The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-25
SUMMERS ARRANGEMENT OF
THE PRESIDENT
For Using the Navy to Threaten
HaYti.


to offer Thursday:
"Resolutions regarding the employment
Of the Navy Of the United States on the
coasts Of st. Domingo during the penden.
cy Of negotiations for the acquisition Of
part Of that island:
"WHEREAs, Any negotiation by one
nation with people inferior in population
and power, having in view the acquisition
Of territory, should be above all suspicion
OF Influence from superior force. And In
testimony to this principle Spain boosted
that the re-incorporation Of Dominica
with her monarchy in 1851 was accom-.
pllshed without the presence Of o single
Spanish ship on the coast, or Spanish
soldier on the land, all of which appears
IN olhctal documents; and whereas, the
United States being republic founded on
the rights OF man, cannot depart fruIm
such principle and such precedent
without weakening the obligations of jus.
tice between nations, and intliCting blow
upon republican institutions: therefore
I" "ReSolued, That in obedience TO correct
principle and that Republican institutions
may not suffer, the naval forces Of the
United States should be withdrawn from
the coasts of San Domingo, during the
pendency Of negotiations for the acquisi.
ton Of any part Of that island.
=" "RsSOIred, That since the equality OF all
nations, without regard to population, size
or power, Is an axiom OF international
law, as.the equality Of all men Is an Ak
iom Of our declaration Of independence,
nothing can be done to small or weak
nation that would not be done to large
orpOwerful nation, or that We would allow
to be done TO ourselves, and therefore any
treatment Of the Republic OF Hayti by tue
navy of"tho United States inconsistent
with this principle Is an infaactlon Of in.
ternational law in one Of It's great safe
guards, and should be disavowed by the
Government Of the United States.
RtS0lued, That since certain naval Off
GERS Of the United States with largo war
vessels, including the monster called the
Dictator and the frigate Severn, with
powerful armaments, aCtingInder instruc-
tions from the Executive, and without the
authority Ol an act OF Congress, have en-.
tered one or more ports Of the Republic
of Hayti, airiendly nation, and under the
menace OF open and instant war, have
Coerced and restrained that Republic In its
sovereignty and independence under inter.
national law; therefore, in Justice 10
Hayti, also In recognition Of It's equal
rights In tho family Of nations, and in
Difference to the fundamental principles of
our own Institutions, these hostile acts
should be dlsavowed by tho Government
of the United States.
lIeSOLred, That under tho c Constitution oil
the United States the power to declare
war Is placed under the safeguard Of an
act Of Congress, that the President alone
cannot declare war, that this Is q peculiar
principle Of our government by which 1t
Is distinguished from mOnafchial gov.
ernmont, where the power to declare war
as also the treaty.making power Is in the
executive alone; that in pursuance of
this principle the President cannot by any
oct OF Ills own, as by an unralihed treaty,
obtain any such power, and thus dlvest
Congress Of It's supreme control: and that
therefore the employment OF the navy
without the authority Oi Congress In acts
oI hostility against friendly foreign ma.
tiOn, or In helllgerent Intervention In the
affairs Of a foreign nation, Is an inGraction
OF the Constitution Of the United States,
and an assumption Of powers not confer.
red upon tho President
ResOlUed, That while the President,
without any previous declaration Of war
by act Of CongresEmay defend the coun.
try against invasion by foreign enemies,
he Is not justified in exercising the'same
power in a foreign outlaying island which
has not yet become part Of the United
States; that the title under an unsatisfed
treaty Is almost inchOate and contingent
while II Is created by Congress, and since
Il Is created by the President alone,
In which respect It differs from any such |
title created by Congress and since It Is |
created by the President alone without
the support Of law, whether in legis.
lation or ratified treaty, this employ.
ment Of the navy in the maintenance Of
the government, there Is without any eX.
cuse Of national defense, as also with,
out any excuse Of previous declaration
Of war by Congress.
ReSolped, That In any proceedings for
the acquisition oipart Of the island OF San
Domingo, whatever may be It's tempta-
tons Of soil, climate, and productions,
there must DO no exercise Of influence by |
superior force, nor any violation ofpublic |
law, whether international or constitu. |
tional, and therefore ihe present proceed.
ings, which have been conducted at great
cost Of money under the constant shadow
Of superior force, and through the bellig-
erent Intervention Of our navy acting In
violation Of international law, and initiat-
ing war without the authority of act of
Congress, must be abandoned 10 the end
that Justice may be maintained, and that
proceedings so hostile to correct princi-
piles may not become an example for the
future. .--.....
Resolped, That instead b seeking to &c.
quire part Of the island Of San Domingo
by belllgerent intervention, without the
authority Of an act Of Congress, 1t would
have been in better accord with the prin-
ciples Of our republic and its mission Of
peace and beaSficence, had our Govern
ment, In the spirit OF good neighborhOod
and by friendly action, instead Of belliger-
ent intervention, striven for the establish
ment Of tranquility throughout the whole
island, so that the internal dissensions Of
Dominica and It's disturbed relations with
Hayti might be brought to q close, thus
obtaining that security which Is the first
coalition of prosperity, all Of which being
in the nature Of good office, would have
been withgot any violation Of information
al law, and without any usurpation Of
wal powers under the Constitution of the
United States.