The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-04-07
SUMMERS SPEECH,


Mr.. Sumner took the floor, and
asked for the reading of the resolu-
tion recently submitted by him, and
already published, against the use of
the United States naval forces to up
hold Baez in an attempt to sell his
country, in violation of its Consti-
tuition, and threatening the integrity
and existence of the friendly power
of Hayti. He then submitted, and
had read by the Secretary, an addi-
tional resolution, as follows:
Resolved, That whatever may be
the title to the territory. under an
unratifed treaty, it is positive that,
after the failure of the treaty in the
Senate, all pretext to the title cess-
ed, 30 that our government is in al
respects q stranger to the territory
without excuse or apology for any
interference against its enemies, for
eign or domestic, and therefore, any
belligerent intervention or act ol
war on the coast of the island Of SaI
Domingo, after the failure of the Do
minican treaty in the Senate, is un'
authorized violence, utterly without
support in law or reason, and pro
ceeding directly from that kingly pre-
rogativc, which is disowned by the
Constitution of the United States.
Mr.. Fenton called attention to the
fact, that in the pressure tn gain ad
mittsnce to the galleries, hundreds
of ladies had been excluded. He
therefore moved that the cloak roomt
and corridors in the rear of the Sen
ate chamber be opened for their &C
comodation.
There being no objection, the
Sergeant at-arms was directed to car
ry out the motion as the order o.
the Senate.
Mr.. Thurman hoped the Senator
from Massachusetts (Mr. Sumner,
would not be interrupted at the ex
piration of the morning hour, but
would be allowed to proceed regu'
tlarly. 1t was so ordered.
Mr.. Sumner then arose and ad
dressed the Senate at length, speak,
! ing from the seat of his colleague
Mr.. Wilson.
In the opening paragraph he def
nitely asserts that it is now on evi
dence before the Senate that the ma
! Wy of the United States, acting under
orders from Washington, has been
engaged in measures of violence and
of belligerent intervention, being
war without authority of Congress
The whole business is aggravated
when it is considered. that the de
clared object of this violence is the
acquisition of foreign territory, be
ing half an island in the Caribbean
Sea; and still further, that this vio-
lence has been employed,
First, to prop and maintain a weak
ruler, himself a usurper, upholdin9
him in power that he might sell his
country; and
Secondly, it has been employed to
menace the black republic of Hayti
Such a case, Mr.. Sumner contin'
ues, is too grave for silence. For the
sake of the navy, the administration,
republican institutions, and for the
sake of the Republican party, which
cannot afford to become responsible
for such conduct, the case must not
pass without inquiry; but above all
these considerations is the command
/ ing rule of justice, and the evidence
shows too clearly that means have
been employed for the acquisition OF
San Domingo which cannot be JUS
tilted.
He had supposed that the proceed
ings regarding a treaty of annexa-
tiOn we're blameless until, while it
was pending before the Senate, the
Assistant Secretary of Safe brought
him a number of dispatches, among
which was one from our Consular
agent there, who signed the treaty
Of annexation, from which it dis
tinetly appeared that Baez, while
engaged in selling his country, was
maintained in power by the navy OF
the United States. Other evidence
has accumulated to show that we
were engaged in forcing upon a weak
people the sacrifice of their country.
The State Department, and the Ma
Wy Department, each contained a
record of this disgraceful and deplor-
able proceeding, and still they
pressed a consummation. The story
of Naboth's Vineyard was reviewed.
Unless the reports of the State and
Navy Departments are discredited,
it is obvious, beyond a doubt, that
our government has seized the war
powers carefully guarded by the
Constitution, and without the au-
thority of Congress has employed
them to trample on the independ-
ence and equal rights of two ma
tions, co-equal with ours. The Sen
asor than characterizes Baez and
Grant as co-partners in the melan-
choly affair, and carefully reviews
the history of the former and bis
INSCRIPTIONS usurpation; recites
the origin of the scheme Of annex
ing half the Island, which is gene
rally known.
Baez was oblige to invoke foreign
.assistanse. "Help me, Cassius, or
sink" cried the grand citizen. The
European powers would not listen
None Of them wanted his half of tht
island-not Spain, not France, no
England, none would take it; bu
still the grand citizen cried, when a
Hast hA Taa PnlIovAd hv an anayerini