Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-13
Senator MorriII'sspeech on San Do.
miDgO.

Vermont has reason TO be proud of Il
noble and able utterances of Senator Mo
rill in his speech on San Domingo in Il
United States Senate on Friday last. A
though many may differ with him {
several points, none will charge that be
not frank, honest, fearless and indepen,
ent in presenting his convictions on IL
subject. The exhaustive manner in wbic
he reviews the whole question, indicate
his thorough study of the subject and hi
ABILITY to give it searching analysis, an
the fact that nearly all the Senators lis
tened attentively is compliment worth,
OF the man and bis long legislative career
and the State be represents has a right Il
share.in the honors bestowed upon him
1t contained really more valuable in
formation about the proposed acquisition
than is contained in the report of tn,
Commissioners. While differing from tn,
President he accorded him the purest
motives in whatever he had done to pro
mote annexation. The report of the Com
m'ssloners may be looked upon as per
sonal vindication of the President but Mr.
Morrill, gives to the country he material
facts in relation to San Domingo, gather
ed from its past history, it's geographical
position and material resources. After
its perusal we are not surprised that the
friends of annexation made such per
slstent fight against giving Mr.. Morrill,
leave to lay his views before the people.
for they prove heavy blow to the scheme
on Its own merits, without any consider
alton OF the Presidents position in the
matter. Nevertheless, the general policy
OF the administration concerning the &C.
QUESTION of foreign territory, met strong
condemnation at the hands of the Yer
mont Senator He said that if this for.
eign acquisition policy was perse vered in
lt would give the great republic the repu-
tatlon of a greedy landshark among ma. |
tions.
Mr.. Morrill, drew a discrimination be.
tween the President and his motives. and
the indefensible conduct of some of his
agents, and in warm language acquitted
OF any misdemeanor. At the same time
he discussed the subject from every stand
point, dissecting the Commissioners re.
port, exposing it's fallacies, and showing
tbs moral and political evils to the United
States which must necessarily follow the
of Dominica. He denied that
there was any enlightened judgement in
favor OF annexation, and that unendorsed
by PRESIDENT Grant it would not have
had corporaps guard of supporters. 1t
would have given him pleasure to support
the measure, because of the countenancel
given 1t by the present administration, of .
whose integrity of purpose he had no :
doubt, but it was question beyond the 4.
scope beyond the life of any party, and -.
Tar above all parties. and his response r
'lllty az a Senator began at the point
where that of the Executive most proper-
y left off. :
In the course ofthe argument the Sem y
Tor exhibits the increase of taxation it r
'onld involve, the prospect of an ava o
lnche OF more than hundred thousand ii
ominican men and women unacc ustom- fc
and unwilling to labor, would make fl
title contribution toward the payment of W
le national debt, 1t would prove an d,
utgoing rather than an incoming to tn y,
easury. The fallacy of the peculiar tr
'asohing of the President in his message al
the opening of Congress is critically pr
posed. The commercial protective til
Dry OF the bay of San Domingo is fully al
"Sid"r"d and uuequivocally met, and tn
- bay ia declared to be as empty as pc
at part of Lake Gennesaret, where ST.
en- Peter and his partners, James and W
hn, toiled all night taking nothing. ca
In conclusion the preservation Of the as
meri'nn character 10 presented aud the m
corporation Of an1inferior element, de- &C
.ned to invite n much larger accession be
the same kind, and would encourage til
lose who would rejoice in chronioling
publican degradation through them
Ives would be willingly released from
Oh far off dependencies. All additions
territory should come as free. will offer. w
"a, neitber,bouRht or conquered, and gu
r selfre~peot as nation demanded "a
ly such annexationsas would add moral be
d political strength to our free institn- jus
ms and wis 3om to our councils. The on
innings of history we're recspitulated, an
pecting the permanency of nations, as lo'
nsderations that should lead us to ma
use before step was taken that would NO
ID to weaken our republican form of mu
' eminent. he
We say again that Senator Morrill, and 0o'
rmont has reason to be congratulated WI
on this able exposition of the San Do aA>
ngn question. While in some particu-
; we differ from the position taken by 'o'
, Senator, we give him the credit of
rness and candor and Il IA not o,r NV Oh,
10 to criticise or present our differen ces. Ar'
I'm his standpoint the argument is sat
INST any conviction others NAV have. ext
Q people of Vermont will listen with pro
CIV uoiOt Chtc W tub Nl6WS OF MT. NOR .
, and no man will have a more patient TO
intelligent reading than our honored COO
lator. The National Republican of wei
urday morning, in a long editorial, en- anu
'vors to underrate the speech and Tue
'rges Mr.. Morrill, with misapprehen- s'yi
and misrepresentation of facts, but it oai'
kes sorry figure in the effort and may
'ws its long ears in lions skin. The age
ninations of the administration organ
Washington against this speech in its mar
g editorials are mere phantons. and it last
liable to the construction put upon it Iur
the charges alledged We shall. at year
'ther time. endeavor to point ont the mar
'kness OF the article of the National
'"oltean, the organ of the administra. A
n -.