The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-27
It's Gross Violations.
Summers Disinterestedness.
Too Old fora Controversy
But Must do his Duty.
from W.AEdLNGTON.

The Gran Rush TO Hear Summers speech.
4 WASHINGTON, March 27.-As early as IL
o'clock this morning the galleries of the Senate
were densely crowded, the occupants being at
tracted thither to hear Mr.. Sumner speak on the
. San Domingo question Many were unable to
obtain even standing room at the doors. There
was an unusually large number of privileged
persons on the floor.
AS soon as the preliminary business of the
sitting was disposed of, Mr.. Sumner obtained
i the floor, and proceeded to address the Senate
as follows:-
Mr.. sumoer's speech.
Mr.. President, entering again upon this discus
sion perform duty which cannot ne avoided
wish 1t were otherwise, but duty is tasKmaser to
be Obeyed. On evidence before the Senate It, Ia
plain that the navy OF the United States acting
under orders from Washington, has been engaged
IN measures OF violence aud OF belgerent inJeryen-
ton, oeiDg war v ithout the authority OF Congress
An act OF war without authority of Congress is no
the case. The whole business is aggravated when
1t is considered that the declared object OF tas vo-
lence is the acquisition OF foreign territory, being
half an Island III the Caribbean sea; and still fur
ther, that this violence has been employed first, 70
prop and maintain u weak ruler, himself ausurper,
nphodiug him in power that he might sell MS c1un-
try and, secondly 1t has been employed TO menace
the Black Republic or tsyti.
Such case cannot pass without inquiry. 1t is
too grave for silence. For the SAKE or the navy.
which has been the agent; for the sake of the al
minlsiIatlon under which the navy acted for the
sake OF republican institutions, which sutfer when
the Great Republic makes itself pattern OF yio-
lence; and for the sake of the Republican party,
which cannot afford to become responsible for such
conduct, the case must be examined the facts
ana the law and also In the light of precedent,
far precedent holds its torch. hen spe AZ for
republican institutions, it is because l would not
have our great example weakened before the world
and our good name tarDlshed. And when speak
for the Republican party, 1t is because from the
ginning l have been the faithful servant of that
parry and aspire to it strong ana trium phanG
I But beyonc all these considerations is the com
mandng rule of justice which cannot be disobeyed
with lmpunity.
QUESTION STATED.
The question which present is very simple. 1t Is
not whether the acquisition OF the island OF San Do
mingo in whole part, with popu alton foreign In
origin, language, and institutions, is desiraOle
whether we are justified in the means employed to
accomplish this acquisition. This question is essen
tally preliminary in character aud entirely inlepen-
dent OF the main question. On the main question
there may be difference OF oplnion-some thinking
the acquisition desirable and Others not desirable
some anxious for empire, at least sanitartt IN
the tropics, and others more anxious for a black Re-
public where the African race shall show an exam
pie cf self-government by which the whole may
be upfted: thinking OF gold mines salt moun-
taiDs hogsheads OF sugar bags OF coffee and boxes
OF cigars; others thinking more Of what We owe 70
the African race But whatever the difference of
opinion on the main question: the evidence now be-
fore shows too clearly that means have been em-
pOyed which cannot be justified. And this is the
question to which / now ask the attention OF the
Senate
REASON FOR INTEREST IN THE QUESTION.
Here, sir. venture to relate no ana at what time
became specially aroused on this question. The
treaty for the annexation OF the Dominican people
was pending before the Sena.e, and was occupied
in considering 1t, asking two questions Is it
good for us and secondly, Is 1t good for them /?
I The more medtated these two questions found
myself forgetting the former and considering the
latter; or rather the former was absorOed IN the
latter Thinking or our giant strength, my anxiety
increased for the weaker 4rty, ana Thought more
OF what was good for them than for us. Is annexa-
tion good for them? This was the question on my
mind when was honOred by visit from the Assis
'tant Secretary OF state bringing with him handful
OF dispatches from St. Domingo.
Among these were dispatches from consular
agent there, who signed the treaty rf annexation,
Y nom which IL distinctly aDpeareI tlat BisZ, while
engaged III selling his country, was maintained in
pow or by the navy OF the United States. That
las the of1ctal report OF our consular agent who
signed the eaty, .heTe can Oe 10 question, and this
oIlclsl report was sustained ny at least other
consular despatch. confess now my emotion
read this painful revelation. Until then had sup.
posed the proceeding hameless. al hough prec pi-
tate. had not IMAGINED any such terrible anu in-
oefensible irTegularit,.
These dispatches became more important as tes-
tmony when 1t appeared that the writer's per-
soDally in favor Of annexation. Thus then It stood
thar, on the ofhcial report OF our own agents we
were engaged In forcing upon weak people the
sacrifice OF their country. To me 1t was apparent
at that the acquisition OF this foreign territory
would not be respectable or even toerabie unless
by the consent OF the people there without force
our part. The treaty was contract which, accord
ing to our own witnesses, was obtained through a
ruler owing power to our war vessels. AS such It
was beyond ell question contract obtained under
duress and therefore void, while the duress
Interference with the internal affairs OF foreign
country and therefore contrary TO that principle OF
nonnteryenton which Is now rule OF International
law.
visiting the Navy Department, In order 60 examine
the instructions uDder which our naval officers
acting and also their reports Unhappily these In
structiOns and reports were too much Ia harmony
with the other testimony, so that the State Depar6.
ment and Navy Department each contained the
record OF the depl0rabe proceedings, aud sti they
pressed the consummation. could not have be-