The New York herald., 1871-03-16

against me. The Secretary OF State has published
intercourse with him. was at great pains to have
it distinctly ana unequivocay conveyed TO Mr..
Fish, as coming directly from and personally
authorized by me, that on all matters or
ohcial or public duty, courtesy or intercourse
would meet the Secretary OF State IN spirit Of the
matters would cheerfuy ana earnestly cooperate
with him. But It Is true that decline, peremptory
ever. Mr. Fish took the opportunity, without
shadow OF cause or provocati0n, 70 go out OF his
way 10, 70 sratnitously m and meanly lnsnIt me There
duct In thus Insulting me, and wish 1t distlnctly
understood that | am not the kind of man to main
tam social relations with another after that other
has offered me vile and gross personal indignity.
And more. Not satisfied with insulting me Mr. Fish
has as meanly ana unjustnably misrepreseDted me.
In the kindness OF my heart and prompted solely by
an earnest desire for peace had said nothing about
tne gratalious ana unpardonaole Insult offered me
by Mr.. Fish, and the secretary OF STATE taxing al.
vantage OF my retcence, has grossly misrepresented
me and my position in the whole affair." He did not
my motives for keeping silence. but thought
It good chance to clear himself BY mallgn-
SO far as 10 declare-n l may apply
great term 10 little aiar-inat | was
be false. This entire trouble shows pettiness OF
character ana meanness OF motive on the part OF
my assailants-or on the part of some OF them
absolutely despcabe. IL Is petty piece OF business
on their part the whole OF II.
CORRESPONDENT What was the character Of the
insult offered you by Mr. Flsnl
SUMNER (apharehtly mol he ding the uucstion)-It
is strange that the Secretary of State and other per-
sons should have magnllied the difficulties In the
way or our Official intercourse. was always ready
TO meet MI. Fish and everybody else with whom
had official transactions in spirit calculated to
transact those arars with hromptitude and salts
ton. You can, however, see the personal an1mus In
this matter from my recital Of the facts They did not
like TO be thwhrted In their schemes although ST.
Domingo Is but one OF the causes which LED TO the
present state Of affairs.
CoRREsroNDENT-You regard the annexation of
St Domingo as one OF the indispensable conditions
on which President Grant conlers hls friendships
SUMNER-As | said before cannot discuss the
question or st. Domingo It's merits al the
present 1t Is wrapped up with other consldera.
tons that II can hardly be separated from them.
OF mat island. AS TO his motives. there Is possibly
variety OF them. You cannot doubt his earnestness
when TO accomplish his ends, he SO grossly suoverts
the constitution OF his country. man Is very
mucn IN earnest when TO attain his object, he VIII
break the laws.
OF ST. Domingo as beneficial or injurious TO the In
terests OF the country
SuMNER-lhe importance or the island In itself
Is very great do regard It's annexation TO this
country as likely TO result In great harm to the
coored race, not only OF the island. but OF the
United States 1t would be, IN manner, deirauding
them OF natural Dirthrlsht.
CORRESPONDENT In what respact2
SUMNER-I have always thought 1t provtden-
tia tnat these islands OF the West Indies
located SO near our shores. 1t seems to me that
they placed there In order to become the seat
OF great black republic, where the coored race In
q congenal climate, and with al the advantages to
be derived from fertile soil and contlguity TO this
country, could work out their destiny an inde-
pendent Power 10 glorious iulfilmcIt This is one
reason, and an important one, why ! oppose the
anne eXati0n OF ST. D0mngo-why cOnsiaer Its ac-
QUESTION injurious to the interests oil humanity.
Now, If the island is annexed 10 this country the
colored man VIII lose the opportunity, which con-
slder provdential one, OF building up, under
favorable circumstances, coniederacy peculiarly
their own. They wouid. in the contingency OF an
nexatlon, be delrauded OF what seems TO me TO he
their natural brthrleht-an inheritance reserved by
Providence for their exclusive use under the favor
Ing auspices OF our example and protection.
"a, II.
has force In 1t.
sUMNER-Wny, sir, / wish you would reject upon
1t. 1t appears 10 opportunity OF doing justice
TO the hitherto wronged cOlored and OF advanc-
ing the interests Of humanity, whose Importance
cannot be over estimated. III we annex st. Domingo
aud other West Indian islanas-f0r OF course we
shall not be satisfied with One the appetite for the
upon-they win be only Sort OF fringe to our own
expanding nation, and the destiny OF the coored
race becomes meXtrcab!y wrapped up witn cur
own. 1 oppose the acquisition Of ST. Domingo ior
this among other reasons, and more especially do
oppose Its annexation under sucn circumstances as
nave attended the question from its lnceptive mo-
ment until the present time.
CoRREsPoNDEST-Do you think 1t will be an
nexedy
SUMNER-No, sir The injustice OF the whole pro-
Ceeding is too glarng, and the people Of this
Try TOO yirtuous 10 permit sucn an occurrence Ee-
predominant, and mankind are under their IN
fuence. The annexation OF st. Domingo initiates
against the public sentiment and Is mpregnated
strongly with the odor OF '.jobs" tnat President
Grant and Mr.. Fish will find themselves unable 10
the island OF st. Domingo vail be annexed TO the
Unlted States. have too high an opinion OF the
virtue and justice OF the people TO fear annexation.
This conslderao,s not entertained by either Grant
or the Secretary OF Stale.
CORRESPONDENT-Had the insult offered you by
the Secretary oil State any connection with the
Alabama claims or the JOINT High Commission or
kindred questlOns2
SUMNER-I do not wish 10 say anything about the
difficulties between this country and Engand-that
Is, in personal manner. Mr. Cameron, doubtless,
is in full accord with MIR. Fish and the President
these points, an Mr.. Fish settle any difficulties
provided he be allowed TO settle them in his own
way without regard TO justice or reciprocity.
Your correspondent eIdeavored further to obtain
from Mr.. sumner fuller and more specific account
OF the gross personal indgnity' offered him by Mr.
Fish, but his efforts were unsuccessful That the
Senator from Massachusetts regards II OF the keen.
est and most objectionable character Is evident
from the terms in which he characterized 1t to your
correspondent, and the intense though subdued
feeling with which he spoke about 1t. 1t was Ger.
taInly OF light and trlning character-nvolved
considerations OF official etiquette or was embraced
In any punctlio of social rank or aggreved vanity.
Ii cut too deep to come from such sources.
e sr---s--
MASSACHUSETTS fOL.TiCS.