The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-04-18
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TUESDAY. APRIL IL, 1871.
senator Morrill's SAINT"

the subject Of the annexation Of Santo
Domingo, has, perhaps, received more
compliments and fewer expressions Of dis
approval, than any other speech which
has been delivered in Congress upon that
subject Mr.. Sumner created the greater
sensation, but friends as well as enemies
disapproved the bitterness Of his personal
allusious to those who thought differently
from HIMSELF and especially his references
to the Chief Executive which should
rather have been courteous and respect
full, if on no other account, because Of his
official position. On the other hand, Mr..
Morrill, won the favorable regard of OPP
ponents, and the admiration Of all, by the
candor and fairness of his statements and
soundncss of his positions and the clear
ness of his logic. He showed that there
were other and quite as reliable sources
of information with regard to Santo
Domingo, as the Commissioners report
which was only the result Of a few weeks
observations under circumstances not the
most favorable for just conclusions
While crediting the President with the
purest of motives in desiring and urging
the purchase, he differs with him in toto
in his judgment of the expediency and
wisdom of the acquisition. He recites
several instances of injudicious Interior
ence on the part of the United States
Government with the affairs of other
nations by which our government had
come into bad odor, and argued that the
result of this action would be similar
He argues that we now have plenty Of
unassimilated elements lacking homo.
geneity to a dangerous extent, that we
already have land enough, that the bay
of SANTANA could be used only for the
protection of ITSELF that we need no such
place for protection to any interests ex-
cept those transferred to that point, that
the people of Dominica are confessedly
in the lowest state of poverty and thrift
lessness and ignorance and vice and ef-
feminacy, that no annexation scheme is
tolerabe except northward, that the Sew
ard batch of treaties are all bad, that
Hayti covets San Domingo and will
cause trouble, that this purchase would
stand in the way of our growth, that it
will increase the burdens of taxation as
San Domingo and her debts go together;
and while there is every reason for let
ting this business entirely alone there is
no reason for meddlng with it. The
public voice is against the measure. After
reciting some examples of history and
their lessons to us he adds:
ha Ia1 hat hot
has been any enlightened public judgment
in favor of the annexation of Santo Do
mingo. There has been all that in favor
Of President Grant and his well-earned
popularity, in spite of his Domicanism,
constitutes the entire strength, the back
bone of the measure. Unindorsed by
him, may not venture to say it would
not have had or have a corporal's guard
of supporters? To me, as well as to
some others, it would give peculiar pleas
ure to have been able to support the
measure because Of the countenance lent
to it by the present Administration, Of
whose integrity ofpurpose l have not a
shadow of doubt but it was and is a
question in its scope beyond the life OF
any party and far above all parties, and
my responsibility began at the point
where that of the Executive most proper
ly leaves off; and if could not indepen.
IDENTIFY and conscientiously acquit myself
of my whole duty on question which so
profoundly concerns the destiny of our
country, and, which once decided in the
affirmative, is irrevocable, | should hold
myself unworthy of my place. My age,
if not my experience, warns me to en-
deavor to be earnestly for the right. The
question and the measure of responsible
ty for its decision invoke the largest pat
riotism.
Individuals occupy but a brief space
in the march of time, and a generation
blots them out, perhaps forever, but ma
tions have a continuity lasting for ages
and character to be transmitted to the
immortal pages of future history. The
past of our country is secure, and l would
not jeopardize the future by the empty
mockery of an exchange of moral grand
eur for apparent or even for real mate
rial greatness. fl can divine the Sc.
cret of my own heart-and what l claim
for myself l cordially concede to others
there is no passion, no sentiment Turk
ing there which does not bow to profound
desire that our country should stand
foremost among the nations Of the earth,
foremost in free and liberal institutions,
foremost in its moral fiber and iutellectu.
al reach, foremost in literature, arts, and
laws, and foremost in all the glories
which crown the most elevated civiliza-
ton and the most liberal, and l hope l
may add, stable form Of human govern
ment.
But, regarding the annexation of Do
minica in all its aspects, present and fu-
ture, foreign and domestic, as boding no
good to our country, as policy wither-
ing to its highest and noblest aspirations,
and as at war with the
"Unity and married calm Of States"
which all Of US should most diligently
seek, shall vote against any measure
even squirting at such an annexation
should such ever again come up, with q
solemn and abiding conviction that l shall
never have an opportunity Of rendering
to my country higher service.
A New PHASE OF THE Book CONCERN
This unhappy trouble has assumed &
new phase. Some time ago DR.. Lannahar
employed three experts. He kept then
at work in the Book Room for Ii weeks
Every department Of the establishment
was placed at the disposal of these gentle
men, and they had access to all the book
and vouchers of the concern. What the,
discovered has not been communicated t
the Senior Agent nor to the Book Com
mittee. AS Dr. Lannahan's Council can
not agree with the other side, DR.. Carl
ton has taken the matter into his own hands