Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-05
me DEHATR on ruEsDAY.

TIE DEBATE on TUESDAY.
Upon the expiration Of the morning hour. the
Senate resumed consideration Of the unfinished
business Of yesterday, being the resolutions Of
! Mr.. Sumner on San Domingo.
Mr. Howe OF Wis, who was entitled 10 the
| door, continued his reply to Mr.. Sumner In gen
eral denial of the latter's accusations he con-
tended that, instead ofattemptng 10 sell his coun
/ try, as charged, Baez has furnished an example
worthy oil imitation IN subordinating his person.
al aggrandizement as n ruler to bringing peace TO
] his country by annexation. The proposed sale to
Z the United States instead of being in violation of
the constitution Of Dominica. is in direct accord
ance with 1t, because the transfer 10 be made was
not an arbitrary direction to that government
hut IN deierence to the popular will of that coun-
/ try. The United States is bound under the law
OF nations and by clause of the original negoti-
alton, 20 insure the preservation of peace between
llayti and Dominica, and notification 10 that
effect was not more uniriendly to Hayti than to
any other nation, Tor it was addressed 10 the
world at large. In conclusion, Mr. Howe con-
tended The mission Of the republican party is
not ended, and would beseech the man who
would engage IN its destruction to take his posi-
tlon with the common enemy, and not, Judas
Ike stab in the back the party to which he pro-
tesses 10 belong
Mr.. Frelinghuysen Of n. j. after a eulorv on
the services Of Gen Grant to the country in its
darkest hour Of peril, said that this was the
man upon whom all the ytuperatiye adiectyes of
the vocabulary were heaped lie then inquired for
what purpose the Senator from Massachusetts
mad precpltatcd this discussion in advance of the
report OF the commission, from which alone Con.
gress and the public could form a correct iudp-
ment
Mr.. Summer said that, if the Senator desired
1t, lie would answer now The Senator from Wis
cousin (Alr, llowe) had complained because he
had brought this matter forward the Senator
(Mr. Frelinghuysen) because he did not nostnone
n. lAnmnprl kNanIH oh ,.rIa 4 -
Senator, but of his own heart. knowing that
there was system Of lawessness on the coast of
San Domingo under the direct order of the Presi
dent of the United States, he felt it his duty 10
expose 1t. There were some cases in which ex-
posures were sufficient, and he felt that this was
one, and that the American people needed only 10
see the wrong to apply the remedy.
Mr., frellnghuysen, as sufficient answer 10
Mr.. Sumner ; structures upon the course of the
Secretary OF the Navy. had read from the desk the
dispatch from that official to Admiral Lee.
REMARKS OF SENATOR scHURz.
Mr.. Schurz of Missouri then took the aoor
lie did not think that the report of the commits.
sion, which had just returned from pleasure
Jaunt 70 San Domingo, would prove very inAuen
tlal, either IN the Senate or before the country.
Tor he thought that the treaty had already been
effectively disposed Of The Senator from Wiscon.
sin (Mr. Howe) had displayed wonderful knowl- |
edge Of ancient and modern history and not con- |
tent with destroying Caesar, Cassius and promi |
nent men OF our own time had merciessly used his
hatchet upon the Senator from Massachusetts,.
The senator's purpose was to show that publio
men had not declined in popular estimation until
they had manifested symptoms Of their own mem |
tai deterioration, but in this matter the tronble
was not 50 much the want of mental strength ON |
the part OF the Senator from Massachusetts. as il
was want OF moral strength on the part of many
other Senators. II it was proven that orders had
been igsupl Ia vol T..
laton OF the constitution, then something more
than mere rhetorical tourishes about Gen Grants |
services or about those of the Secretaries of State
and the Navy would be required 10 answer the
proof Mr. ochurz proceeded to argue that, un-
der the constitutional clause vestng in Congress
the war making power, the executive could not
commit an act OF war unless in case of the actual
invasion OF territory of the United States. or Inv
express congressional authority The instrnc
tons OF the President to our naval force, direct.
ing them, IN certain contingencies, to fire upon
the vessels OF iiayti,-a power with which we
are AT peaee,--was most clearly a usurpation of
the war making power.
In reply to queries of Messrs Howe and Stewart
as to whether discretionary power was not vested
in the President, Mr.. Schurz added that if those
Senators would turn to the debates of the Senate
IN February, 1853, they would find that President
buchanan had asked Tor discretionary power to
protect our citizens in transit over the istbmus of
Panama, and that the Senate had indipnantly
refused 1t. Ii was most audacious to contend
for that was the logic of it-that the President
had the power 10 steal the war-makinp mower
away from Congress. The fact was that Presi-
dent Grant had fallen into the mistake of sun.
posing that he was the United States of America
The doctrine that the President could commit bel
Iigerent acts without the authority of Congress,
ind give as an excuse for il the condition of
things in iiayti and Dominica, was the most
ABSURD mischeyous and anti-republican doctrine
ever advocated on the floor of the Senate. When
such doctrine was boldly enuncated, il had 10
DO sli1ed TO the bottom. II smacked very strongly
81 what was called in France " personal govern
nent' ihe Senator from Massachusetts (hIr.
had been complained of for bringing the
matter to the attention of the Senate, but in his
lSchuns) opinion be deserved the gratitude of
the whole country for so doing. But the sun.
Dorters OF the President seemed to have admitted
The constitutional argument to be against them
md they had fallen back, as last resort. upon
he weak and dangerous support of precedent,
The only one referred TO in our own history was
hat OF the acquisition of Texas during the admin
stration of John Tyler, and when John O.
calhoun was Secretary OF State. Tho Presidents
ase was indeed desperate one when his apoi.
slsts sought refuge 10 such company. But Tyler
md Calhoun asked to be excused from their !