National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-01


a gallant officer because he knew that hs was
the Presidents beloved friend. Gen. Babcnck
was fully vindicnted by au investigation and
report from n select committee.
fhe public debate over Hatoh's case was
made the vehicle for most Violent abuse aud
untruthful statements concerning the nugOtia-
tOn of the treaty, oil for the purpose Of pref
udicing the public mind against the Presi-
dent, and thereby affecting the votes OF sen.
ators in executive session.
MIR. Sumner said June 8, 1870 "Sir, am
not prone to believe accusations. l hesitate
hero in giving credeuce TO this terrible charge;
but Il is known that this negotiation tof the
san Domingo treaty. hos for a long time been
than I shall venture to say from my seat the
country is excited; 1t is prone to suspect some
thing that is wrong, something rott5n."
BLAINE's SILENCE
Nothing OF all this is 10 be found In Mr.
Blaine's veraoious and impartial history. 1t
docs not comport with his desire TO make
fayor with the "llberals" that these blasting
from their sepulehor in the Globe. But un.
gracious Us mny be the task, II Is made neces-
saIy for the vindication Of truth. IL Is the
only way of refuting Mr.. Blalne's charge that
Sumner was injured aud prosecuted by Grant
q charge made directly against the facts which
he had before him. Investigation resulted In
proving that these assaults ON Grantwere men,
When Congress assembled, five months after
the rejection Of the treaty, the President dis.
cussed the San Domingo. question anew aud
subject by n commission. Congress author
lied the appointment OF such a commission.
But not without another violent debate, in
which Sumner gave entire vent to his rage,
and made the speech which Zach Chandler
characterized as brutal ASSAULT on the
President.
said oliver p. Morton:
"a series OF assaults have been made on the
President from time to time, ever since his in
auguraiion; scarce has one subsidized before
another has begun. And i think he has been
n hittprnngs IA
torrent of cnlumny that havenot been lavshod
upon any Executive of the United States per-
hnps since tho days OF Thomas Jefferson
Tho arrows. of calumny have fallen harmless
at his feet"
During The debate 1t was clearly established
That Mr.. Sumner gave the President to under
stand that the treaty would have his cheerful
support. Col. John w. Forney was present ut
the Interview and said of It afterwards, II was
present at Mr.; summers residence when Prcsi-
dent Grant called and explained the Domini-
can treaty TO the senator, and although can
not recall the exact words of the latterI under
stood him TO say that he would cheerfully sup
port the treaty. He further said that Mr..
Summers indorcment OF the treaty went far
to stimulate him IN the support he gave TO 1t
In the newspapers he was conducting. Gcn.
day from The President with the text Of the
| treaty, declared that he volunteered to say
| that he could not think OF doing otherwise than
| supporting the administration In this matter"
But instead OF supporting the administration
he made the treaty the point of attack upon 1t,
| and, as We have seen, conducted his opposi-
ton with Q virulence, which indicated per-
mination to blacken and destroy him If posi-
bic.
Said Senator Chandler: ut would hardly be
supposed from what fell from the lips of the
| senator from Massachusetts, to day that he was
the first senator consulted by the President
upon the subject OF the San Domingo treaty
| and yet such Is the fact; and he GER
tainly left upon the mind of the President tho
impression that he was favorably disposed to-
ward that treaty."
SUMMERS ADMISSION.
Mr.. Sumner himself in the open Senate, in
replying to this statement by Mr.. Chandler,
' "Tbe ef P;retldent Of the United States did me
the honor to call At my houss Ss was nearly
| ing into the room he alluded TO certain new
treaties already negotiated. I" lie pro-
ceeded with an explanation, which very
| soon interrupted, saying: BY the way, Mr..
| President, 1t is very hard to turn out Gen.
Ashley the governor of Montana). have Just
received letter from the governor, and hope
den IL nPi read S comhsnce rre the
letter and read two pages or more, when 1
| thought the President was uneasy, and felt
| that perhaps was taking too great q liberty
with him in my own house. but was lrresisti-
| bly, impelled by loyalty to an absent friend.
while was glad Of this opportunity Of divert
two treaties. one for annexation and one for
| the lease OF Samana)
Some would have regarded this as a broad
hint that the reinstatement of the absent
friend would be expected in return for sup
| port of the treaties. The President returned
| TO the treaties as soon as his host yielded
the floor TO him, and Mr.. Sumner thus states
"Niy reply was precise. The Language is
fixed absolutely In my memory. Mr. Presi-
| and whatever You do win always find In me
| the most careful and candid consideration.
These were my words, Ny language, repeat
was precise, well considered, and chosen IN ad-
| rance"
1t Is clear that he deliberately deceived his
| upsuspCcting visitor, and allowed him to send
In the treaty IN the belief that It would have
| his support IL was n snare OF words, which
| wns most discrediable to the man by whom
| 1t was set "in advance"
AN INFAMOUS CALUMNY.
Mr.. Sumner being confronted with an inter-
| view attributed to him in a Chicago newspaper
| two months old, denied Its correctness, but
said that portion Of 1t was substantially true"
| which reads thus;
why, friend OF mine, who has been down
| SANTANA Is staked OFF into lots and marked
Cazneau' and 'Bahcock and 'Baez,' and that
one or two particularly large ones are marked
And all this in an argument against the ap-
| pointment of q commission to investigate the
facts OF this very calumny among others.
Senator Edmunds, commenting on this out
| rage, said His knowledge OF human affairs
| is not SO small as to lead him to imagine that,
telling such tale as he now says he did tell,
| the world would not believe that he intended
| TO have II understood that the President OF the
| United States was corruptly interested in land
| grants in SANTANA"
GRANTS MEDICATION.
Congress authorized the appointment of the
commission, and the President appointed ex-
| Senator Wade, Of Ohio; Andrew ID. White, then
| president of Cornell University and DR.. Samuel
q. Howe, of Massachusetts, the near friend of
Mr.. Sumner. The commissioners, after In
| vestigation, unanimously sustained the Presl-
dent and completely yindicated him from the
| aspersionS Of his enemies.
In transmitting to Congress the report ofthe
commissioners, Gen. Grant said "Other emf
| commission in order that the people might
have the benefit of their views. Students of
| science and correspondents of the press with
out regard to political opinion, were invited to
Join the expedition, and their numbers were
limited only by the capacity Of the vessel"
1.-THE mere rejection by the Senate OF a
treaty negotiated by the President only indi-
Gates a difference of opinion. But
when such rejection takes place simultaneously
with charges openly made of corruption on
| the part OF the President or those employed
| by him, the case is different. Indeed in such a
case the honor Of the nation demands inyesti-
| CATION"
BLAINEs APOLOGY FOR GRANTS AssAILASr.
These "pcinted remarks of the President"
says Mr.. Blaine, "were understood as referring
to the speech made by Mr. Sumner upon the
resolution to appoint the commission, Then
| he gays "PuDlc opinion uld not Justify the
course OF Mr.. Sumner. II was regarded as an
exhibition of temper unworthy his high po-
sition, and his speech was distinguished by a
tone not proper to be employed toward the
| President OF the United States, But he had mol
| imputed, as Gen. Grant assumed, any personal cor
| rTptiOa 10 him. On the contrary he considered
the questionable course of Gen. Babcock 10 be
without instruction"
And pray what had Secretary Flsh's letter OF
| Instructions to Gen. Bnbcock 10 do with the
infamous accusation that Grant had corruptly
obtained lots on Samanabay2 And how could
| Gen. Grant truthfully assume that speech in
| print before him contained what II did not
contain Mr.. Blaine, in his great anxiety 10
shield Mr.. Sumner, for a purpose, accuses
| Gen. Grant of n,isrepresentlnga printed speech
| contain cd In that speech, with Tie comments
4 OF Senator Edmunds as TO the sole aud una
| NOldnble construction hnlnnplnp To it.