Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-28
SPEECH OF
HON. CHAS. SUMNER
ON HIS
st. Domingo Resolutions,
DELIVERED IN THE U. S. SENATE MARCH
q, 1871.

Mr.. President, entering again upon this dis
cussion perform a duty which cannot be avoid
ed. l wish it were otherwise, but duty is a task
master to be obeycd. On evidence now before
| the senate, 1t is plain that the navy of the
| United States, acting under orders from WASH
| ington, has been engaged in measures OF violence,
| and of Delligerent intervention, being war,
| without the authority of congress. An act of
war without the authority of congress is no COM
| mon event. This is the simplest statement of
the case. The whole business is aggravated
when ii is considered that the declared object of
this violence is the acquisition OF foreign terrific
ry, being half an island in the caribbean sea !;
and still further, that this violence has been en-
ployed, first, to prop and maintain weak ruler,
himself a usurper, unfolding him in power that
he might sell his country; and, secondly, ii has
been employed to menace the black republic of
Hayti.
Such case cannot pass without inquiry. 1t
is too grave for silence. For the sake of the
navy, which has been the agent; for the sake Of
the administration under which the navy acted;
for the sake of republican institutions, which
suffer when the great republic makes itself
pattern of violence, and for the sake of the re-
publican party, which cannot afford to become
responsible tor such conduct, the case must be
examined on the facts and the law, and also in
the light of precedent so far as precedent holds
its torch. When speak for republican institu.
tons, it is because | would not have our great
example weakened before the world and our
good name furnished. And when speak for
the republican party, il is because from the be-
ginning have been the faithful servant of that
party and aspire 10 see it strong and triumphant.
But beyond all these considerations is the COM
| manding rule OF Justice, which cannot be dis
obeyed with impunity.
QUESTION STATED.
The question which present is very simple 1t
is not, whether the acquisition of the island of
San Domingo, in whole or part, with popula-
| ton foreign in origin, language, and insttu-
| tions is desirable; but whether we are justified
in the means employed to accomplish this ac-
| QUESTION. This question is essentially prelim-
mary in character and entirely Independent of
| the main question. On the main question there
| may be differences of opinion-some thinking
the acquisition desirable and others not desira-
BILE; some anxious for empire or at least Sdnj-
tdriatn in the tronicS and others more anxious
for black republic, where the African race
| shall show an example of self-government, by
| which the whole race NAV be uplifted; some
| thinking of gold mines, salt mountains, hogs
| heads of sugar, bags of Coffee and boxes of
| cigars; Others thinking more of what we owe TO
/ the African race. But whatever the difference
| of opinion on the main question, the evidence
| now before us shows too clearly that means
have been employed 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 how and at what
time became specially aroused on this ques-
| ton. The treaty for the annexation of the Do
minican people was pending before the senate
and was occupied in considering it, asking two
| questions. First, Is it good for us? and, sec
ondly, is it good for them2 The more medi-
tated these two questions / found myself for
| getting the former and considering the latter
or rather, the former was absorbed in the latter
. Thinking of our giant strength, my anxiety in
! creased for the weaker party, and | thought
more Of what was good for them than for us
I | Is annexation good for them? This was the
| question on my mind when was honored by
visit from the assistant secretary of state, bring
: ing with him handful of dispatches from ST
= Domingo. Among these were dispatches from
q our consular agent there, who signed the treat,
of annexation, from which it distinctly appeared
j that Baez, while engaged i'll selling his country
I. was maintained in power by the navy of tn
o United States. That such was the official re
port of our consular agent, who signed tn
treaty. there can be no question, and this otficia
j report was sustained by at least one other cor
| sular dispatch. confess now my emotion as
read this painful revelation. Until then l ha'
: supposed the proceeding blameless, althoug
1 precipitate. | had not imagined any such terri
bic and indefensible irregularity.
, These dispatches became more important a
testimony when it appeared that the writer
were personally in favor of annexion. Thus
then, it stood that, on the official report of OIL
: own agents, we were engaged in forcing upoI
. a weak people the sacrifice of their country. II
me it was apparent at once, that the acquisition
!, Of this foreign territory would not be respect
d able, unless by the consent of the people there
+ without force on our part. The treaty was
contract, which, according to our own wit
neSses was obtained through a ruler OWN!
| power TO our war vessels. As such it was be
/ | yond all question a contract obtained unde
} | dureSs, and, therefore, void while the dures
| was an interference with the internal affairs o
, a foreign country, and, therefore, contrary tt
that principle of non-interyention which is nov
| a rule of international law. As this question
presented itself, lost no time in visiting thu
navy department, in order to examine the in
structions under which our naval officers wer
acting, and also their reports Unhappily theS
instructions and reports were too much il
harmony with the other testimony, 50 that tn,
state department and navy department each con
: tanned the record of the deplorable proceedings
and still they pressed the consummation.
| could not have believed it, had not the evidence
been explicit. The story of Naboth's vineyard
i! | was revived.
Violence begets violence, and that st. Doming,
naturally extended. 1t is with nations as witt
indiyiduals-once stepped in, they go forward
The harsh menace by which the independence O
the black republic of Hayti was rudely assaile
came next. 1t was another stage in belligeren
$ intervention. As these things were unloded,
felt that | could not hesitate. Here was shock
ing wrong. 1t must be arrested; and to this enc
have labored in good faith. If | am earnest, i
is because cannot see a wrong done withou
seeking to arrest it, Especially am I moved i
this wrong be done to the weak and humble
Then, by the efforts of life and the commission
have received from Massachusetts, am | VOWED
TO do what can for the protection and elevation
| of the African race. If can help them, ] will
u can save them from outrage, must. And
never before was the occasion more imminen
| than now.
Mr.. Sumner next proceeds to show that, ac
cordmg to the principles of reason and of uni
versal law, a contract for the cession of terrific
ry must be without the presence of a superior
force. This principle he illustrates by precedent
from Spanish and from English history, anC
especially by the remarkably close parallel o
the example of Spain in her reanncxion of thu
island of st. Domingo. She was able to asser
in official papers that the act of rcannexion wa.
spontaneous, free and unanimous; that ne
e Spanish emissaries were in the island, nor wal
: there Spanish bottom in its waters, nor a Span
! | sh soldier on its land.
SEIZURE OF WAR POWERS BY OUR GOVERN
/ MENT.
All this is preliminary, although pointing thu
t way to just conclusion. 1t is only when w
enter into details and consider what has beer
done by our government, that we recognize thu
!, magnitude of the question. Unless the evi
dence supplied by the agents of our government
is at fault-unleSs the reports of the state de
partment and navy department are discredited
it is obvious beyond doubt, most painfully plail
and indsputable, that our government ha
seized the war powers carefully guarded by thu
constitution, and without the authority of con
gress has employed them to trample on the in
dependence and equal rights of two nations
cOequal with ours, unless to carry out this pro
Ject OF territorial acquisition you begin by set
ting at defiance first principle of internationa
law This is no haSty or idle allegation, nor il
r IL made without immeasurable regret. And thu
/. | regret Is increased nv ST pf fbi
e evidence, which is strictly official and beyonC
| all question.
: BAEZ, THE UsuRPER.
e In this melancholy business the central figur
S is Buenventura Baez, unless we except Presi
dent Grant, to whom some would accord tn,
place of honor. The two have acted together a
copartners. To appreciate the case and es
e pecially to comprehend the breach of publi
/. law, you must know something of the former
e and how he has been enabled TO play his part
3 Dominican by birth, with much of Spanisl
blood, and with French education, he is
cross where these different elements are some