Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-03-27
FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
This Afternoons PROCEEDINGS.
THE SENATE TO-DAY.
ENABLES Summers Spsech
on San Domingo.
ARRANGEMENT OF TIE PRESIDENT
MONDAY, March p.

consent that the lSd.eS unable to obtain seats in
the galleries be admitted TO the cloak rom.
and corridors in the rear of the Senate cham
be-; and 10 objection being made, it was so
ordered.
Nj. Sumner then called up the resolutions
introduced by him in reference TO San d.
mingo; and tcey were read.
SPEECH OF SENATOR SUMNER ON THs SAN
DOMINGO QUESTION.
Mr.. Sumner proceeded to address the Senate.
de said that in entering upon this discussion he
performed duty that could not be avoided.
lie wished II were otherwise but duty is task
master 70 be Obeyed. On evidence now before
the Senate, ii is plain that the Navy of the
United states, acting under orders from Wash
lnGtoD, has been engaged in measures OF VIC.
lence, and of belligerent intervention, being
war, without the authority OF Congress. An act
OF war without the authority OF Congress is no
common event. This il the simplest statement
OF the case. The whole business is aggravated
when it Is considered that the declared obisct
OF this violence is the acquisition of fore On
territory, being half an island in the Caribbean
sea- and still further that this violence has been
employed, first, to prop and maintain a weak
ruler, himself usurper, upholdDg him In power
that he might sell his country; and, secondly
ii has been employed 20 menace the Black Rs
public OF Hayti.
Such a case cannot pass withoutinquiry. II
is TOO grave for silence. For the sake OF III,
navy, which has been the agent, for the sake of
the Administr alton under which the navy acted.
1or the sake o. republican institutions which
suffer when the Great Republic makes itself A
pattern OF violence, and for the sake of the re-
publican party, which cannot afford to become
responsible for such conduct, the case mus, be
e examined on the facts and the law, and also in
the light Of precedent, so far as precedent holds
Its torch. When lie spoke for republican insti-
tui ms, tits because he would not have our great
example weakened before the world and our
good name furnished. And when he spoke for
the repu blican party, il was because from the
beginning he had been the faithful servant of
that party and sspires to see IL strong and tri-
umphant. But beyond all these considerations
is the commanding rule of justice, which cannot
be disOheyed with IMMUNITY.
The question is rot whether the acquisition of
lie Island or San Domingo, in whole or part,
with population foreign in origin, language
and institutions, is desirable; but whether we;
are Justified IN the means employed to accom-
plish this acquisition. This question is essen
italy preliminary in character and entirely in
dependent OF the main question. On the mar,
question there may be difference OF opinion
sO1ne thlnkinP the acquisition desirable, aud
Others not desirable; some anxious for empire or
AT least s0Hitdriun in the tropics and Others
more anxious for Back Republic, where thr
african race shall! show an example of self COY
eminent. by which the whole race NAV be nm
hited; some thinking OF gold mines salt moua-
talns, Logsheads Ct sugar, bags of coffee, AMI
boxes or segars; others thinking more of VIVA
We owe to the African race. But whatever the
dlneTf zee of opinion ON the main question the
eVIdeIc now before rs shows too Clearly t.lar
meals nave been employed which cannon a.,
justine q. Ard this is the question to which he
low asked the attention of the Senate.
mr.. sumner proceeded TO relate how and a.
question: The treaty for the annexation or the
dominican people was pending before the Sen
ate and be was occupied in considering a.
asking two questions: First, IL il good for u?
and, .econdiy, j. 1t coed for them? The more
lie mediiated these two Questions he found
himself forgetting the former and consider NJ
Tie latter, or rather. tie former WAS absorbed
IN the latter. Thinking OF our giant strength
hls anxiety Increased for The weaker party ami
ne thought more OF what was good for them
tban for rs. Is annexation good for them
This was the question on his mind when he was
h0nOTed by visit from the Assistant Secretary
Oh state, bringing with him handful OF dis
patches from 81. Domingo. nOng these were
dispatches from the consular agent there who
slgueO the treaty of annexation, from which ~
distinctly appeared that Baez, while engaged
IN selling his country. was maintained in poWaT
by The navy Of the United States. Thar sgch
vas the official report or our consular agsnt
WHO signed the treaty, there can be no question:
ana tDls OmCIal report was sustained BY at least
ore other consular dispatch. He confe.ses now
ms emotion as he read this painful revelation
Inul then he had supposed the proceeding
blsineIess, although pTeciptste. He had NOT
imagined any such terrible and indefensible
nTegulaIity.
These dispatches became more important AZ
testimony when 1t appeared that the writer's
were personally ia favor OF annexation. Thus
then, II stood that, on the Official report of orr
owl agents, we were engaged in forcing upon
INN II was apparent at once, that the acGuisi
ton OF this foreign territory would not be re-
spectacle or even tolerable, unless by the con
part. The treaty was a contract, which accord
ing TO our own witnesses, WAS obtained thrOr III
ruler, owing power TO our war vessels. "a
such II was beyond all question A contract Oh
fSlned under duresS, and, therefore void whiie
the duress was An interference with the internal
ahalTs OF foreign country, and, therefore
contrary to that principle OF non-intervent1ou
winch l. now arule OF International Law. As
this question presented itself he lost no time in
Vlsling the Navy Department, in order To ex-
anime the instructions under which our naval
on GERS were acting and also their reports IN
happily these instructions and reports were TOO
much IN mrmcny with the other testimony 50
mat the State Department and NAVY Dei,art-
ment each contained the record of the dauIor-
able proceedings, and still they pressed tn con-
summation He could not have believed it. Iad
not Tie evidence been explicit. The STOW of
NAbotLs Ineyard was revived.
violence begets violence, and that in - no
miDgo naturally extended. 1t rs with nations
forward The harsh menace by which the in
dependence of the Black Republic OF Hayti was
rudely assailed came next. IL was another stage
IN belllgeTent Intervention. AS these things
were unfOded he felt that he could not hesitate
Here was a shocking wrong. 1t must be ar
rested; and to this end he had labOred IN good
falth. II he was earnest, IL was because he
could not see wrong done without seeking TO
arrest it, Especially was he moved if this wrong
be done to the weak and humble. Then, by the
EFFORTS Of his lie and the commission he had re-
ceived from Massachusetts,, was he vowed TO
do what he could for the protection aud eleva-
ton OF the African race. Ii he could help them,
he must. And never before was the OCCASION
more imminent than now.
A contract for the csssion OF territory must
be fair and without suspicion OF Overawing
force. Nobody can doubt this rule, whether for
individuals or nations. And where one party is
more powerful than another ii becomes more
imperative. Especially must it be sacred with
Republic, for it is nothing but the mandate of
Justice. Ii Is general in ITS application; nav
more, II Is a part OF universal law, common to
all municipal systems and to international Law
ANY departure from this requirement makes
negotiation for the time impossible. Plainly
there can be no cession of territory, and especi-
ally no surrender Of national INDEPENDENCE
except as the result of war, so long as hostile
cannon are frowning. The first step in negotia
ton must be the withdrawal Of all forces, coer.
Give miDatory.
Mr.. Sumner cited the
EXAMPLE or SPAIN.
Yielding TO an invitation not unlike that OF
BSeZ to the United States, this ancient Mon
arcby Was induced by Santana, President of
Dominica, 10 entertain the proposition OF re-
annexation 10 the Crown. Santana was legiti-
mate President. while Baez is q usurping die
tatOr. And now mark the contrast between the
Ancient Monarchy and our Republic, painful
a. il j. to us. Spain boasted in official papers
that ID the act of rsannexlon the D0minicans
we're spontaneous. free and unanimous; that no
Spanish emissaries were in the territory to in
hueDce its people; nor was there = Spanish bot
tar in lis uata anfs "A fts