The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-04-21
THE GREAT RADICAL SPLIT /!


THE GREAT RADICAL SPLIT!
Synopsis Of Hon. Charles Summers Great
Speech in the United States Senate, Mon
day, March 9th, on the San Domingo
Question.
Sumner in his opening paragraph
definitely asserts that there is now in
evidence before the Senate that the
navy of the United States, acting un-
der orders from Washington, has
been engaged in measures 1of yio-
lence and belligerent Intervention /;
Being war without authority of Con-
gress. The whole business, he adds,
il aggravated, when it is considered
that the declared object Of this vio-
lence is the acquisition Of foreign
territory-being half an island on the
Caribbean Sea; and still further that
this evidence has been employed first
10 prop and maintain q weak ruler,
himself usurper, upholding him in
power that he might sell his country,
and secondly, it has been employed
to menace the black republic OF
Hayh. Such q case, Sumner con-
tinues, is too grave for silence. For
the sake Of the navy, the administra-
ton and republican institutions, and
for the sake Of the Republican party,
which cannot afford to become re-
spensible for such conduct, the case
must not then pass without inquiry.
But beyond all these considerations
there is commanding rule OF jus
tice. The question il not whether
the acquisition Of San Domingo is de-
sirable, but whether we are justified
in the means employed toaccomplish
this acquisition, and evidence now
before us shows but too clearly that
means have been employed which
cannot be justified. He had sup
posed that the proceedings regarding
tho treaty for the annexation was
blameless until, while pending before
the Secretary Of State brought him n
number Of dispatches, among which
was one from our Consul Agent there,
from which it distinctly appears that
Baez, while engaged in selling his
country, was maintained in power by
the navy Of the United States.
Other evidence has been accumu-
lated to show that we were engaged
in forcing upon weak people the
sacrafice Of their country. The State
Department also contained q record
disgraceful, intolerable and deplora-
Bile.
Unless the reports Of the State and
Navy Department are discredited, it
is obvious beyond doubt that our
government has seized the war pow
ers, carefully guarded by tho Consti-
tuition, and without the authority of
Congress; has employed them to
tramnle on the equal rights n two
nations with ours.
The Senator then characterizes
Baez and Grant as co-partners in this
melancholy affair, and carefully re-
views tho history Of the former and
his unscrupulous usurpation; he re-
cited the origin of the scheme Of an
nexing half of the island, which is
generally known. Quoting the ex-
clamation of the Duke of Wellington.
"There can be no such thing, my
Lords, as little waf." The Senator
asserted that there may be a war
without battle, and SO far our navy
has, thus far, conquered without q
shot, but its presence in Hayti and
Domingo was war. He then minute
ly reviews the testimony to this effect
furnished by the State and navy de.
partments; from which it appear.
that the very agent who signed the
treaties officially reported that the
usurper was officially maintained il
power by our guns. But interyen
ton in Dominica was only one par
of the story, even according to th'
reluctant confession of the navy de
partment. In the effort to secure th'
much coveted territory, our govern
ment, not content with maintainin.
the usurper Baez in power, and oc
cupying the harbors of Dominica witt
war ships of the United States, sen
other war ships, being none othe
than our powerful monitor, Dictator
with the frigate Severne as consort
and with other monitors in thei
train, to menace the black republic Q
Hayti with an act of war. An Amer
ican Admiral was found to do thi
thing, and an American Minister
/ himself of African blood, was foun
to aid the Admiral. The dispatch Q
the Secretary Of State, institutin
I this act of war, is not communicate
to the Senate, but we are sufficient
enlightened by that Of Bassett. Ou
minister at Port an Prince, who VI
der date of February 17th, 1870, il
forms the State department in Wasf
ington that he had transmitted I
the Haytien government notifcatio
that the United States asked
and expected them to observe strit
neutrality in reference to the intern'
affairs of San Domingo. The assau
upon the independence and equalit
! of the black republic, Sumner add
appears more fully in the report {
the navy department. which Is an o,
: thentic record of the acts, fagral
and iudefensible.
i Sumner proceeds to show that tn
i conduct is gross violation of the il
ternational law and the constitutio