Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-09-05
Senator Edrnuslti's Speech.


1t is singular that so many persons
have gone astray with references to this
San Damingo question, think you will
listen to me, on this question, without any
thought that am endeavoring to vindi-
cate myself, for I voted against its an
neXation. During our four years of war,
millions of dollars were expended in
transporting coal, because we had no
station where we could obtain supplies
in the West Indies. All were agreed
that we ought to have a station there.
Secretary Seward negotiated for st.
Thomas, and while the treaty was pend
ing before the Senate, a hurricane near
" destroyed the island and, with it, one
of our vessels. The treaty was of course
rejected Gen. Grant became President,
and an agent of San Domingo came to
him with proposals for annexation.
Suppose Gen. Grant had refused to re-
ceive the proposal and submit the prop
osition for consideration. What a howl
would have been raised. Gen. Grant
therefore sent Gen. Babcock, a son Of
Vermont, to San Domingo to report.
He came back and reported. The Pres
ident then negotiated a treaty and sub
mitted it to the Senate. He went first
to Senator Sumner, Chairman of the
Committee of Foreign Relations, to can
suit with him, as he had the COnstitu-
tional right to do. Gen. Babcock ac-
companied him. They found Sumner
at dinner with a friend. The President,
Gen Babcock and Mr. Summers friend,
all, unite in saying that Mr. Sumner
agreed to support the treaty in the Sen
ate. Mr.. Sumner himself admits that
he allowed Gen. Grant to go away with
that impression. Then Motley, who was
Minister to England, and who was
Summers personal, intimate friend was
removed, because he refused to obey
Secretary Fish's instructions in regard
10 negotiations relating to the Alabama
claims. This Sumner took as an act of
personal hostility; and opposition to the
President and San Domingo commenced.
The treaty was rejected, not because Of
anything that the President or Gen.
Bahcock had done. Your Senators voted
against it. because we did not think it a
proper time to admit this tropical coun-
try. Then n commission was appointed.
YOU know VINO they were They went
to San Domingo and reported there was
nothing wrong in the actions of Gen.
Grant or Babcock. One of that com
mission was Dr. Howe. the friend Of
Senator Sumner.
Raforo the war the Conth was an ,rfs-
tocracv. There were GREAT estates and
1arro landed nrorria+ors The neoroas
conId not bo odncotod and tbora rvora M
schools for the poorer classes, The re-
bpIlion broke this ND. Slavery was
abolished and the fourteenth and ff-
teenth amendments to the constitution
were adopted. In the reconstruction
laws. we required that a constitutional
provision should be made for sustaining
schools. This is the trouble at
the South now. Jeff Davis says they
must have restored to the South what
was lost by the baTonet. Ihcy must
wait for a split in the party at the
North, and take advantage OF 1t. This
brings US TO the Clncihnatl convention.
lhey adopted platform, 0ut 1t Is not
Republican platform. ask you is it
not transparent trick and a sham ?
They say they arc opposed to any re-
opening Of the Q"estj0ns aettle3 by the
18th, 14th and 18th amendments. But
10 they tell you what is settlcd3 Do
hey tell you these constitutional amend
nents are valid? All Of the Democrats
n Congress, I think there was not single /
exception. declined tovote thattheywerc
-aIid and q nart of the law of the land.