Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-03-30
From the Boston Post.[
Mr.. Summers Speech.

fDN'NN
tune to the Senator from Massachusetts,
that he was able to pronounce his speech
on San Domingo, just prior to the rem
diton of the report Of the Commission
His very elaborate exposure of the his
tory and character of the whole transac-
ton, under the determined direction OF
the President, cannot but arouse fresh
opposition to the scheme in the Senate,
as it certainly will in the country, Mr..
Sumner contents himself with the plain.
est statement of the matter, painfully so
to those who looked for the usual dis
plays of rhetorical effort. His allnsion
to the Presidents part in the scheme are
strictly in the course of argument, at
the close alone indulgiug in brief re-
Election on his departure from ccns'itu-
toual duty, and in one place sketchiOg
his act of usurpation in drawing pic
turc Of the character and conduct Of his
'copartner' Baez. The burden OF the
speech is to show that this scheme is a
fragrant violation of both international
and constitutional law, and without pre-
cedent to our republican history; and
the demonstration is made wholly with
the aid of public dispatches, naval or
ders aud reports, aud official docnm ents.
No one Gao read the proof thus addnced ,
if determined only to arrive at the truth,
without reaching the conviction that the
President has laid opeu his official con
duct to the gravcst allegations.
Oar conduct 10 this attempt to acquire
Dominica is contrasted with that of
Spain, in form that brings no credit to
American diplomacy, The Executive
promises TO support an intriguing adj
vcnturer in effecting the sale Of his coun-
try, with a dozen vessels of war, even
after the Senate has once rejected his
treaty. He cXpends millions OF dollars
from the Treasury to do this He
pledges himself to influence the votes Of
Congressman. He usurps kingly pre-
rogarive in assuming to employ the war
power without the consent aud co opcr-
alton of Congress. That dangerous
power he uses against the constitution
of weaker country, which forbids the
alienation of its territory forever. He
| shows respect neither for the COnstitu
ton of his own country nor for that OF
.. Dominica, nor Tor international law.
The uncoverng Of the correspondence
of the State Department on the subject
1 reveals series of unprecedented acts
on the part of our Government, and the
q explicit orders of the Navy Department
establish the high-handed usurpatior
Of power to which the Executive has 81
e soon accustomed himself. Baez relied
e on our vessels of war to enable him t.
Y consummate the proposed bargain; an'
while the same vessels were quletin!
the opposition of the Dominicaus, the,
& were ordcr,d to menace, and did men
i ace, deiencecss Hayti, in case she offere'
/. practical sympathy TO the disattecte'
Il Domiucans under the lead Of CabraI.
This usnrpcr is sHetched as one wh
holds his Presidency in the island as hi
q patrimony, aud monopoizes among hi
h kindred the lucrative posts. 1t was
h stroke of keen satire that ranked such I
! man with President Grant, by uamln
them as the central figures and "cc
partners in this transaction. Thong
we needed the island twenty times NOR
than we do, aud though SANTANA Ba
&c were vastly more essential as a navg
at station than it is, neither considerable
III would excuse conduct so openly violativ
Of authority, of dignity, and Of deceuc
y as that which marks The connection {
u the President with this affair. The re
l. port Of the Commission is refused by tn
ID country before it is given in. The pee
- pie repudiate President and an AID
" miuisratiou, aud the party sustaiuiu
y them, that unhesitatipgly break over a
Is constitutional munimcnts, and despis
ID all Limitation Of authority, in order thu
te private profit may accrue from an ope
ii breach of public obligations.
The speech itself will disappoin every
= body. II is but bundle Of citations,
u documentary hash, without quickenio
It, oratory or even vigor of phrase. S
IS dull nature as Grants needs sharpe
and Heavier lash than this so seriou
an accusation of President demand
- language Of loftier determination.
n Writ or a Webster thus arraiguing til
I'd Executive before the Senate and II
G. country, would have converted h
III words into thunders, and the most il
sensible mind would have been arouse
u by their power as they pictured the re-
On rcancy OF the highest officer in the Gov
il, etument. Mr.. Sumner let's slip an ALT
sion to his years VIC cannot but thin
that he is himself conscious Of the
lie weight upon his powers. He had
fl great subject, aud an exceptional occ
" sion; yet he has delivered speech thg
Il" will Of itself, without the floats of part
ut journalism, searcel y make an impressio
he on the popular mind
AT VoICG or THE INDEPENDENT PRESS
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