The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-08-24

ably lead to the annexation of the American
tropics down TO the Isthmus Of Darien. This
would give US a population of the LaIin-Indian-
African mixture, which has nothing in common
with us; that would promise prospect of sue
ccSslul assimilation with our political system.
We would gain countries, beautiful indeed. but
under natural influences which, far, have
nowhere permitted the growth of free institu-
tlons with my guarantee of stability in them;
| countries whose possessions would be the
| source of inca;uablc difficulties, military gov
| ernment, corruption and decentralization of
every kind. We would buy another South i'll
addition to the one which already gives us 80
much trouble, and that second South would be
Infinitely worse. Our powers, our development,
our destiny are in the temperate zone, and here
must he the centre OF our empire. The anneXa :
ton Of the tropics would be like purchasing
handsome garment with the infection of the
| smallpox IN it. But | desire only to discuss
the constitutional aspect of the business. Well
| then. In the summer of 1869 the President
! negotiated two treaties with Buenaventura
| Baez, the Chief of the Republic of san Domin-
! go, one of which provided for the annexation OF
the territory of that Republic to the United
States, and the other for the lease Of the Bay OF
| SANTANA, part of that territory. The latter was
| intended to be considered If the first failed.
| This the President had, according to the Con
/ stltutlon, perfect right to do. But neither OF
these treaties was valid, according to the Con
Sttution, unless consented to by the Senate Of
the United States. 1t was believed that the Re
| public of san Domingo threatened with
Warlike invasion by the neighboring Republic
of Ilayti, and also that Baez, who originally had
! obtained possession of the Government by usIr-
| patton. was endangered IN the possession OF The
| Government by revolutionary movements car
| ried on by citizens OF San Domingo These
! circumstances threatened to interfere with the
| annexation scheme of President Grant. 70
| avert this danger zen Grant ordered the naval
| officers commanding war vessels of the United
| States TO proceed to san Domingo, and il Baez
| waS interered with ina Warlike manner, either
! by any foreign power or bv tellow-citizens Of
| his own To CAPTURE or DESTROY anv hostile force
| on tie sea- and to protect BaeI with the whole
power of the United States at their command.
! Iii other words the President ordered the navy
! of the United States to commit acts Of war in 81
certain contingency eypecting that contingency
to happen, against Il power with whom the
| United States We're at peace-and he did this in
| the face of that provision of the Constitution
which invests the Congress of the United States,
and not the President with the power to declare
war Senator sumner and myself assailed this
act of the resident aS a fanrant usirpalion Of
thc most impnrtant mowers of Congress; and,
| indeed the more carefully hav. studied TINS
question in aI its aspects the ceeper has BE-
come my conviction that bv this aet
r,,,, c,,>.,,.r.r,-,.,,,> - :, , ,.>. ,-, .r,,,,
-''' - wa i''' @ '''-'> '''N '-'
Ill ohe Oh IT'S most Nltal .lhlhelpeN, aug thal
hothlnS III any utSFtr 10 DE compared With thls
| W't Oh uSurpatloI mas ever happened IN ule
whole history OF thIS repuohr. Oniy look at IT,
| lhe power TO declare war, Is ny the COnslllu-
tioh delegated TO Congress ana not 10 the fresi-
ueht anu lhlS 1of the simple reason that the
| peace OF the country should not be the l0ot-bali
OF Il single Individual ambition, ana that war
WIN It's SacfllceS ana misery should not he en-
| tMed upon the people except ny tlis action OI
Tue representatives oil the people. II the
! language oil the Cohsulutloh, that congress
| shall nave lhe power 10 declafe war; means
anything; If it Is not mere morkerv, 1t must
mean that the Executive, the President, shall
nave no power To initiate war, 10 make war,