The New York herald., 1871-03-16

against me. The Secretary or State has published
20 the world that cbstnately refused TO hold socla
intercourse with him. was at great pains to have
FISK, as coming directly from and personally
authorized by me, that ON all matters OF
would meet the Secretary OF State IN spirit OF the
greatest harmony aud cordiaty. In all official
matters would cheerfully ana earnestly cooperate
with him. But II Is true that decline, peremptory
decline 10 hold any social intimacy with him what
ever. Mr.. Fish took the opportunity, without
way to prataiiousy ana %eaniV mutt me. There
was not the slightest justification for Mr. Flshs con-
duct IN tnus Insulting me, and ! wish It disllnctly
understood that l am not the kind of man to main.
tam social relations win another after that other
has offered me vile and gross personal indignlty
And more Not satisfied with insulting me Mr.. Fish
has as meanly ana unustifaby msrepresented me-
In the kindness oil my heart, and prompted solely by
an an earnest desire or peace had saad aotnng ao0m a
by Mr. Fish, and the Secretary OF State, taking ad
vantage OF my retcence has grossly mlsrepresented
me and my position In the whole aiialr. lie did not
possess nobility OF character enough 10 understand
my motives for keeping silence, but thought
Ing ana mlsrepresenting me. He has gone
so far as 10 declare-n | may apply
the the argressor, and not himself lie knows that to
be false. This entire trouble shows petttness or
character ana meanness OF motive ON the part OF
my assailants-or on the part of some OF them
absolutely despicab!e IL Is petty piece OF business
on their part, the whole OF 1t.
CORRESPONDENT What was the character Of the
insult offered you by Mr. Flsh2
SUMNER (apbarently mol he ding the qucstion)-It
Is strange that the secretary OF State and other per-
sons should have magniled the difficulties In the
way OF our official intercourse. was always ready
to meet MI. Fish and everybody else with whom /
had official transactions in a spirit calculated to
transact those AFFAIRS with bromptItude and satis-
ton. You can, however, see the personal animaS In
tins matter from my recital Of the lacts. They did not
Ike 10 be thwartcd In their schemes, although ST
Domingo Is but one OF the causes which led TO the
present state OF affairs.
ST. Domingo as one of the indispensable conditions
on which President Grant conlers his lrendshipy
sUMNER-As | said before cannot discuss the
question or ST. Domingo on It's merits al the
present. II IS so wrapped up with other conslera.
tions that 1t can hardly be separated from them.
Grant is certainly very anxious 10 obtain possession
OF tnat island. AS TO his motives, there possibly
variety OF them. You cannot doubt his earnestness
when, to accomplish his ends he grossly suDverts
the constitution OF his country. A man Is very
much in earnest when, TO attain his object, he Will
break the laws.
OF 81. Domingo as beneficial or injurious to The In
terestS OF the country
SUMNER-Ihe importance OF the island In itself
Is very great do regard It's annexation TO this
country as likely TO result In great harm to the
coored race, not only OF the island. but OF the
United states. 1t would be- In q manner deirauding
them OF a natural Dirthrlght.
CORRESPONDENCE In what respect?
SUMNER have always thought 1t provtden-
tiai tnat these islands Of the West Indies were
located SO near our shores. 1t me that
they were placed there IN order TO become
OF great black republic, where the coored race in
q congenla climate and with all The advantages to
be derived rom fertile soil and conrlguiuy 10 this
country, could work out their destiny as an inde-
pendent Power 10 glorious iul1lmeEt This is one
reason, and an important one why l oppose the
annexation OF st. Domingo-why l cOnsluer It's ac-
QUESTION injurious TO the IN ereats oil humanity.
Now, II the island Is annexed 10 this country the
coored man VIII lose the opportunity, which con-
sider provldentla one, OF building up, under
favorable circumstances, confederacy peculiarly
their own. They wouid III the contingency OF an
neyatIon be delrauded OF what seems TO me TO be
their natural birhrlghtan inheritance reserved by
Providence for their exclusive under the favor
lag auspices OF our example and protection.
COaREsPONDENT-That idea, Mr.. sumner, certainly
has force In It,
sUMNER-Wny, sir wish you would reflect upon
IT, 1t appears TO me opportunity OF doing justice
10 the hitherto wronged c0lored race and OF advanc-
ing the interests of humanity, whose Importance
cannot be over estimated. Ii we annex st. Domingo
aud other West Indian isands-for OF course We
shall not be satisfied with one; the appetite for the
acquisition OF territory grows on what 1t leeds
upOn-they viii be only sort OF fringe to own
expanding nation. and the destiny o the coored
race becomes mextrcabiy wrapped up with cur
own. oppose the acquisition OF ST. Domingo ior
this, among other reasons ana more especially do
oppose Its annexation under such circumstances as
have attended the question from It's inceptive mo-
ment until the present time.
CoRREspoNpEsr-Do you think 1t Will be an
nexedy
ceedng is too glar.ng and the people Of this
try too vrtuous 10 permit such an occurrence. Re-
collect live In an age where the moral sentiments
predominant and mankind are under their IN
1uence. The annexation OF st. Domingo initiates
against the pubic sentiment ana Is llpre2nated so
strongly with the odor OF sJobs." tnat President
Grant and Mr. FISH will find themselves unable TO
attain their wishes IN this respect. DO not think
the island or st. Domingo will be annexed TO the
Unlted States. have too high an opinion of the
virtue and justice OF the people TO fear annexation.
This consdcratio,s not entertained BY either Grant
or the Secretary OF Stale.
CoRREsPoNDENT-Had the insult offered you by
the Secretary OF State any connection with the
Alabama claims or the Joint High Commission or
kindred questionsS
SUMNER-I do not wish 10 say anything about the
difficulties between this country and Engand-that
Is in personal manner. Mr.. Cameron, doubtless,
is in full accord with Mr. Fish and the President on
these points, and MI. Fish can settle any difficulties
provided he be allowed TO settle them iii his own
way without regard TO justice or reciprocity.
Your correspondent eGdeavored further TO obtain
from Mr. sumner fuller and more specific account
OF the ''gross personal ndignity" offered him by Mr.
Fish, but his efforts were unsuccessful. That the
Senator from Massachusetts regards OF the keen.
est and most objectionable character is evident
from the terms in which he characterized 1t to your
correspondent, and the intense though subducd
feeling with which he spoke about 1t. 1t was cer-
tany OF no light and trlning cnaracter-nvoived no
considerations OF official etiquette was embraced
In any punctlio OF social rank or aggreved vanity.
Ii cut too deep TO come from such sources