The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-29
Remarks Of Senators Morton and Howe in
Reply to MIR. Sumner.

In the Senate, tuesday, on the conclusion
OF Mr.. Summers remarks he was answered at
some length by Senator Merton. Unfortu-
nately we cannot tgive their remarks with
that fullness with which Senator Summers
foresight enables the press of the country to
prevent his effort. Here is the telegraphic
abstract of their remarks:
Mr.. Morton said that he did not propose to
reply to Mr.. Sumner at this time, as that
would require time aud preparation, but SIM
ply propose 10 show that the sole object OF
that Senator's elaborate speech was to charge
the President, and at least two members OF
his cabinet, with the commission of high
crimes and misdemean0rs. This was more
clearly shown by Senator's own express ad-
mission in the beginning of bis remarks, that
he did not propose to argue the question OF
annexation. He had presented an indictment
against the President, with many counts, but
it would be impossible to follow him through
this great mass of details, nor in his Nor
tons opinion was it necessary. He could
say that the most OF it was not unfamiliar 10
the Senate and no surprise. He Mortopl
had o argument to make .or or against San
Domingo either to-day or at this session. 1t
had )een decided, in order to settle the differ
ences OF opinion on the subject, to send
commission to the island who should report
to the country upon the propriety OF annexa-
ton and questions Herewith connected.
Though personally in favor of annexation, he
had agreed tc suspend his judgment until that
report was made. 1t had been thought best to
dismiss the matter from politics until that re-
port was made, but this course had Lot been fol.
lowed by some, though he had declared Tor
one his willingness to drop the subject if the
commissioners report was unfavcraoe Ger.
tain men had kept the question before the
country aud presented it constantly in an ex-
agserated aud distorted form, as # to antici-
pate the report and prejudice the public minc
against it. Whatever might be its char acter.
good taste and propriety required that the
Senator from Massachusetts should have de-
TERED his speech until the. report was made.
While he did not know anything of its char.
acter, he Mortonl felt confident that many OF
the charges against the President, and large
part of the Senator's speech, would be answer
ed by the report, and that the vindIcation of
the President, upon all the charges he made,
would be compete upon the statement of ali
the facts. We had heard to day of a war
made by the tsurpation of presidential power,
but alter all 1t was the most peaceful war ever
heard OF. Not gun had been fired, not an
act OF violence Committed upon single Hay-
tien, so far as the evidence went, and there
was no evidence Of the slightest complaint by
AAoyt's ANOt ouC WOiu vi COmptdlUI 0aS ever
come from that country, and it had remain
ed for the Senator from Massachusetts, TO
bring in a complaint. Mr. Morton then
bad read by the Secretary a dispatch to
United States Minister Bassett from the Hay-
ten Secretary OF Foreign Affairs, assuring
him that Hayti had no disposition or desire
10 interfere with the free will OF the Domin-
leans. As further reply TO Mr.. Sumner, he
reminded the Senate, as evidence, that the
administration had not proposed 10 take any
immediate action upon annexation; tn t the
commission had no power TO negotiate a
treaty, and that no one went with them who
could take si0gse step In that direction.
The Haytieu government, In violation OF the
laws OF nations. had given tree passage across
its territory TO Cabrai aud furnished him with
war vessels 10 attack Dominica, and the
United States had merely notified Hayti that
while our negotiations were pending with DO
mniea wecould noiIallow her TO make war on
the island. This the United States had an.
undoubted right to do, because our govern
ment bad Information OF organizations on
loot In Hayl 10 defeat annexation. No one
need tell him Mortonl that the SENATOR from
Massachusetts was q friend OF liberty or the
coiored m IN, when he so industriously spent
bis time 10 an effort TO put the Democratic
party in power. The senator could not
strike blow at The President without at the
same time striking at the Republican party.
Dir. Howe eitrd various historical instances
In which public men WHO bad been regarded
with universal esteem by their counlryrn.n,
had by subsequent acts, misguided zeal aud
passion, forfeited that confidence and relapsed
into obscariiy, or assumed positions at utter
variance with their former declarations. In
this connection, he referred to the prominent
inhuence OF ex-Secretary Seward, Chiei-Jus-
tice Chase aud Mr. sumner in 1861. The last
seen oil the first of this great triumviraie, he
bad turned his back upon the hopes, lessons,
and friends OF his better years, and acting as
master OF ceremonies In political pageant
wherein an itinerant President was the prin,
cipal figure. The second had employed the
authority at the great office Of CHIEF justice Of
the United States TO undo and annul the most
beneficial ACT of his civil administration, To.
DAY the republican party experienced some OF
that anguish which swellPd in the breast of
Cesar, when, having already been struck by
Casca Cassus, he saw the third dagger uplift-
ed by the hand of dear friend; then was
wrang from his agonized bosom the excama-
ton "Et tn, Brute!" tor today we had beard
the remaining member of that great triumvjr.
ale, that Senator who had so earnestly urged
upon reluctant Senators those frigid far-of re-
gions OF the north pole, now turning a deaf
ear TO The echo which brought pack bis own
exultant prophesy that our country could be
nothing less than the whole American CONT
nent With her gates upon all the surrounding
sea. Today the Senotor arose not only to op-
pose the annexation of an island at our very
doors, but denounced as criminal the Presi-
dent who had ventursd in the exercise of
strictly constitutional prerogative to advise lis
acquisition. He IHowel had sought the priv
leee OF entering an appearance here for that
llluslrlouS respondent; he would file no de-
marrer nor interpose any dilatory pleas, but
preferred general issue. At this point Mr..
Howe yielded for adjournment, when at s 80