours. The Senator then
characterizes Baez and Grant as CO.
partners in the melancholy affair,
and carefully reviews the history of
the former and his INSCRIPTIONS un-
surpation reciting the origin of the
scheme for annexlng half of the is
! land.
Mr.. Sumner alleged that Baez is
an adventurer, without patriotism
He was first elected President in
1858, and in violation of the consti-
tuition, which forbade the holding OF
the Office two consecutive terms, be
was reelected Instruction drove
him to France Spain offered him
inducements, and while holding Off
cisl position there, the Dominicans,
under Cabral, rebelIed against Spain.
After the withdraw of the Spanish
flag, Baez returned to Dominica, and
Cabral became protector. In the
national convention, called to erect
a new government, Baez was restor-
ed to power by violence. CabraI
accepted place in the Cabinet, and
revolution again overturned affairs
in few months. Cabral again be-
came President, and Baez found his
way to Washington CabraI. pres
sed for money, offered to the United
States lease OF the Bay of SANTANA
A convention followed, and Baez
was chosen dictator for four years !;
he declined the title, and acted as
President. Cabral withdrew to the
interior, keeping up menace of
war.
Baez was obliged to invoke foreign