Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-04-13

OVeEI8uU AVoSutys
Summers Resolutions.
Below are the resolutions offered
by Senator Sumner, and on which he
made his speech Of the 9th Of
March. As they may occupy, to
some extent, the public attention in
the future, we give them in full +:
WAEREAs, Any negotiation by one
nation with people inferior in pop
ulation and power, having in view
acquisition OF territory, should be
above all suspicion Of influence from
superior force; and, in testimony to
this paincipal, Spain boosted that the
re-incorporation Of Dominica with
her monarchy, in 1861, was accom-.
plished without the presence Of q
single Spanish ship on the coasts, or
a Spanish soldier on the land, all of
which appears in official documents;
and
WHEREAS, The United States. be-
ing republic founded on the rights
of man. cannot depart from such a
principle and such precedent with
out weakening tho Obligations of
justice between nations, and inflict-
ing blow upon republican institu-
tlons; therefore,
Rssolrld, That. in obedience to. cor
rect principle, and that republican
institutions may not suffer, the naval
forces of the United States should
be Withdrawn from tho coast OF San.
to Domingo during tho pendency OF
negotiations for the acquisition Of
any part of that island.
Resolred, That since the equality oil
all nations with regard to population
size and power is an axiom of in
ternational law, as the equality OF ii
mch is an axiom of our Declaration
Of Independence, nothing can b
done to small OF weak nation tina
would not be done to a large OF
powerful nation, or that wo wouiu
not allow to be done to ourselves;
and, therefore, any treatment OF the
Republic Of Hayti by the navy Of
the United States. inconsistent with
this principle, is an infraction of in
ternational law in one of its safe
guards, and should be DISC wned by
the Government Of tho United States
Resolrea, That since certain naval
officers of tho United States, with
large war vessels, including the mon
itor called the Dictator, and the
frigatc Severn, with powerful arma
mcnts, acting under instructions from
the Executive, aud without the au
| thority of an act Of Congress. have
entered one or more ports OF the
Republic of Hayti, friendly ma
ton, aud under the menace OF oper
and instant war, have coerced and
restrained that Republic in its SOY
ereignity and independence under
the international law; therefore, il
justice to the Republic OF Hayu, also
in recognition OF its equal rights ir
the family of nations. and in deter
ence to the fundamental principles O.
our institutions, these hostile acts
should be dIsavowed by the Govern
tnent OF the United States.
Resolued, That under the Constitn
ton Of the United States tho power
to declare war is placed under the
safeguard Of an act Of Congress
That the President alone cannot de
clare war; that this is q peculiar prin
cipic OF our Government by which il
is distinguished from monarch,al Gov
ernments, where the power to dc
clare war, also the treaty making
power, ID in the Executive alone; thai
in pursuance OF. this principle the pres
ident cannot by any act of his owr
as by an unratified treaty obtain any
such power and thus divest Congress
OF its Supreme control, and that, there
fore, the employment OF the Navy
without the authority of Congress, in
acts OF hostility against friendly for.
eigs nation, or In belligerent interven
ton in the affairs OF foreign nation
is an iniraction of the Constitution ol
the United States, and A usnrpation
Of powers not conferred upon the
President. -
Rrsolsed, That while the President,
without any previous declaration Of
war by act OF Congress, may defend
the country against invasion by for.
eign enemies, he is not justified in ex-
ercising the same power in a foreign
outlying island, which has not yet be-
come part OF the United States; that
the title, under an unratified treaty
is at most inehoate, created by the
President alone, in which respect it
differs from any such title created
by act OF Congress; and since 1t ls
created by the President alone, with
out the support OF law, whether in
legislation or a ratified treaty, the
employment OF the navy in the main
tcnance of the Government there is
without any excuse of national de-
tense, as also without any excuse Of
a previous declaration Of war by
Congress.
Resolred, That Ill any proceedings
for the acquisition of part of the
Island Of Santo Domingo, " whatever
may be its temptations Of soil, oil.
mate, and productions, there must 10