Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-30


exceptional and abnormal, being abso-
lutely without precedent But he con-
tinues even admitting some remote in
finitesimal semblance Of excuse or apology
during the pending Of the treaty, all
which I insist is absurd beyond question,
though not entirely impossible in quar-
ter unused to constitutional questions,
and needing them little. Conceeding
that the assumpsit inserted in the treaty
by the Secretary of State had deceived the
President into the idea that he possessed
the kingly prerogative of declaring war
at his own mere notion, and wishing to
deal most gently with an undoubted
usurpation of the kingly prerogative 80
long as the Secretary of State supplied
the formula, it is hard to hold back when
the same usurpation is openly promul-
gated. After the Senate had rejected the
treaty in which the exercise of the kingly
prerogative was founded, and when the
assumpsit devised by the Secretary OF
State had passed into the limbo of things
lost on earth. Here there is no remote
infinitesimal semblance of excuse or
apology. Nothing, absolutely nothing.
The usurpation pivets on nonentity, al
ways excepting the kingly power of the
President, which constitutionally is a
nonentity. The President has not even a
puff of air to stand on.
Mr.. Sumner here expressed the deep
regret with which he made the exposure,
but would protest and plead now, as often
before, for only justice and peace.
He concluded as follows: In the evil
dence adduoed I have confined myself
carefully to public documents, not travel
ing out of the records. Dispatches, naval
orders, naval reports-theso are the unim-
peachable authorities, and all these have
been officially communicated to the Sem
ate and are now printed on it's order, and
are accessible to all on this unanswerable
and cumulative testimony, where each
part confirms the rest, and the whole has
harmony of truth. present this trans.
erosion, and here, it is not who speak,
but the testimony. Thus stands the case.
international law has been violated in
two of its commanding rules-one secur-
ing equality of nations, and the other pro-
viding against belligerent Intervention.
While distinctive fundamental principle
of Constitution, by which the President
is deprived of a kingly prerogative is dis
regarded-and this very kingly preroga-
gative is asserted by the President-this
is the simplest statement. Looking still
further at the facts, we see that all this
great disobedience has for its object the
acquisition of an outlying tropical island,
with large promise of wealth, and that
in carrying out this scheme our republic
has forcibly maintained a usurper in
power that he might sell his country,
and has dealt blow at the independence
of the black republic of Hayti, which
being wrong to that republic, was an
insult to the African race. And all this
has been done by prerogative alone, with
out the authority of an act of Congress.
If such transaction many heads in
wrong can escape judgment, it is difficult
| to see what securities remain, what other
sacred rules of international law may be
violated, what other foreign nation may
not be struck at, what other belligerent
menace may not be hurled, what other
prerogative may not be seized. Never
before has there been such Presidential
intervention in the Senate as we have
been constrained to witness. Presidential
visits to the capitol with appeals to Sem
ators have been followed by assemblies at
the executive mansion, also with appeals
to Senators, and who can measure the
pressure of all kinds by himself or agents,
especially through the appointing power
all to secure the contamination of this
scheme. Thus do we discern in the acts
of the President, whether on the coast of
San Domingo, or here at Washington,
the same determination with the same
disregard of great principles as also the
same recklessness towards the people of
Hayti who have never injured us. In
view of these things the first subject of
inquiry is not of soil, climate and the pos.
sibility of weather, but the exceptional
and abnormal proceedings of our own gov
eminent Before concluding treaty to
any question of acquisition, we must
at least put ourselves right as nation,
nor do see how this can be done without
we retrace our steps, oonsenting to acts in
subordination to international law and
the Constitution of the United States.
Therefore, on the question of acquisition
I say nothing to-day-only abiding to
some Of the questions involved. Some
| times it is insisted that emigrants win
hurry in large numbers to this tropical
island when annexed, and thus swell its
means-but this allegation forgets that
according to the testimony of history,
peaceful emigration travels with the sun
or parallels of latitude following the leo
thermal line and not turning off at right
angles, whether north or south. Some
times it is insisted that it will be better
for the people of this island, if annexed to
our Republic, but this allegation forgets
the transcendent question, whether it is
better for them, better for the African
race, better for its civilization that the
black Republic should be absorbed out of
sight, instead of being fostered into sue
oessful example of self-government. for
the redemption of the race not only on
the Caribbean Island, but on the continent
of Africa. Then again arises that other
question whether we will assume the
bloody hazards involved in this
business as it has been pursued
with the alternative of expenditures
for war ships and troops, causing the
most painful anxietiea, while the
land of 7oussdjnt L Oogerture listens to
the constant whisper of independence and
there is still that other question of debts
and obligations acknowledged and unac.
knowledged with an unwise claim by
Hayti, and unsettled boundary, which l
have already called bloody law suit.
These questions l state only, meanwhile
to my mind there is something better
than belligerent Intervention and acts of
war, with the menace of absorption at
untold cost of treasure. 1t is a sincere
and human effort on our part in the spirit
of peace, to reconcile Hayti and Domin-
lea and establish tranquility throughout
the island. Let this be attempted and
our Republic will become an example
worthy of its name and of the civilization
which it represents, while republican in
situations will have new glory. The
blessings of good men would attend such
an effort, nor would the smile of heaven
be wanting, and may we not Justly ex-
pect the President to mite in such a
measure of peace and good will. "He
that ruleth his spirit is greater than he
that taketh city"
And 80 the President ruling his spirit
in subsection to the humane spirit in in
ternational law and the constitution of
his country will be greater than if he had
taken all the islands of the sea.
Had the President been SO inspired as to
= O.