Worcester daily spy., 1871-03-23
Why.Do sennIors wand


For some reason not explained, an influential
portion of the senators have steadily opposed all
attempts to bring the present session of con-
gress to a close. Some members of both houses
always oppose the adjournment OF a session.
But to these have now been added others who
appear to have some special motive for prolong-
ing this session; therefore, every resolution of
the house fixing time for adjournment, has
been laid on the table in the senate At the
ssne time, there is no desire to undertake gen.
eral legislation, and no reason for doing This.
The only important matter that has engaged at
tention is the proposition to pass some addition
al act against the kuklux assassins; but neither
the senate nor the house has been able to de-
Vlse any measure which a majority can accept
= Constitutional; and it is now understood that
Z no such agreement can be reached. Neverthe-
Jess, the session is prolonged, and the senators
summarily reject every motion to adjourn it.
What does this mean?
1t is probable that portion of the senators
who vote against adjournment are walting to
take up the San Domingo question. They have
expected an early return of the commissioners;
and the haste of Mr.. Wade to leave the island,
which appeared within two weeks after his ar
rival there, indicates that there was some I'M
derstanding on this point. At any rate, the
commissioners will soon be in Washington,
with such report as the limited time of their
investigations allows to be possible 1t can not
add much to our knowledge of San Domingo,
although we hope it may furnish something ad-
ditional in regard TO the Dominican debt. Of |
course it will be printed; but it will not be |
q treaty, and there is nothing yet to show how |
the question will be presented to the senate or to
congress, in order to secure the action necessary
TO consummate the work of annexation. 1t is
impossible to explain why certain senator's have
so persistently opposed adjournment, if they |
have not waited with an understanding that
such action on the San Domingo question will
be required.
II it be true that certain senators have waited |
for the San Domingo question, we may expect
to see it introduced very soon after the commits
sioners make their report. 1t has been sug-
gested that the question may as well be disposed
of now as ever; and there is force in the sug-
gestion. If the question could be SO effectually
settled as not to return again and vex the
country, something would be gained. 1t would
be out of the way, and be no longer used TO in
cite controversy. But, when the senate killed
it, at the last session, it Immediately came to
life again, and caused more excitement than
ever before. Should annexation be again re-
fused, would the San Domingo question disap- |
pear2 Would negotiation with Baez be dis |
continued Would San Domingo come again |
demanding another vote2 If SO, voting it down |
now will not get the question out of the way;
and waiting to act on it at the present session,
will be time and money wasted. In any case, it
will be wise to postpone Baez and San Domingo
until our kuklux assassins and other disorgan.
izers have been properly taken care of.