Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-13
[From the Waterman and Reflectorl
THE EMBROGLIO At WASHINGTO.

1dE EMbhOGLIC AZ WASHINGTON.
We have reached another stage in the
Grant Sumner war. When Mr.. Sumner was
unwisely, as we think. and as was generally
believed, at the instigation of the President,
left off the Senate Committee of Foreign AZ
fairs, most people were inclined to forget his
then recent assault on the San Domingo mat
ter, and his best friends hoped that, for per-
sonal as well as public reasons, he would
maintain silence for time, at least, on that
question, and confine himself to the redress of
Southern grievances. But this. it seems, was
too much to expect. He has defeated the
hopes of his friends, and justified the prophe-
cies of his enemies, by delivering in the Sem
ate speech which is remarkable for nothing
so much as the personal maligity which it
cvinces towards the President.
1t is not necessary to follow Mr.. Sumner in
his statement of the facts in reference to our
relations with San Domingo. 1t was known
to the public that the administration adhered
to the policy Of annexation, though tie treaty
negotiated with the Baez government had
failed in the Senate. 1t was also known that
the government had kept a portion of the
South Atlantic squadron near the island, and
that they were charged with the protection of
Dominica during the negotiations newly insti-
tuted for annexation. On these points the
public needed no special enlightenment, and
no new fact has been furnished by the Sena-
tor. The only novelty in the speech consists
in the use he makes of the facts.
We invite the attention of our readers to an
instance of the strange tendency Of Mr.. Sum-
ner to exaggerate the simple facts with which
he deals. He gives list, obtained from the
Navy Department, of the ships (which have
been in the waters of the island since the COM
mencementof the negotiations with Domini-
ca, and leaves the impression that they con-
stitute feet permanently encompassing the
island as twelve mighty ships of war, be-
leaguering the whole island and hugging the
land" with their guns. Now what will our
readers think when we assure them that one
of those ships was, during all the last summer
and autumn, on the Canadian fishing grounds,
and has not since been within five hundred
miles Of San Domingo; that two of them are
now and have been for months connected
with the expedition engaged in seeking a
route for canal across the istlmus that 9TH
ers have been in Northern waters or ship
yards, and that, during the whole period of
the negotiations in question, probably not to
exceed three or fonr of them have been, at
any one time. within striking distance of the
island! The truth Is, the vessels enumerated
by Mr.. Sumner have successfully been con-
nected with the South Atlantic squadron dur
ing the pendency of negotiations, some of them
having meanwhile been sent out to relieve
others, the names of the relieved and reliev
Ing ships being given in the list alike. Then
to this formidable array, thus made up, Mr.
Sumner adds the Tennessee, the most power
full vessel of the whole list, though every one
knows that she was in those waters for no
hostile purpose. We do not charge Mr.. Sum-
nsr with wilful representation, but we car
not refrain from pointing ont the tendency of
his mind to distort aud exaggerate the simple
and precise language of an official statement
from the head OF the Navy Department.
His statement of principles is scarcely less
unfortunate than his treatment Of facts. He
assumes, for instance, that the presence ofour
naval vessels in the waters Of the island, un-
der the orders issued to their commanders, is
Gar. Not gun was fred, not a sword was
drawn, not man vas landed on any part OF
the island with any hostile purpose. The
state OF war which Mr.. Sumner so grayely
charges, surely does not consist in the pres
ence OF srmed vessels In the waters Of San
Domingo; for to assume this would be 70
predicate state of war in every instance In
which the armed ships Of one nation pass
within the maritime limits of another. The