Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE,


WASHINGTON, March 27--Long before
the hour of meeting the galleries and cor
ridors leading to the Senate were densely
crowded by an immense audience, eager
to hear the speech of the Senator from
Massachusetts,, who had been announced
to address the Senate on San Domingo.
The diplomatic and ladies galleries were
almost entirely monopOlized by the fair
sex. At II O'Clock the spectacle was one
of the most anima,ing ever seen in the
Senate Chamber. Summers appearance
on the floor was welcomed by the galleries
with applause. Upon the conclusion of
the reading of the journal Mr.. Sumner
took the floor, and asked for reading of
the resolutions recently submitted by him
against the use of the United States ma
val forces to uphold Baez in his attempt
to sell his country, in violation of its
constitution, threatening the integrity and
existence of the friendly power of Hayti.
He then submitted and had read by the
secretary an additional resolution, as fol-
lows
Resolved, That whatever may be the
title to territory under an unratitied
treaty, it is positive that after failure of
the treaty in the Senate, all pretext of
title has ceased, SO our government is in
all respects stranger to the territory,
without excuse or apology for any inter-
ference against its enemies, foreign or
domestic, and therefore, any belligsrent
Intervention or act of war on the coast
of S IN Domingo, after the failure of the
Dominican treaty in the Senate, is an un-
authorized violence, utterly without sup
port in law or reason, and proceeding
directly from that Kingly prerogative
which is disowned by the Constitution of
the United States.
Mr.. Fenton called attention to the fact
that in the pressure to gain admittance to
the galleries, hundreds of ladies had been
excluded. He therefore moved that the
cloak rooms and corridors in the rear of
the Senate chamber be opened for their
accommodation. There being no Objec-
ton, the Sergeant-at-Ar was directed
to carry out the motion as the order of
the Senate.
Mr.. Thurman hoped that the Senator
from Massachusetts, Mr.. Sumner, would
not be interrupted at the expiration of
the morning hour, but would be allowed
to proceed regularly. 1t was so ordered.
summers Specch-Grant Has not a
Puff of Air 10 stand upon.
Mr.. Sumner then arose and addressed
the Senate at length, speaking from the
seat of his colleague, Mr.. Wilson. Among
the prominent officials who came into the
chamber during the delivery of the speech
were Judges Davis, Miller and Bradley,
Of the United States Supreme Court Sec
retary Robson, Postmaster General Cres
well and Gen. Sherman. Nearly all the
members of the House of Representa-
tives were on the floor. There has not
been so large a crowd in the Senate cham
Der by far since the Impeachment trial.
during the delivery of the speech Mr..
Summer was listened to with extraordinary
attention, and every word uttered by the
Senator was received in respectful and
almost breathless silence, with occasional
half subdued manifestations of applause
in the crowded galaries. The assertion
that the President in bis usurpations had
not even a puff of air to stand upon, aud
similar passages apparently suggested upon
the spur of the moment outside of the
manuscript of the speech were followed
by very audible murmurs of applause.
Mr.. Sumner proved that Davis Hatch
had been imprisoned by Baez to keep him
from interfering in the negotiations for
annexation. This was with the conni-
vance of Babcock. Gautier, the Minis
ter of Baez, so wrote to our Consular
agent al San Domingo aud the statement
was sent to the State Department. MIR.
Casan also avoWed that such was the rea-
son of Hatch's imprisc nment and justified
it on the ground that Baez had the right
and ought to do everything in his power
to eerve and protect the negotiations in
which our President Grant was so deeply
interested. In September there was dan
ger of all outbreak in San Domingo and
troops were sent to support Bsez from our
fleet. Many other proofs are afforded by
the documents that nothing but the armed
force of tbe United S3a,es has sustained
Baez. In February, 1870, Admiral Poor
appeared with the Dictator and Severn at
Port au Prince and declared if any attack
should De made upon the Domincans,
meaning those under Baez, during the
said negotiations, under the Hayten or
any other flag, it would be regarded as
an act of hostility to the United States
flag and would provoke hostility in re-
turn. Such was his language.
Referring to the Presidents anxiety for
annexation, Mr.. Sumner said:
Never before has there been such a
| Presidential intervention in The Senate as
we have b-cn constrained to witness.
The Presidents visits to the Capitol with
ape sls 10 Senators, have been followed
| by assemblies at the Executive Mansion,
also with appeals 10 Senators, and where