Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-01-18
Our Washington Correspondence
WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. IA, 1871.

The Senate resolution LOT COMMISSION 10 |
90 to San Domingo, came up in the House
Monday as was expected. The galleries
were crowded, and prominent gentlemen en-
titled to the privileges of the floor filled all
the vacant space on the floor of the House.
The especial champions of annexation were
out in force. Secretary Robson represented T
the Navy Department, Gen. Sherman the
Army, Gen. Porter the Executive, Mr.. Cres-
well the Post Office Department while Sen
ators Conkling, Carpenter, Cameron, Stewart |
and others from the other wing OF the Capt. /
tol .. took hand - as lobbyists, in the
game Most of these gentlemen were busy
informing members who were not supposed
to be entirely settled in their own minds how
to vote, confirming the wavering, bringing up
the stragglers, and encouraging and aiding
the friends of the proposition. Two inefect-
ual attempts to take the Senate bill from the
Speaker table failed for want of the requi- /
site two thirds, but finally after two hours
skirmlshing and an agreement that what IS
known as the Amber amendment might be
voted upon, the resolution was taken up for
consideration. The Amber amendment pro-
vides that nothing contained in the reso-
/ luton shall be held, understood OF construed
as committing Congress TO the policy Of an
nexing the Republic of Dominica to the
United States" Fernando Wood of New
York finished the day with a speech, occupy
/ ing an hour, against the resolution. Tuesday
the floors and galleries were more crowded
| if possible than the day before The debate
was limited to ten minutes speeches. The
real fight was on the Amber amendment.
/ Gen. Butler, Judge Orth, and the champions
Of annexation generally, earnestly opposing
I it, while Gen. Farnsworth and others favored
] it, Both Butler and Orth insisted that
vote for the amendment was a vote against
the administration, and Butler cracked the
administration whip in his peculiar style to
the manifest terror of the timid members
who always want to draw in the administra-
ton harness. When the vote was taken,
however, forty-eight Republicans voted for
the amendment, and 1t was adopted by
mojority of thirty. On this vote nearly all
the New England Republicans voted for the
amendment, AMI 1t was adopted by majority
! of 80. On this vote nearly all the New
/ England Republicans voted for the amend
ment. The resolution then passed, only six
| Republicans voting against it, viz Peters Of
Maine, Hoar of Massachusetts,, Willard Of
Vermont, Beatty of Ohio, and Boyd and
+ Finkelnburg of Missouri. Several Republi-
cans declined to vote. All the Democrats
voted in the negative.
Tbo canaroI was rhpr nd
now that the passage Of the Amber amend
ment was decisive Of the fate of annexation
on direct vote in other words, there were
not seventy members of the House, last
Tuesday. prepared 10 vote for annexation.
SENATOR soHUEz's SPEECH.
The resolution as amended was at once
taken to the Senate, where Senator Sumner
/ Immediately got the floor and made a short
speech against the whole project. The Sen
ate then agreed to take the vote at four
o'clock the next day and adjourned, thus
avoiding night session, and doubtless also
avoiding a scandalous exhibition Of bad man
ners and bad temper like that shown in the
night session on the same subject before the
holidays The principal feature of the de-
bate Tuesday was the speech of Senator
Schurz, who spoke for nearly two hours.
His speech was evidently very carefully pre-
pared and much of it appeared to be written,
although he was not at all closely confined
to his manuscript, Il nd some of his finest and
most effective passages were evidently ex-
temporaneous. lie was frequently inter
rupted by Senators Morton, Carpenter, Stew
art, Warner, and other friends OF annexation,
who sat uneasily under the powerful argu-
ment of the Senator from Missouri. The
speech was a profound, philosophical and
comprehensive discussion Of the questions of
race, climate and institutions, involved in
this proposed annexation of a tropical coun-
try. His conclusion was that neither the
Anglo Saxol race nor Republican institu-
tions. as we understand them, would ever
find successful career in the tropics, and
that while our country might safely take in
peoples at the north of us we had gone
far south already as could with safety.
The whole speech was a wonderful exhibition
of forensic eloquence. Philosophy, history,
political economy, the broadcast statesman
ship, the most comprehensive culture, the
most perfect command of the English Ian
guage, and the eloquence that has not the
glitter of tinsel but rather the richness of
FURNISHED gold were illustrated in his speech.
The floor was filled with those who had the
privilege of it, and the galleries and even
the passages and doorways were thronged
with eager listeners and he held their un-
divided attention till the close. That any
man could make such a speech is almost
wonderful that foreigner who learned
our language after he entered upon public
aff4irs should thus hold the attention Of an
Englsh-speaking audience in the United
States Senate is truly amazing.
Senators Sumner, Morrill, and Patterson
would have spoken against annexation if
there had been time. After the debate
: closed the House amendment was adopted
without opposition, and the resolution went
to the President.
TIE COMMISSION.
The President has appointed on this COM
4 mission ex-senator Wade of Ohio, Prof An
drew White of Cornell University, and Dr.
is. G. Howe of Boston. Hon. Allen g.
Burton formerly United States Minister to