Year: 1871




to bring the session to close, in order
that they may go home Having disposed of
the annual appropriation bills and having
voted the needful right of way, public lands,
&C., to the Southern Pacific Railroad, the last
OF the Pacific through lines, and having pro-
vided new election law and funding sys-
tenn, very few. even of the republicans OF the
House or the Senate, can understand why they
should longer be detained in Washington.
| The President, however, from the executive
| programme in hand looks at this matter OF an
adjournment in totally different light. The
Joint High Commission is in session, and
upon international questions of great magni-
,tude its action within month or two may
| require the presence of the Senate The st.
Domingo investigating Commission may within
o month return to Washin ton with report
on annexation, suggesting the expediency of
immediate action on the part of both houses;
and from the Daren exploring expedition we
may soon have report so favorable touching
the discovery of an interoceanic canal route
as to justify some special legislation, with
liberal appropriations from Congress.


With regard to the Joint High Commission,
the fisheries question presses upon it for imme-
diate action. The fishing season is fast
approaching, and it is desirable to avoid the
''little unpleasantncsses' which occurred last
summer between our Yankee fishermen and
her Britannia Majestys provincials of Nova
Scotia, Cape Breton island and Newfoundland,
in reference to the headland rights and the
privileges of batting and drying the fish.
Rather than submit any longer to the petty
| annoyances and the seizures, conhscations and
| exclusions which they suffered last summer,
the fishermen Of Cape Cod are prepared to
| fight for their rights" and General Butler Is
pledged to back them up in Congress. 1t is
| understood that the Joint High Commission
will proceed at once to the settlement of this
| a separate treaty upon this simple subject, in
order that it may be ratified as soon as posi-
BILE. Here, then, is a matter which may
require the presence at least of the Senate in
April Ali the other subjects with which this
Joint Commission are charged will probably
be adjusted early in June, and justice to our
citizens concerned in those Alabama claims
may require some early action from both
houses on the comprehensive treaty stipula-
tions which are expected and which will no
doubt be adopted.


The ST. Domingo Commission, under the
resolution of Congress, are charged to inquire
into the political and financial condition of the
republic Of Dominica, and into the popular
sentiment down there on annexation, and as to
the population and the sanitary condition of
the island and its storms and earthquakes, and
as to its agricultural, mineral and commercial
resources, capabilities and advantages, and so
on; and upon their report Congress is to act
upon the question Of annexation. The Com
mission will probably return in May; for we
think they will hardly remain on the island till
June, and their report will doubtless be in favor
Of annexation on the general terms proposed
by President Baez, as a great bargain in one
of the very richest pieces of tropical real
estate that is to be found on the face Of the
globe. Unquestionably in this enterprise the
President desires that Congress shall strike
while the iron is hot, and SO if the two houses
are not in session with the return of the Com
mission from the island he may call them
together We think he will hardly hesitate,
or ought to hesitate, upon this matter, if with
ar enthusiastic report from honest ''Old Ben
Wade" he can present to Congress glowing
report from Commander Selfridge of glorious
route discovered for cheap throughout
Darien ship canal. In this connection the
magnificent island of st. Domingo, begin
ming with the mixed republic of
will be very cheap acquisition upon the
terms suggested The jobs of the spectators
concerned can be cut down to reasonable
margin, and as to the dangers of war with
Hayti, the coa-black end of the island, that
is al moonshine. Fred Douglass, Sr., and
Downing, the oysterman, with fair contin-
gent fund, can settle it with those warlike
| Haytien nggers in three days in favor of an
ncxation.


Behold, then, the magnificent Presidential
programme Of General Grant embraced in
| these three grand ideas-.he Joint High Com
mission, the 81. Domingo Commission and the
Darien isthmus canal route exploring expedi-
tion. A magnificent programme, indeed, for
it contemplates-frst, a settlement in q solid
treaty Of peace Of all our outstanding accounts
| against and differences with England; Sec
ondly, the acquisition Of the richest of all the
West India islands, capable Of supplying the
whole population Of the United States with all
they want and all they may require in the
prime articles Of sugar, coffee, chocolate the
finest tobacco and tropical fruits and spices Of
all kinds; thirdly-and this is the grandest
idea of all-in connection with the halfway
house of St. Domingo ship canal across the
isthmus Of Darien, which will bring the bulk
Of the trade of the West Indies and of Central