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

AN ABSTRACT OF THE SPEECH oF HUN
CHARLES SUMNER IN THE SENATE OF
THE UNITED STATES ON MONDAY,
MARCH 28TH.
Long before the hour of meeting the
galleries and corridors leading to the
chamber of the Senate were densely
thronged by an immense audience, eager
to hear the speech Of the Senator, on San
Domingo. The diplomatic and the ladies
galleries were almost entirely monopo-
lized by the fair sex. At IL o'clock the
spectacle was one of the most animating
ever witnessed in the Senate chamber.
Mr.. Summers appearance on the floor was
welcomed by the galleries with applause.
Mr.. Sumner in his opening paragraph
definitely asserts that ii Is now on EVIL
dence before the Senate that the navy OF
the United States, acting under orders
from Washington, has been engaged in
measures of violence and beligerent inter-
vention, being war, without the authority
Of Congress. The whole business, he adds,
Ia aggravated when it is considered that
the declared object of this violence is the
ACQUISITION of foreign territory, being
half an island in the Caribbean sea, and
still further that this violence has been
employed, first, to prop and maintain
weak ruler, himself usurper, uphoiding
him in power that be might sell his coun.
try, and secondly 1t has been employed to
menace the black republic of Hayti. Such
a case, Mr.. Sumner continues, Is too grave
for silence. For the sake Of the navy, the
administration of Republican institutions,
and for the sake of the Republican party,
which cannot afford to become responsible
for suoh conduct, the case must not pass
without inquiry; but beyond all these
considerations is the commanding rule OF
Justice. The question is not whether the
ACQUISITION of San Domingo Is desirable
but whether we are justified in the means
employed to accomplish this acquisition,
and the evidence now before us shows too
clearly that means have been employed
which cannot be justified. He had sup.
posed that the proceedings regarding the
treaty for annexation were blameless un.
til, while it was pending before the Sem
ate the Assistant Secretary of the State
brought him a number Of dispatches,
and among which was one from our con-
sular agent there, who signed the treaty
of annexation, from which it distinctly
appeared that Baez while engaged in sell
ling his country was maintained in power
by the navy of the United States. Other
evidence was accumulated to show that
we were engaged in forcing upon weak
people the sacrifice of their country. The
State Department and the Navy Depart
ment each contained a record of the dis
graceful, intolerable and deplorable pro-
ceedings, and still they pressed the con.
summation. The story of Naboth's vine
yard was revived. Mr.. Sumner then en-.
tered into legal Argument, and cites pre-
cedents to show that a contract for the
cession of territory must be without the
presence of superior force, and alludes
to the fact that the recent returns of the
Navy Depart ment show that the whole
island has been beleagured by our navy
sailing from port to port, and hugging
the land with its guns, and unless the re-
ports of the State and Navy Departments
are discredited it is obvious beyond q
doubt that our government has seized the
war powers, carefully guarded by the
constitution, and without the authority OF
Congress has employed them to trample
on the independence and equal rights OF
two nations co-equal with ours. The
Senator then charaoterizes Baez and Grant
az co.partners in the melancholy affair,
and carefully reviews the history of the
former and his unscrupulous usurpation,
reoites the origin of the scheme annexing
the half island, which lie generally known,
how the President selected young officer
inexperienced in life, ignorant of the
world, untaught in Spanish language
IMMERSED in international law, knowing
absolutely nothing of intercourse between
nations, and unconscious Of the constitu-
ton of his country, to answer the cry for
assistance of the usurper, who termed
himself the Grand Citizen. He wished
be could say something better of Gen
Babcock, but if be spoke according to the
evidence OF his own lips the portraiture
would be painful. Sparing details, 6
treaty was signed by which the usurpel
pretended to sell his country to the Unit,
ed States, in consideration of ST. 100000
also another treaty, leasing the Bay Of
SANTANA for an annual rent of $150,000
The latter sum was paid down by the
young plenipotentiary, or $lO0,0Oo cash
and $4,000 in muskets and in battery
No longer able to protect the donblooni
of Spain, the usurper sought to pocket
our eagles, and not content with muskets
and battery to be used against his in
dignant fellow countrymen, obtained the
navy Of the United States to maintain
him in his treason. 1t was plot worthy
OF the hardened complicator and his well.
tried associates. The case was also fur.
Their aggravated by the open infraction OF
the constitution of Dominica, with which
1t proceeded.
Mr.. Sumner then repeated the allega
tions in former speech that Baez was
maintained in power by our navy, to ena
BILE him to carry ont the contract with
Babcock, and that to assure this sale
Hayti was violently menaoed by orr feet
and presented voluminous documentary
official evidence to sustain them. Quot.
ing the exclamation of the Duke of Vel
lipgton, "There can be no such thing
my lords, as a little war;" the Senator
asserted that there may be war without q
battle, and so our navy thus fer has con.
quered without firing q shot, but its pres-
ence in Hayti and Dominica was war.
He then minutely reviewed the testimony
to this effect furnished by the State and
navy departments, from which it appeared
the very agent who signed the treaties
officially reported the usurper was main.
tanned in power by our guns. But, he
continued, Intervention in Dominica is
only one part of the story, even according
TO the reluctant confession of the navy
department. In the effort to secure the
much coveted territory, our government
not content with maintaining the usurper
Baez in power, occupying the harbor OF
Dominica with war ships of the United
States, sent other war ships, being none
other than our powerful monitor Dictator,
with the frigate Severn as consort, and
with yet ether monitors in their train. to
menace the black republic in Hayti by an
act of war. An American Admiral was
found to do this thing, and an American
minister, himself of African birth, was
found to aid the Admiral. The dispatch
OF the Secretary of State instructing this
act of war is not communicated to the
Senate, but we are sufficiently enlight-
ened by that of Bassett, our minister res.
ident at Port Au Prince, who, under the
date OF February 18th. 1870, informs the
State Department at Washington that he
had transmitted to the Haytien govern.
ment the notification that the Tinted