Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-28


olutlon of congress. And yet during this inter
mediate period, when there was no unrati6ed
treaty eXtant, the same belligerent intervention
mas been proceeding the same war-ships have
been girdling the island with their guns, and the
same naval support has been continued to the
usurper Baez; all at great cost TO the country
and by the diversion of our naval forces from
other places of duty, while the constitution has
been dismissed out of sight like discharged
soldier.
MIR. Sumner closed his Grafton with the fol-
lowing
SUMMARY.
MIR. President, as draw TO a close allow me
to repeat the very deep regret with which make
this exposure Most gladly would l avoid it.
Controversy, especially at my time of life, has
no attraction for me; but have been reared in
the school of duty, and now, as of old, | cannot
see wrong without trying to arrest it. | plead
now, as have often pleaded before, for justice
and peace.
In the evidence adduced have confined N.Y.
self carefully to public documents, not travelling
out of the record. Dispatches, naval orders, ma
val reports-these are the unimpeachable au-
thorities. And all these have been officially
communicated to the senate, are now printed by
its order, accessible to all. On this unansWera-
BILE and cumulative testimony, where each part
confirms the rest and the whole has the har-
mony Of truth, | present this transgressiou.
And here it is not l who speak, but the testi-
mony.
Thus stands the case International law has
been violated in two of its commanding rules,
one securing the equality of nations, and the
other providing against belligerent intervention,
while distinctive fundamental principle of the
constitution, by which the president is deprived
of kingly prerogative, is disregarded, and this
very kingly prerogatiye is asserted by the presi-
dent. This is the simplest statement. Looking
still further at the facts we see that all this
great dsobedience has for its object the acqusi-
nf on n11flN sin vii lorn
promise of wealth, and that, in carrying out
this scheme, our republic has forcibly main
tanned usurper in power that he might sell his
country, and has dealt blow at the independ-
ence of the black republic of Hayti, which, be-
sides being a wrong to that republic, was an in
suit to the African race. And all this has been
done by prerogative alone, without the authori-
ty of an act OF congress. If such transaction,
many-headed in wrong, can escape Judgment, it
is difficult to see what securities remain. What
other sacred rule of international law may not
be violated? What other foreign nation may
not be struck at2 What other belli9erent men
ace may not he hurled2 What other kingly
prerogative may not be seizedP
On another occasion | showed how these
wrongful proceedings had been sustained by the
president beyond all example, but in a CORE.
spending spirit. Never before has there been
such presidential intervention in the senate as
we have been constrained to witness. Presi-
dental visits to the capitol, with appeals to SEN
ators, have been followed by assemblies at the
executive mansion, also with appeals TO sena.
tors; and who can measure the pressure of all
kinds by himself or agents, especially through
the appointing power, all to secure the con-
summation of this scheme? In harmony with
this effort was the presidential message where,
while taxing the senate with "folly" in rejecting
the treaty, we are gravey assured that by the
proposed aquiSition "Our large debt abroad is to
be ultimately cXtinguished," thus making st,
Domingo the pack horse of our vast load, or
perhaps, copying Don QuiXOte when he imposed
upon the shoulders OF Sancho Panza the peni-
tental stripes which belonged to himself.
Then, responding TO the belligerent menace of
his admiral, the president makes a kindred
menace by proposing nothing less than the
acquisition of the "island of st, Domingo"
thus adding the black republic to his scheme
The innocent population there were startled.
Their ministers here protested Nor is it unnat-
ural that it should be so. Suppose the queen of
England, in her speech at the opening of parlia-
ment, had proposed in formal terms the acquisi-
ton OF the United States, or suppose Louis Ma.
poleon, in his speech at the opening of the
chambers during the Mexican war, while the
French forces were in Mexico had coolly pro-
posed the acquisition of that portion of the
United States adjoining Mexico, and stretching
to the Atlantic, and, in support of his PROPOSE
ton, had set forth the prOductiveness of the SOIL
the natural wealth that abounded there, and
wound up by announcing that out of this
IDl1Ub Dt pau lut FICuCu uCDt uDIuIu, winch
was to be saddled upon the coveted territory.
Suppose such d proposition by Louis Napoleon
or by the English queen, made in formal speech
to chambers or parliament, what would have
been the feeling in our country? Nor would
that feeling have been diminished by the eX-
cuse that the offensive proposition crept into the
speech by accident. Whether by accident orde-
sign, it would attest small consideration for our
national existence. But the Haytiens love their
country as we love ours-especially are they
resoute for national independence. All this is
shown by the reports which reach us now even
if their whole history did not attest it.
The language of the president in charging the
senate with "fOlly' was not according to ap-
proved precedents. Clearly this is not a proper
term to be employed by one branch of the gov
eminent with regard to another, least OF all by
the president with regard TO the senate. Folly,
sirl Was it folly when the senate refused to
sanction proceedings by which the equal rights
of the black republicawere assailedP Was it folly
not to sanction hostllities against the black re-
public without the authority of congress? Was
it folly not to sanction belligerent Intervention
in foreign country without the authority of
congress? Was il folly not TO sanction a usurp-
ation of the war powers under the constitution?
According to the president, all this was folly in
the senate. Let the country judge.
Thus do we discern, whether on the coasts of
St. Domingo, or here at Washington, the same
determination, with the same disregard of great
principles, as also the same recklessneSs toward
the people of Hayti, who have never injured us.
PRESENT DUTY.
In view of these things the first subject of in
quiry is not soil, climate, productiVeness and
possibilities of wealth, but the exceptional and
abnormal proceedings of our own government
This inquiry is essentially preliminary in char
acter. Before considering the treaty or aay
question of acquisition, we must ut least put
oursel Jes right as a nation; nor do see how
this can be done without rctrucing our steps
and consenting to act in subordination to inter
national law and the constitution of the United
States.
Therefore on the question of acquisition | say
nothing to-day, only abiding to certain points
involved. Sometimes it is insisted that emf
grants will hurry 10 large numbers to this tropi-
cal island when once annexed and thus swell its
means; but this allegation forgets that, accord
ing TO the testimony of history, peaceful emf
grafton travels with the sun on parallels of lati-
tude, and not on parallels of longitude, mainly
following the Sothermal line and not turning
of at right angles, whether north or SOUTH
Sometimes it is insisted that it will be better
for the people Of this island if annexed to our
republic; but this allegation forgets the trans
scendant question, whether it is better for them
better for the African race, better for
civilization, that the black republic should
be AFFORDED out of sight, instead of
being fostered into successful example of self.
government for the redemption OF the race not
only on the Caribbean islands, but on the CONT
HShI Vi lucily uSdlH, uElSeS ludU Obncr
question, whether we will assume the bloody
hazards involved in this business, as it has been
pursued, with the alternative of expenditures
for war ships and troops, causing most painful
anXieties, while the land of Toussant L0uver-
ture listens to the constant whisper of indepen-
dence And there is still that other question of
debts and obligations, acknowledged and unac-
knOwledged, with an immense claim by Hayti,
and an unsettled boundary, which ! have al
ready called bloody lawsuit.
These questions | state only Meanwhile to
my mind there is something better than helliger
ent intervention and acts of war with the menace
of absorption at untold cost Of treasure Ii is a
sincere and humane effort on our part, in the
spirit of peace, to reconcile Hayti and Dominica,
and to establish tranquility throughout the ISL
and. Let this be attempted and our republic
will become an example worthy of its name
and of the civilization which it represents, while
republican institutions have new glory. The
blessings of good men would attend such an eff
fort; nor would the smile of heaven be wanting.
And may we not justly expect the president
to unite in such measure Of peace and good
will2 He that ruleth his spirit is greater than
he that taketh a city; aud so the president, rul.
ing his spirit in subsection to the humane princi.
pies of international law and the constitution of