Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-31
sU.u.vBR's s.f.V' DO.uI.vGO
SPEECH.

Unsuitable means which have been resOrted
to in the name of our government to pro-
mote annexation. On this question Mr..
Sumner speaks with the learning, ability
and thoroughness which he always brings
to bear upon subjects of international law;
and the importance of tho issue at stake,
as we'll as his own reputation, entitle him
to a candid hearing by all parties. Those
who anticipated that his speech was to be,
or to embody, a personal assault on the
president, find themselves mistaken. 1t
is true he considers the course of the pres
ident illegal and wrong, but he does not
step aside from the severe logic of his arg
ument to make use of any epithets calcu-
lated to wound tho feelings of any man,
unless II be those of President Baez of
Dominica. In this general respect the
speech will he very gratifying to the friends
of the Senator, while it will strengthen its
influence upon public opinion.
After a few preliminary remarks appro-
pirate to the occasion, Mr.. Sumner narrates
how he became interested in the aspect of
the question he now discusses by examining
the papers sent into the Senate in connec-
nection with the first treaty for the annex
alton of San Domingo-a treaty, as he sue
cinctly states, which was "a contract OBJ
tanned through a ruler owing power TO our
war vessels" Seeing that force and mem
ace were the agencies apparently relied up
on, he began searching the official records,
until all the facts were obtained. An illus
tration of different national procedure
in which the utmost fairness of choice was
Iac 10 10 to "A
ish history, and is contrasted with the ar
ray of twelve war ships with which the
United States Government backed up its
attempts at negotiation. An instructive
English precedent is also cited. Thence
Mr.. Sumner turns to the history of Baez,
showing him to be usurper, and tending
to show that he had about cached the end
of his career but for this support, accorded
by our authorities. He also quotes from
the Constitution of Dominica that "nether
the whole nor any part of the territory of
the Republic can ever be alienated." His
next point is that the presence of our navy
in the waters of Hayti and Dominica was
"war'-which is the name for the employ
ment of force by one nation against
another or in the affairs of another. His
proofs under this head are twofold-those
derived from the State Department and
from the Navy Department. Whatever
difference of opinion may be cherished
with regard to Mr.. Summers definition of
war, there can be none as TO the volumin-
Gus proofs he gives respecting the precise
course our navy was to pursue-that is, it
was to uphold Baez and repel Haytien at
tack, if necessary, during the process of
negotiations.
The last general division of Mr.. Sum
ner's argument unGolds the great princi-
| pies violated by this belligerent interven-
! ton. In the first place it is at variance
with the general principle of the equality
of nations; Hayti being an independent
republic on n level with our own as to all
international rights and secondly it vio-
lates the acknowledged principles of inter-
national law as laid down by the best au
thorities. Finally, in thus assuming to
make war without the joint action of Con-
gress, the president of reunited State4
practically usurps war powers contrary to
the constitution. Mr.. Sumner carefully
examines this point, and seeks to distin-
guish the present case from those in our
past history which have been thought to re-
semble it. He closes as follows:
| In view of these things the first subject
of inquiry is not soil, climate, productive
ness, and possibilities of wealth, but the
exceptional and abnormal proceedings of
| our own government. This inquiry is es-
sentially preliminary in character Be-
| fore considering the treaty or any question
of acquisition, we mast at least put our
selves right as a nation; nor do l see how
this can be done without retracing our
steps and conserving to act in subordna-
ton to International Law and the Consti-
tuition of the United States.
Therefore on the question of acquisition
/ say nothing today, only abiding TO GER
| tain points involved. Sometimes it is in
sisted that emigrants will hurry in large
numbers to this tropical land when once
annexed, and thus swell its means but this
allegation forgets that, according to the tes-
timony of history, peaceful emigration
travels with the sun on parallels of latitude
and not on parallels of longitude, mainly
foil ow ing the isothernal line and not turn
ing off at right angles, whether north or
south. Sometimes it is insisted that 1t will
be better for the people eff this island if an
| nexed to our republic but this allegation
forgets the transcendent question, whether
| it is better for them, better for the African
race, better for civilization, that the Black
Republic should be absorbed out of sight,
instead of being fostered into successful
example of sci i-government for the re-
| dam pfiOn of tln only tlp Ca
ribbean islands, bat on the continent of
Africa. Then, again, arises that other
| question, whether we will assume the
bloody hazards involved in this business,
as it has been pursued, with the alternative
of expenditures for war ships and troops,
causing most painful anxieties, while the
land of Toussaint L'Ouverture listens to
the constant whisper for independence
And there is still that other question
of debts and obligations, acknowledged
and unacknowledged, with an immense
claim by Hayti and an unsettled bounda-
ry, which l have already called a bloody
| lawsuit.
These questions state only. Meanwhile
to my mind there is something better than
belligerent Intervention and acts of war
with the menace of absorption at untold
cost of treasure. 1t is a sincere and hui
name effort on our part, in the spirit of
peace, TO reconcile Hayti and Dominica,
and to establish tranquility throughout the
island. Let this be attempted and our re-
public will become an example worthy of
its name and Of the civilization which it
represents, while republican institutions
have new glory. The blessings of good
men would attend such an efforts nor
would the smile of heaven be wanting.
And may we not justly expect the presi-
dent to unite in such measure of peace
and good will? He that ruleth his spirit