Middletown transcript., 1871-04-01
sesAroa sunsnnr onnAr srnsca.

cvcry seat and every inch Of standing room
In tho Senate chamber Tuesday, nttcsts
the futility Of General Grants persecution
Of the distinguished Senator Of Massa-
chusctts. Long before the commence
ment Of bis speech. tho ladies' gallery
bloomcd with new bonncis aud more in
terestiug faces; the diplomatic gallery
was equally full aud splendid; even the
reporters gallery had a sprinkling Of la
dies; tho gentlcmen's gallery was crowd
cd TO sufocation members Of the House
wcrs wedged in among Senators ON the
floor; tue closk-rvom was occupied aud
,nultitudcs hung about the doors and
lobby, like swsrming bees upon u hive.
The prescribed orator had reason TO be
proud Of spectacle which showed how
vain and abortive is the executive attempt
TO disgrace and crush him.
The speech, Is remarkable for the per-
spicuity Of ito statements. the dccorum Of
its language, and the redundant sulIicicncy
Of its proofs. It is, in its main positions.
convincing and unanswcrahlc, showing
even more skill in the selection Of topics
than in their treatment With rcticenco
aud discretion which reflect credit on the
aouDdness Of bic judgment. Mr.. Sumner
fOrbcars TO discuss the question whether
the acquisition Of Sunto Domingo is in
itself desirable, although he does not con-
ccal his opinion that il is not He strikes
directly ut the vulnerable points Of Gen.
Grants negotiations, and makes out so
clear and strong case as to preclude the
possibility Of any effective reply. lie con-
wicts the administration Of fragrant. scan
dalous violations Of public duty, establish
ing his accusations by the written tcsti-
mony Of its own agents aud the authentic
orders Of the Navy Department
Nothing could be more opportune than
his selection Of the tune for the delivery
of this crushing speech. The Santo Do
miugo Commission returned Washing
ton just when Mr.. Summers scathing cx-
posurc is the reignng sensation, aud their
report will sail in the wake Of a speech
which must break aud nulify its influence.
Their glowing account Of the fertility and
resources Of the island will be regarded MS
nm imper.incnce by public which is pal
pitating with Indignation at the machinery
VI menace and intimidation set in motion
by General Grant II will be like dcs-
eriptiou Of the SURPRISING beauty Of set
Of diamonds which thief has undertaken
to steal. They might be desirable or
nament il honestly obtained but scorn of
the intended theft prcciudcs any interest
in the question Of their value. II is more
important that the national honor should
be maintained, and the Constitution up
held, than that we should acquire half Of
mn island in the Caribbean Sea about which
the country never cared straw until
General Grant forced it upon public at
tcntion.
Mr.. Sumner shows that, since tho in
c,ption Of this scheme, the President has
kept the greater part Of our effective YES
sells Of war stationed in the waters aud
Elavcring about the shores Of Sunto Do
mingo, MS n means Of influencing the he
gotia.ipns. The object OF this system Of
menace and terror is 10 uphold the usur-
.pcr. Bacz, who is plotting to sell his
country. aud TO maintain him in power
against the wishes of tho Dominican per-
pie The evidence adduccl by Mr. Sum
,ner on this chief head Of accusation is
conclusive and irresistible. The unprin-
.cipled usurpcr. Baez. has been KEEP, in
power for the last eighteen months by the
intimidnting presence Of the United States
navy in Dominican waters. and the open
threats of our naval officers The bare
fact that n dozen of oar most heavily
armed vessels have been stationed in DO
ininican waters is. Of itself. even without
my explanatory documents, dnmnihg evil
dcnce Of unjustiiiablc coercion. Why
should the best par, of the American navy
be concentrated around that island? We
have hardly my commerce IN its ports !;
we have no merchant vessels there to be
protected; we have no interest in the nf-
fairs Of the island. beyond the factii rus
interest Of annexation. A great naval
force has been kept there for the sole pur-
pose Of intimidation. Baez. whose his.
tory Mr. Sumner sketches. and whose
character he portrays with truthful color
ing and scornfal eloquencc, was the only
ruler through whom annexation was pos
sible and the navy Of the United States
has been prostitutcd to maintain him in
power against the de,estatien of the Do
.iniuican people What right had Presi-
dent Grant to use the navy for such n
purpose? None whatever; and his in
,timidating interference with the domestic
affairs Of foreign people is as gross vio-
lation Of the Constitution as il is Of inter-
national law Our naval officers, acting
under pcrcmptory instructions from WASH
ington, have not scrupled to practice the
most open intimidation both against the
people Of Santo Domingo and against the
government Of the ncigbboring republic
OF Hayti For the last eighteen months
there has boon no freedom Of action in
either end Of the island. The Haytien
President has been insolently bullied by
Rear Admiral Poor. and threatened with
vengeance II any Of his vessels should be
found in Dominican waters. or II his gov
ernment should attempt to .hwart the ac-
auisition Of the other end Of the island By
tho IInitcd States. This unriQhtcous and