The New York herald., 1871-03-28
WASHINGTON.
The Great Debate in the
Senate.
Senator Summers Review of the
st. Domingo Question.
President Grant Arraigned for Violations
Of International Law.
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Political Effects Of the Grant
Sumner Quarrel.
~>~-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radicals Attempting to Read Sumner Out
Of the Republican Party.
The Presidents St. Domingo Ku
Klux Campaign.
The Presidents st. Domingo Ku
Klux Campaign.


Crowds at the Capit0l-EverybOdy Anxious
to Hear Mr.. Summers Speech st. Do
mingO-P Olitiral Effect Oi the Speech-At-
tempt to Read the Massachusetts Senator
Out of the Republican Party.
81. Domingo again. Whatever may be said OF IL
In other parts of the country, 1t unqCestionaby
the leading issue at tho Capitol. No recital OF Ku
Klux outrages real or imaginary, eXces the inter-
est or commands the attention OF debate upon St.
Domingo. 1t is not, perhaps, much st. Domingo
itself, or the proposed annexation OF 1t 10 the
United States as the manner in which the Presi
dent has gone about the business. Summers
speech to-day was more an argument to prove that
the President had violated the laws Of nations and
the constitution of the United States attempts
to annex Dominica than an arraignment OF the
policy of annexation. Certain Senator'S are endea-
v0ring to create the impression that Summers
speech IS attack upon the republican party ana
new attempt to rend it asunder. On the other
hand, however, Sumner asserted his unalterabls
allegiance to the republican party. The effect or the
speech will undoubtedly to demoralize the Grant
wing Of the republican party, especially those who
have tried to persuade themselves into the belief
that the annexation OF Dominica Is party measure
and should be advocated upon party grounds.
II was announced some days ago that Mr.. Sumner
would deliver his speech at the earliest opportunity.
The fact that he had obtained the floor on
Saturday for to-day was generally known through
out the city. Public curiosity had been aroused by
the accounts which have appeared In the news
papers for some weeks past to the character of
the speech. 1t was believed In many quarters that
it would be personally abusive OF the President;
that Sumner, smarting under the recent
action of the Senate In removing HIM, as he
believes, at the instance Of the President the
craftsmanship OF The Foreign Relations Committee,
would pour out all the vials OF his wrath upon the
President. The Presidents friends in The Senate
expected this, and they intended to point TO 1t as
justification OF the action OF majority OF the repub
lcan caucus In removing Sumner from the Foreign
Relations Committee. Whatever may have been the
original intention OF Sumner IN this regard there
was nothing Of 1t in his speech
Long before the assembling OF the Senate there was
crowd at the Capitol such customary in old
impeachment times. Avenues corridors, galleries,
lobbles, every place, there was q jam OF men and
| women, all bent upon nearing Sumner. The Massa-
chussets Senator made his appearance in the Senate
Chamber few minutes before twelve. At that hour
there was no standing room In any part OF the
Chamber open to the public. As ne entered he was
greeted with slight outburst OF applause but he
paid no attention to 1t. After the Senate was called
to order the crowd seemed to increase. There
was a continual surging OF the masses in
the corridors who could not get into the already
Overcrowded galleries. Thousands who had no
hope OF getting within hearing distance OF the
Senator fingered in the passages around the Senate
in the expectation of filing any vacancy that might
present itself. In this condition of affairs Senator
Fenton OF New York, the most amiable man in the
Senate, arose, and asked unanimous consent to
admit ladies TO the CLOAK rooms and l0bbies OF
the Senate. Nobody was found so ungallant
as to object to this. In q few minutes the cloak
rooms overnowed with ladies. and finally they occu-
ad 70 o0nf fha AOOr Of fha in tho
west doors, and, indeed, wherever they could find
| standing room. Catacazy and nearly all the men,
'bers OF the diplomatic corps were on the noor of
| the Senate, which was very much crowded with
members Of the House Of Representatives. Old ha-
! bttues or the senate say there has been
| no such audience to listen to a speech in many
| years. Sumner began to speak at quarter after
| twelve. He spoke from the seat Of his colleague,
| Senator Wilson, Immediately In front or his own
desk. Schurz occupied seat his right, and i'm.
| mediately surrounding him were Wilson, Logan,
FentOn and Ex-Governor DennlsOn OF Ohio. Back
upon sofa, in Summers rear, SAT Brlgadier Gene.
raj Frederick A. Dent the only member OF the Pres
| dents official household present. When Sumner in
| describing the character Of Baez alluded to the
nepotsm Of that ruler and spoke OF his appointing
his brothers and brothers I'M law to office, there was
perceptihe litter ran through the chamber. Dent
seemed TO see the point, for he, too, smiled.
Sumner had the undivided attention of the an
dience ana the very general attention OF senator's
Roscoe Conkng, who sat to the left OF Sumner and
Edmunds who sat In front OF him. seemed to be un-
usually busy writing letters. They were not so busy
however but that when Sumner would come to
some strong point In his speech they would turn to
their neighb0rs and make some comment upon It,
Conkllne very persistent In his letter writing
The general impression that he embraced the oc.
caslon to answer all his correspondents,
whose letters would probably never have
been answered but for the lucky event OF
Summers speech. But after two hours
OF aborlOus effort to make himself obivIOus to the
scene around hum. the blonde Senator abandoned
the attempt He next engaged In conversation with
Senator Carpenter, SO loud to interfere with
Sumner. The latter ceased speaking, and the Vice
President called Conkling to order. THIS was re-
peated several times, to the intense disgust OF sum-
ner and the large audience who had come TO hear
him. not gaze upon the faultless form OF Mr. ConK-
ling, perambulatng through the Senate Chamber
Edmunds was very uneasy in hiSseat after he had
got through his letter writing; finally he took up his
hat and went out. Returning again soon after, he
engaged In conversation with Conkling and Car
penter. This was too mucn for Sumner. He stopped
suddenly and begged that the Senator from Vermont
would not converse in so loud tone. The Vice
President called Edmunds to order and had read the
second rule OF the senate, winch prohDitS senators
from talking while Senator is speaking This set
tied the business and sumner was allowed to pro-
ceed without further interruption.
Just as he finished the arraignment OF the Navy
Department for the part II has taken IN this business
or annexation, the bury form Of Secretary Robson
appeared In the east door. Robson had no idea OF
the Indictment preferred against him, and he looked
as innocent as lamb Further on in the speech he
got an idea OF how he had transgrcssed International
law, but he either failed TO comprehend it, or else he
didn't realize Its magnitude for he appeared quite
unconcerned. General sherman came In soon after
Robson, aud attentive listener to the latter
part OF the speech. Summers description Of
General Babcock as the "Young Missionary Com
modore gseaipoteutiaryn created good deal Of