The New York herald., 1871-04-24
GENERAL GRANT AND SENATOR SUMNER
From the Saturday Review, ApriI l.

oLsp osed 10 retire silently from the high position
which he has occupied for many years rs chairman
OF tae Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. In an
elaborate speech he charges the President not only
with party manGuvres, but with practical breach
Of the constitutional rule which reserves to Congress
the power Of declaring war. II Is impossible for
foreigners Judge whether the President Is Isti-
fed In forming combination 10 remove political
opponent from committee OF the Senate Tho
constitution has for some time past ceased to be an
inspired aud inialllblc document and it con-
venient That the persons who divide between them
the attributes OF Foreign Minister should generally
act IN concert. General Grant and Mr.. Hamilton
Fish were lKely to be tnwarled In every diplomatic
transaction as long as Mr. sumner commanded n
majority III the Senate. As the Englisn remedy OF
resignation inappcaDe, II was natural that tie
deavor to drive their adversary from oiice ON the
other hand, MIR. Sumner argues with much plaus
Dllity that the power OF rejecting or approving Dip
lonatic arrangements was con erred on the Senate
for the express purpose or providing check on the
policy OF The President anu MS Min The con-
stilution OF the United States is In tact,
UNDERGOING CHANGE
which has many allaogle3 In Eng sh experience.
,The House OF Commons ike Inc senate Though the
respective functions OF the two boaes are In other
respects widely different, was formerly supposed 10
exercise vigant super vision over the Crown. In
course OF time 1t was practically ascertained that
the conflicting powers must arrive at en- un0er-
standing; and consequently the leaders of the ma
Jolty In the House have become the necessary Min
listers OF the Crown. When the American President
is popular With the dominant party he may ike
General Grant, require mis- supporters TO choose be-
tween himself aud any rival IN the party. The re-
puocans have receatly made up their minds to
propose General Grant for reelection at the
conclusion OF his term, and consequently they
have abandoned Mr.. sumner, who still maintained
Johns0n's time 1t was almost impossible for the
President, in the face Of adverse majority to deal
with foreign alialrs 1t would not have suited the
republicans to Impose similar disability on their
selected champion. IL Is evident that the pro-
cess WIZ be repeated whenever the President be-
longs to party which has a moderate and waverIng
MAJORITY; and II IL once becomes the practice APP
polnt an aah rent OF the President to the chair OF
Foreign Affairs IN the Senate the balance OF the
constitution Will nave been readJasted not perhaps
without puDlc advan age. The non-existence OF
any functionary who can fully represent the govern
ment In internat ona transactions involves Elcon-
venience TO the United States, as well as to other
parties TO ncgotiltions. II may be presumed that
may De propose by General GRAFT.
THE ANSEXArIoN UF ST. DOMINGO,
though II has hitherto been ectcd by the Senate
WA be supported by the same majority winch
moved Mir. Sumner from the chair OF the committees;
aud already "a motion condemning the policy Of the
President has been rejected by two TO one. The ex-
podiency OF the measure will raise q less important
Issue thaa me oeariag Oh the decision on the next
scne ne, Notwithstanding the obvious reasons
against 1t, should not have become mJre generally
popular. The extension OF American sovereignty
over tho Western Hemisphere Is almost universally
thought desirable: and the acquisition OF ST. DO
mIngo would hereafter form u precedent for the
coveted appropriation OF Cuba. II the Dominion
Of Canada Is at any time seized or otherwise oh.
talned by the Uniied States there viii be O
general clamor for the expulsion or a European
Power from the West India Islands. lf ST. Do
mngo Il necessary because IL contains convenient
naval station 1t viii be easy to find equally CO.
gent reason for taking possession oil Jamaica ana
BARBADOS. Nevertheless the ST. Domingo purchase
Will be completed If at all, In deerence to the per. |
sonal opinion and wish of the President 1t seems
to be generally admitted that there Is little profit
tension Of territory. Even when the President pro-
cured the appointment Oi tie Commission whicn
hls opponents w ne % succeeded in ading to the the resolution
o pr0vlso that the appointment OF the Commission
should not be understood to involve sanction Of
the plan.
THE REPUBLICANS pIssEyTToUs.
The schsm between the Cabinet and the repub-
lcan party during the Presidency of Mr.. Andrew
Johnson had perhaps produced dislike OF Mr..
Seward's policy 1t was long before the Russian
government could obtain pay nent of the purchase
money OF Alaska; ana the agreement for buying the
island OF st. Thomas was finally repudiatcd. The
renewed devotion OF the party TO General Grant Will
perhaps again reverse the tendency oil opnlon. The
President himself mas apparently been more anxious
Tor tue success or the 81. Domingo scheme
than for any other measure which has been
proposed during his term OF Office Ills most aclive
prompters and supporters are not perhaps Influenced
like himself exclusively by pubic onslierations. 1t
will probably appear hereafter that the establish
mert oi an American government In St. Domingo
Will not he Improbable to American spectators
VINO have purchased property In anticipation OF the
purchase. Ii st. Domingo is considered apart from
It's inhabitants there can be little doubt tnat 1t will
American administration. IL Is only doubtful
whether the present nhabitants will gain by the
arrival OF uncongenai strangers Even the Span
iards who some years ago re-established their |
ancient government in the Island were dislikcd ana
ultimately tired out by the natives because they |
were comparatively orderly anu civilized When |
Americans settle IN the island, incOnpatbty or |
viii lead to different results. II class |
vigorous citizens OF the United States VIII certainly
not be expelled BY the indigenous muiattoes.
AS far as external and profane interpreters may
presume 10 expound the constition Mr. summers
against ssGs 80 PC 81 we sse
power Of declaring war, II he reserves the right OF
making war. Without shadow or pretence O quar-
rel General Grant directed the naval officer In
mand on the station TO inform the government OF
IIayti he would forciby resist and punish any
hostile measure against 81. Domingo. The poor
French negroes, VINO, at the time OF tn, cmancipa-
Hon, were iavOrite OBJ ects OF American patronage,
we're naturally puzzled and alarmed by the sudden
no offence 10 the United States and II IL not even
Known that their relation to their Spanish
leIghbors was more than ordinarily uniriendy. 1t
nai have been u consolation TO their wounded
ceilings that tue admiral at tho same time declared
ack on ST Domingo would. he said, be instantly re-
ented, and II England or Spain or France had nap
pened 70 exact reprlsas Tor a Dominican outrage
,he American squadron. The territory which was
70 be guaranteed from aggression was not part OF
The dominSns OF the United States unless the un-
contract negotiated by the President
rated u transfer ofownership As tile OF force
would not even have been preceded ny declaration
Dr war the unhappy people Of Hayu trembed ana
pbcyed and other Powers perhaps never heard OF
me ~ 80 admrai's . granalIoauent threat. Never.
Is equivalent To the right OF declaring |
" ar, and the President mas virtually usurped the |
power winch belongs TO another branch OF tue gov |
ernmcnf. When the annexation OF 80. Domingo Is |
accomplished the sublugation or layti Will ineyi- I
taby follow. There Is little to regret In the final
nction OF low type Of INITIATIVE civilization; but
The possession OF an outlying country with million
and hair oil inhabitants VIII invove the American i
government Ia serious diiicuics The negroes OF |
The southern states nave been endowed with the I
suffrage, and their republican patrons have with |
certain amount OF success, used their at e.ec
ions; but party IN the United states seriously In
Tended that tue negroes should exercise political i
power; ana the further aiulterati0n OF the repre-
body BY foreign negroes and mulattoes
would he strongly opposed. Nothing could be
more absurd than the establishment ol Iayti and 81
Domingo as oae of the states OF the UnlOn
Tue Senate aud Congress In ordinary times exert
lille powers: but their constituents were before the
OF the negroes tOlcranlY homopene
Gus, ana 10 would he intolerabie that number or
senl balous RllcDs sA9yld TeturA Senators aud