ANNEXATION OF SANTO DOMINGO.
SPEECH
HON. JUSTIN S. MORRILL,
OF VERMONT,
DELIVERED
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
APRIL i, 1871.
WASHINGTON:
F. & J. RIVES & GEO. A. BAILEY,
REPORTERS AND PRINTIRS OF THE DEBATE8 OF CONGRESS.
1871.








ANNEXATION OF SANTO DOMINGO.
Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. Mr. Pres-  as those employed in the message; but it is
ident, let me say in the outset that the message  my purpose to touch upon only a few of the
from the President, accompanying the report  points there and elsewhere so strongly urged.
of the commissioners, has my cordial approval.  In doing this, however, I shall be frank and
If a partisan press has heretofore assailed his  earnest. Less than this would neither be
character, that, in the face of the report, will  truthful to the State I in part represent nor
be no longer possible. The President wisely  respectful to the Senate.
remits the question to the voice of the people,    The report of the commissioners may speak
and stands, as at his inauguration, with no  well of the climate because, in five weeks, it
policy to enforce against their wishes. This I  never hurt them; favorably of the soil because
regard as an end of a vexed question; and I  it really produces bananas and pine-apples,
should not have trespassed upon the patience  never seen in Ohio, New York, or Massachuof the Senate only that I think it just and fair  setts; slightingly of the iron, copper, and gold
that some of the reasons for regarding the  mines, as they had annihilated "distance,"
annexation of Santo Domingo with disfavor  the only thing that "lends enchantment to
should be allowed to have utterance at the  the view," and the inhabitants may not have
same time with the dissemination of a report  been aware that they were expected to produce
which is likely to attract more or less the  anything valuable of this sort; despondingly of
attention of the country.                   finding coal at Samana, where there is only a
Mr. President, differing as I do from the  poor show of lignite; but the report will be
President as to his Santo Domingo policy, it is  well sprinkled with salt-Syracuse must look
only just to say in the outset that I have ever  after its saltness-and yet it will be found
freely accorded to him the credit of being  neither more exhaustive nor reliable than a
actuated by the purest motives in whatever he  large number of works from the hands of imhas done to promote the swift accomplishment  partial travelers who have heretofore visited
of annexation.  In his methods he may have  the island and devoted far more time to the
committed errors, but his intentions, I feel  investigation of facts. Their report may be
confident, will bear the scrutiny of the final  faithful as to what they saw, but it cannot
Judge of all men. Let those who have done  supersede authorities of equal character and
truer and braver work for their country, if any  much larger opportunities, and will be chiefly
such there be, assail President Grant, but as  valuable for vindicating, what needed no vinfor me I hold no title to give point to any sen-  dication, the personal integrity of the Presitence with the purpose of inflicting a stab upon  dent and that of the gallant young officer
his reputation.  All parts of his late annual  charged with negotiating the defeated treaty.
message were able-most of it exceedingly sat-  ANNEXATION FINAL-DIVORCE FOREVER IMPOSSIBLE.
isfactory to the country-but there was no part    A treaty, or joint resolution, of annexation
of it more elaborate than that touching Santo  once made and adopted must be final and irrevDomingo. It is a subject deserving serious  ocable. However sad and long the train of
examination, and I wish an answer might be  evils succeeding, there is absolutely no remedy.
made in terms as terse and of equal clearness  Divorce is impossible. After the Missouri




4
pours its muddy flood into the Mississippi, the  the filibuster Walker; first in Sonora, Lower
ather of Waters never again recovers its ori-  California, then in Nicaragua, where at last
ginal purity, but rolls down its whole course in  he was driven into Rivas, and, taking shelter
a foul, discolored, and turbid condition, until,  on board the United States sloop-of-war St.
through a half dozen wide-gaping mouths, it  Mary's, was brought to New Orleans, but only
disembogues into the great Gulf below. Let  to receive sympathy, and not punishment, for
this West India stream of annexation but once  his. piratical achievements.  Mr. Buchanan
pour its foul current into the history of the  was loud in deprecating such crimes, but could
United States, and its polluted track will be  find no authority for punishing the criminals.
visible for all coming time, or so long as the  But when Walker, in 1860, struck at Honduras
Union shall be preserved from the great gulf  he was captured and met the fate he had so
below.                                        long deserved.  His acts, nevertheless, inefThe annual message of the President brought  faceably stained the character of our country.
into one golden sheafthe heads of a large num-    With Paraguay we had some difficulty, ten
berofargumentsinbehalfofSantoDomingoan-  years ago or more, which caused us to send a
nexation, strong enough to stand while closely  formidable naval expedition there with threathuddled together, but doomed to bend and fall  ening demands.  Will she ever forget or forone after another when standing alone and  give us?
examined separately and apart, or when the    Our attitude toward Cuba has frequently
rhetorical band holdingthem so snugly together  put our relations with  Spain in jeopardy.
has been once broken.  The task of dealing  Sometimes we propose to buy it at a great
with the whole of these state-paper suggestions  price, and sometimes our private citizens prowould be an inviting one if assertions could be  pose to take it by force at their own risk and
as briefly refuted as they can be briefly made.  expense.
" There is but one God, and Mohammed is his    In 1860 we withdrew our minister from Peru
prophet" is quickly and stoutly said; and while  in consequence of the seizure of two Amerithe first branch of the proposition receives uni-  can vessels which were illegally loaded with
versal assent, the last, though incredible, has  guano at an island from which the Peruvian
to be refuted by the tedious processes of facts  Government did not permit it to be exported
and arguments.  I shall undertake to grapple  to foreign countries.  Peru has paid no damwith what may be considered the most material  ages, and loves us little.
argumentsin behalf of Dominican annexation,    Only recently, while Brazil was at war with
as well as a few of those requiring, it may be,  Paraguay, the passage of the American gunsome patience to consider, but patience only  boat Wasp up the Paraguay to bring away the
to refute.                                    American minister, Mr. Washburn, was reA BULLY AMONG REPUBLICS NOT LOVED.       fused, and thereupon General Webb demanded
Our reputation among our sister republics in  an apology at a fixed time or he would close
America is not wholly unblemished, nor is it,  his diplomatic relations.  The Brazilian GovI fear, likely to grow brighter by the history of  ernment sullenly complied, but our repeated
the Santo Domingo complications. Not that  offers thereafter to mediate in the war against
we have in our foreign relations always been  Paraguay were steadily declined.  Such kind
in the wrong, but that we seem to have pos-  offices, it is humiliating to admit, would be
sessed a wonderful aptitude to get embroiled  accepted by Brazil or almost any other Amerwith weaker nationalities. All remember the  ican Government with more alacrity when tencircumstances of our troubles with Mexico, or  dered by European nations than if tendered
of her troubles with us. We tord from her side  by the United States.
the large State of Texas, and when she pouted    This unpleasant recital might be continued,
about the extravagant boundary claimed we  but is not this enough to require a little more
declared that war existed by her act, and  circumspection on our part, and to see to it,
fought bloody battles for three years to make  while we submit to nothing wrong, that we
her surrender and sell two or three more large  do not carry ourselves like a bully among little
States; but the wounds of poor Mexico have  nations?
been bleeding ever since, and if we are looked  The annexation of Santo Domingo, whether
upon with any favor, it is when in comparison  of spontaneous origin or nursed by the miliwith the French.                             tary, naval, and financial power of the United
Then, in 1852, Greytown, the principal port  States, cannot fail to excite the jealousy and
of one of the republics of Central America,  fear of all the American republics. The Uniwas bombarded and burned by a naval force  ted States will be the great land-shark of the
of the United States, on the flimsy charge that  continent, whose friendship entices only to
its inhabitants had infringed the rights of the  devour and whose anger can only be appeased
transit company. No reparation on our part  by destruction.  Our neighborhood, instead
has ever been made for this wanton and brutal  of being one of cordial sympathy and support,
exercise of power.                            becomes one of apprehension and danger to
Soon after this commenced the career of  all inferior independent Governments.  May




5
not any official, who can obtain nominal su-  lately in rebellion would seem to be to suborpremacy in the government of his people,  dinate the black man, intellectually as well as
count on the flag and the Treasury of the   politically, and to give him no means of supUnited States as an ally whenever he is ready   port except in accordance with compacts to
to betray and sell his country? The American   which he is not an equal party.  Under a sysRepublic should be the protector, the coun-  tem like this millionsof freedmen maycontinue
selor, and guide of all her sister republics,  to have their ancient ignorance fostered and
and not a ravenous beast of prey.              perpetuated and the prospect of making them
If our natural growth prior to our late war  intelligent citizens, enjoying the protection of
excited the envy and distrust of the aristocracy   of our Government-if they can be said to enjoy
of England and France, because, as they said,  it-and giving in return a full equivalent therewe were becoming too arrogant and aggressive,  for, will not very speedily be realized.  The
can we not be  content therewith without  result is that the master race, embittered by
seeking extraordinary accessions to our'bulk,  defeat in the recent conflict, studies political
and such accessions, too, as will be far more  revenge for the future,. and the freedman is to
likely to contribute to our downfall than to  be kept in such poverty and ignorance as to
ourup-building? The natural growthofa free  make him  of little value to himself and of
country must be respected, be let alone, and   still less to his country.
will receive the universal admiration of free-    These may be unwelcome truths, but if their
men, but a forced or artificial growth is not  verity is undeniable, prudent statesmanship
only often circumvented, but nearly always a  requires that we should not be deluded by the
positive calamity.                            vain idea that the consequences may be avoided
ARE OUR PEOPLE NOW HOMOGENEOUS.         by denial or by silence.  The risks of the future
It is useless to disguise the fact that the  ought nottobe multiplied, though allthe ragged
people of a portion of our present territory   and fugitive kingdoms of the world should seek
have not become assimilated with the Ameri-  annexation to us and show an eagerness to
can people and American institutions, and the  undertake their part of the risk. There are
time when they will do so must be computed,  but few of even the brightest spots on earth
not by years, but by generations.  To say  which under any circumstances would be acnothing of our lately acquired Siberia, cor-  ceptable to us, and none that should be urged
monly called Alaska, it must be conceded that  by any appliances of the Treasury or Navy.
Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and that portion   We desire to retain the prestige of teaching
of Texas bordering upon Mexico are yet not  nations by our example how to govern themonly essentially un-American, but they have no  selves, rather than to imperil our own existence
overwhelming  attachment to our form  of  byattemptingtogoverntheincapables, whether
government nor to the Anglo-Saxon race.  near or remote, upon fat soils or lean.  We
Their first love was of a different complexion.  cannot confer freedom  upon any foreign peoIf the strong arm of the United States should  ple, much less upon a people who have not
at any time become weak, it would'receive  earned it, nor have the sense and energy to
no succor from theselocalities, (the conspicu-  accept it. Freedom is the reward of merit,
ous acquisitions of manifest destiny,) but their  and not a subject of commerce or charity. At
population would at any time, most likely,  home we may make freemen of slaves or savflock to the banner of any cocked-hat revolu-  ages, but they will be so nominally only, retionist. Their civilization is at variance and  quiring the protection of older freemen until
not in harmony with our own.  Having little  they have been educated up to the point of
commerce and almost wholly  destitute of  appreciating their new privileges.  Meanwhile
educational institutions, they are making no  they must be objects of solicitude, to some
advances in the arts or sciences, literature or  extent of weakness and of increased expendipolitics, and are neither better nor worse than  ture.
they were years ago. It is certainly a matter        BAY OF SAMANA A COSTLY ELEPHANT.
to be regretted that any portion of our Union    One of the arguments in behalf of annexashould seem to lag in the rear of the highest  tion is that we need the bay of Samana as a
type of civilization, but it must be a sorry con-  harbor for the protection of our commerce.
solation to them or to us to add to the Union   Why do we need it?  Certainly not for a coalstill darker patches in order to give to the  ing station unless we first carry coal there.
places indicated the conspicuous advantages  Santo Domingo embraces the easternmost part
of a contrast.                                of the island, far beyond St. Thomas, Cuba,
It is also to be apprehended that the late  and Jamaica, and almost entirely outside of
masters of the emancipated race in the south-  the ordinary routes of commerce, with the
ern States will make few sacrifices for the en-  Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean sea
lightenment of that race or do anything which  on the other. Even the steamships for Aspinwill elevate the colored people above depend-  wall pass west of Hayti, and of course far out
ence. The unflinching policy of all the States  of the way of Samana, which is six degrees




6
east of New York. The trade of Vera Cruz  to be again apprehended and provided for,
and the Gulf States passes between the Florida  and if it were to be apprehended, future traiKeys and Cuba-being much the shortest dis-  tors might be expected to obtain quicker and
tance-and, when returning north, of course  easier possession of Samana-like another
all vessels seek to secure the considerable  Norfolk-than of Mobile, Pensacola, Savanadvantage of the Gulf stream. The perils of  nab, or Charleston.  Samana may be safely
foreign ownership of the West India islands  dismissed with the rebellion, and with it the
have not hitherto crippled American shipping,  countless millions of expenditure which a great
and are not likely to embarrass it in the least  oceanic naval station would involve.
hereafter.  No trade passing to Louisiana,    But it is insisted that we want a naval station
Texas, or Mexico would for a moment call at  in the bay of Samana for the security of our
the bay of Samana, lying easterly and far out  commerce. The baselessness of this assumpof the way, while the "Windward passage"  tion will be further seen from the fact that we
also lies west even of Hayti and east of the  have, and can have, but the merest pittance
most easterly part of Cuba.  Only the "Mona  of commerce which can ever display itself
passage" lies east of Santo Domingo, and  in that- harbor. It all goes and must go furthe commerce taking this route is mainly that  ther west or further east. To reach Samana,
small amount which goes in the direction of  even the trade which now goes nearest must
Venezuela.                                    sail two hundred and forty miles out of the
The fact that the Tennessee, sent out on a  way to reach this out of the way station, and
national mission, with five hundred men and  then sail back again two hundred and forty
nine alert newspaper reporters on board, was  miles-making in all a voyage of four hundred
as much lost to the world for the long period  and eighty miles-to no purpose; for when
of thirty-three days as though she had been  Samana is thus reached the only business is,
navigating in the open Polar sea, exhibits in  and would be, to get away, as the bay is as
the strongest light the absence of trade and  empty as that part of the Lake Gennesaret,
ships in the route to Samana, and also its  where Simon Peter and his partners, James
useless remoteness as a harbor for us or any  and John, toiled all night taking nothing.
other nation. The bay, too shallow for ships  Besides, if a harbor were needed, unless we
even of the second class, like the Tennessee,  were at war with Hayti, there are other harto approach within three miles of the shores to  bors far more convenient near at hand-Goreceive coal, and proverbially unhealthy, offers  naives, St. Marc, Port au Prince, and, if not at
no protection whatever to American shipping  war with Great Britain, there is a fine harbor
interests.  Whenever those interests may need  directly in the route of commerce, at Kingston,
protection, it will be only in time of war, and  Jamaica.  It is not likely we shall be at war
none but active cruisers, ships of war not afraid  with either of the countries named, certainly
to venture forth out of harbors, would there be  not with both, unless we should ourselves inof any service. A navy cooped up in the bay  spire the cause by an act of petty larceny, and
of Samana and defended by powerful shore  be caught with Santo Domingo in our pockets.
batteries, might be out of the reach of an  If we merely want harbors for peaceful coinenemy, but it would be of no value to any  merce they are to be had for nothing, ever
exposed commerce. Vessels of war go forth  gratuitously open to our use.
to fight, not to seek shelter.                  Before we can possibly need a naval station
If we need a naval station in the West  at Samana we must build up commerce there,
Indies, do we not need one much more in  and then create a naval fleet to be placed
the Mediterranean?  Really we need nothing  there for its protection; a course not unlike
of the sort anywhere. The Algerine and other  that of the boy who buys a dear purse before
pirates on the coast of Africa have seen some- he has anything to put in it. We have no cornthing of the American Navy, and will not be  merce now in Santo Domingo; but it is assumed
likely to forget it. Commerce is as safe there  that if we only provide for its protection,
as in Chesapeake bay. In the China seas or  though it would need no such protection if we
Japan there is far more reason for a naval  had it, that it would spring forth as miracustation than here at home, where we have on  lously as the gushing water from  the rock
our own shores any number of good and safe  touched by the rod of Moses. Our greatest
harbors, and which are more formidable to a  foreign commerce is with Liverpool, and yet
foreign enemy than Samana could be made by  that port is three thousand miles away from
an expenditure of millions. The acauisition  any naval station of the United States.  it is
of Samana bay was originally based upon a  quite apparent, if we are strong at home, that
supposed necessity discovered by Secretary  our flag alone will protect us anywhere abroad.
Seward, and which really temporarily existed   Respect is inspired by the banner which repduring a time when all of our southern har-  resents power in reserve, rather than by a few
bors were held by rebels; but no sane man  guns floating in distant seas, and which could
can suppose such a condition of affairs is  not float whenever a larger number of hostile




7
guns appeared.  National plunderers, as well  Hayti, possesses. Now is the most propitious time
as private corsairs of the ocean, have disap-  for negotiation.
peared before the march of modern civiliza-    " Salnave must have money, and a gift of a wornpeared before the march of modern civiliza-  out monitor or two would hasten matters.
tion, and treaties of amity and commerce now    "While my short stay in theisland will not permit
guard the trade of the world.                 me to speak with authority, it is my individual
Can it be pretended that we need Sa         opinion that if the United States should annex
Can it be pretended that we need Samana  Hayti on the representation of a party it would be
for the purpose of national defense, when we  found an elephant both costly in money and lives."
have nothing there, unless we first place it    I have no doubt that nine tenths of our offithere, to defend? Who is to attack us? Who  cers, both military and naval, if called upon,
threatens in the background?  Nobody!  If  would testify that, even with an expenditure
Great Britain may rely upon the security that  of millions, the bay of Samana would be a
the " streak of silver sea" affords, we know   source of weakness to the United States.
that for the United States the broad Atlantic    It should also be noted when we have got
is a much more impassable bulwark.  But in  our naval vessels into the torrid zone-and all
order to make Samana a defensive point we  of Santo Domingo is within that zone-that by
have first to go two thousand miles to fortify  the regulations of the Navy our men cease
it, and then go there to be defended. We leave  from labor and are permitted to hire natives
places of safety to find shelter where weaker  to attend to the ship, a privilege not likely to
nations are our equals, where many naval  remain a dead letter among "old salts." Let
Powers are our superiors, and where the cli-  me quote from the regulations of the United
mate gives the black man very little quarter,  States Navy for 1870 to officers commanding
and the white man none at all.                vessels:
The plea that we want the harbor of Samana    "222. In cruising in the torrid zone he may engage
for any purpose is only a link in the evidence  the natives to attend the ship and carry provisions
that Hayti, not Santo Domingo, is really cov-  and water, if it should be advisable to do so in order
that Hayti, not Snto Domingo, is really co-  to preserve the health of the crew."
eted and sought, for the harbors of Hayti only   o p      t  h     o  e crew."
could furnish any real accommodation, being     Would it not be more advisable to preserve
far better and less remote.  The air in the bay  the  health  of the crew, and our own moral
is stagnant, and not even freshened by the trade  and political health as well, by letting Santo
winds, as the bay is so land-locked that they do  Domingo severely alone?  If the Navy must
not penetrate beyond its mouth.  On shore  be permitted to employ natives to do even
the land                                      ordinary work ont has beengobbled up bythe  shipboard, who will our
petual leases obtained by such diligent seekers  agriculturists, miners, and mechanics, who
of thrift as Fabens, O'Sullivan, and Cazneau.  may beseduced to go there, find it advisable
We are asked to buy the site, next to im-to employ to do the extraordinary work of
prove and fortify it, and then to occupy it  suppoting  ten millionsofpeopleinluxury,"
with a naval fleet, with the vain idea that we  which thePresidenthas intimate can be done?
might thus fire the languid brains and torpid             LAND ENOUGH ALREADY.
muscles of the Dominicans to make sugar, grow   Although I have never had any filibustering
coffee, and hack down the mahogany trees in  ideas as to the manifest destiny or miraculous
such incredible quantities as to glut the world  growth of our country, I yet have an abiding
with their exports.  We are asked to launch  faith in the prospective character and greatone expenditure which drags after it numerous  ness of the people of America, however terriothers of greater and constantly increasing  torially bounded. It is true that territorial
magnitude, and all for the desperate purpose  expansions have some undefinable fascinations
of establishing a permanent commerce and  for the Anglo-Saxon race, and they are not to
American institutions where nothing has been  be wholly proscribed as wicked, for they are
permanent but failures and revolutions, or for  sometimes innocent; but the merest tyro canthe even more desperate purpose of finding   not blink out of sight the fact that gross bulk,
security for our Republic by making fast to  or geographical extent, is not the only nor the
a tropical island, whose foundations have  most vital element which figures in the estimate
been often shaken by earthquakes, and which  of a great and enlightened nation. The intelis scarred all over with the political as well as  ligence and the virtue, the industry and the
atmospherical hurricanes of previous cen-  courage, the intellect and the stamina of the
turies.                                       people, not the sum total of their property in
The frank-spoken sailor, Commander Self-  dirt, form the grander part of the basis upon
ridge, in one of his letters to the Secretary of  which rest the claims of all nations to rank
the Navy, July 14, 1869, starts most unpleas-  among their contemporaries or in the history
ant suggestions. He writes:                    that survives their end.
"If it is the desireof the Governmentto possess a    If the question now were barely the acqiiport in the island of Hayti either by purchase or  sition of more land, unincumbered by populalease. I know of no port in ihe West Indies in con   tion-although we have land enough and to
venience of approach, facility of defense, salubrity 
of position, or of strategic situation, that the port of  spare, homesteads even to give away-it would
Nicola Mole, on the northwestern extremity of   have an aspect somewhat less objectionable.




8
Then it would be merely the costof protection   graceless tyrants of any race, but they seem
to the additional territory, the transfer of some  to be utterly destitute of that noble ambition
portion of our own people to the new locality,  which seeks to elevate their people, or which
and the risk of their too probable speedy dete-  enthrones liberty, justice, and law as the highrioration ofcharacter.  But when embarrassed   est aim of human government.
with a population, having, too, amostunattrac-    A people wholly without education, led in
tive history and character, we have a more  factions by unprincipled and desperate chiefs,
serious and complex proposition to consider  destitute of all ambition which a high civilizaand determine. Willthe population elevateor  tion inspires, reeking in filth and laziness, redepress the standard of American civilization?  gardless of marriage or its binding power,
Will it prove such an enterprise as to attract  who never invented anything nor compre.
the good or the bad? Will it tend to secure or  hended the use of the inventions of others,
imperil the life of our republican institutions?  whose virtue is indexed by a priesthood eleI would not speak disrespectfully of the Domin-  vated by no scrap of learning and wretchedly
icans, if there was anything of which I could  debauched in morals, would prove a serious
speak respectfully. I would notspeak of them   politiCalid moral as well as financial inciimat all if it were not proposed to take them into  brance. It cannot be reckoned statesmanship
our Union as equal copartners.                to add to the complications of the hour by goTHE POOR CHARACTER OP DOMINICANS.        ing abroad after fresh elements of inevitable
But the people of Dominica are confessedly  vexation and discord.  By any treaty Santo
in the lowest state of poverty, and must remain  Domingo must be permitted to come into our
so forever, because they will not work. They  system on an equal footing with other Terriare grossly ignorant; and must remain so, be-  tories to be admitted in due time as a State;
cause they have no aspiration to be otherwise,  or if admitted by joint resolution it must take
have attended no schools themselves, nor will  position at once as a State.  It must have
they provide any for their children. They are  Representatives and Senators in due time,
a foreign, incompatible race, and never can be-  or at once.
come homogeneous, in manners or customs,    We cannot have even the poor privilege of
language or religion, with our people; because,  starting a plan of government with a military
having a diverse and incoherent origin, and a  satrap at its head, clothed with such prerogaclimate always tending to effeminacy, they have  tives as might be necessary to control a people,
also for ages been intermixed with astock which  if not barbaric, at least unaccustomed to a free
neither learns virtues nor forgets vices, and   Government or a free religion, and wholly illitwhich clings with the sublimest faith to revo-  erate and superstitious.  Whether we were to
lutions and the Catholic priesthood of Santo  permit such a population, wholly incapable of
Domingo.  There can be no attraction here  governing themselves, to a share in governing
for any other class of emigrants than those to  us, and we have no constitutional precedents
be found in a similar latitude, where numbers  for anything else, nor will anything else be
may have diminished the spontaneous supplies  authorized, or whether we alone were to govof food, or a class unwilling to starve and yet  ern them, it would be found equally objectionnot quite willing to work.                    able and inharmonious.  We cannot afford to
The Dominican peoplehavebeenrepresented   dilute the aggregate intelligence of our own
to be of such inferior and flexible material that  people below its present standard while we are
they could be at once molded and governed  striving to elevate that standard; nor ought we
by a thousand, or even fifty, Americans.  If  to embark in a wild scheme of planting colonial
that were so, what fifty, of what city, would be  governors around the world, in an age when
likely to land there first?  Would they pour  they have almost ceased to be tolerated.  Let
forth from the fertile loins of Mackerelville or  us educate and train the four million pupils
Northern Liberties?  Would they be ofa char-   which Providence has recently placed in our
acter fit to be intrusted with equal powers as  charge before we take up a much more hopea State in peace or war to checkmate Massa-  less class, that is to say, the ragged school of
chusetts or New York or Ohio? Surely such a  Dominica.  Honor most clearly does not lie in
consummation no more commends itself to the  pushing American institutions in the direction
older States than to the younger, and could  of the equator, where even freedom's purest
give us neither strength nor renown at home  metal yields to tbe fervent heat.  Even the
nor abroad. Let us thank God that our patri-  American RPpublic cannot "lie immortal in
otism does not yet teach us to love Dominica  the arms of fire."
as we love New York, Massachusetts, or Ohio.   NO ANNEXATION TOLERABLE EXCEPT NORTHWARD.
The Santo Domingo chiefs, judging them by     But let us for a moment turn our eyes from
their public acts, seem to be not greatly in  a land congenial to monkeys and parrots to
advance of their subjects, and are ready to  something of more substantial value.  Let us
sell their country when in power, or to fight for  forego the seductions of sugar and coffee plantit when out of power. Their love of despotic  ations, rising so luxuriantly in some tropical
rule and lust for gold equals that of the most  imaginations, though scarcely to be found now




9
even in the narrow cul-de-sac they once filled,  improvements, upheld by forty million hearty
and face the north.                           coadjutors, would also find such security and
"The blood more stirs       prosperity as have not been reached even in
To rouse a lion than to start a hare."  the dreams of its most sanguine citizens.  Its
Atthenorththereis a countryinterlockedand  population and wealth would be doubled in a
dovetailed to our northern boundary, through-  single decade.  Why should we, then, barriout its whole magnificent extent, with a people  cade the entrance to our Union against the
of kindred stock and tongue, which, without  provinces on the north by any rubbish tummoney and without price, and with their own   bled in from the West India Islands?  We
consent, will at some time surely show, per-  urge nothing-are in no hurry-but let us not
haps in the second term  of General Grant,  snatch at half an island and lose a continent.
that they are ready to join and improve their     THE SEWARD BATCf OF TREATIES ALL BAD.
fortunes by going hand in hand and abreast    The present Administration was so unforwith the Great Republic.  Let them do this,  tunate as to receive as a legacy from the late
and their advancement will be assured, while  versatile Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, a
our own will not be retarded, but perhaps made  series of great treaties for petty annexation
morecomplete. This would reflect honor upon  and petty reciprocity, which contributed, perall parties, banish Fenianism, and blot out the  haps, more to the self-satisfaction of the Secname of the Alabama.                          retary than they appear destined to contribute
The British provinces are of age, and Great  to that of the country he officially represented.
Britain daily hints to the bashful youngsters  Not one of these infelicitous treaties had its
that, although she will not forbid them  all  origin with the present Administration, which
shelter under the paternal roof and will not  owes to them  no original fealty whatsoever.
wholly cease the great baby perquisites of soft  That with Denmark, for the annexation of
caresses, yet she feels chagrined that they  St. Thomas-in close proximity with Santo
have not discovered it to be quite time for them   Domingo-seems to have been vulnerable to
to shift for themselves and to cease teasing her  the first ocean earthquake, and has been, perfor bonbonsand pocket-money.  She does not  haps not inopportunely, swallowed up by a
tell them in plain words, as Isaac told Jacob,  series of those great disturbers of "the best
where and when to goand wed, for she is alto-  laid plans" ofdiplomacy, whilelittle Denmark,
gether too clever not to know what alliance has  unwittingly trusting to an unadvised treaty and
been foreordained and determined. What the  the fair words of our Secretary, suffers the
laws ofthe universe join togethercannot be kept  shame of those who stumble and then hastily
asunder.  It will not be a runaway match, for  look around to see if the world's fingers are
there is noshame and need be no secrecy about  not pointed at them. Our national position
it; but some fine morning, the last of the  has been awkward and ungracious; but what
"Queen's Own" having departed, the New   could we do?  One thing was clear; we did not
Dominion will muster its manhood and pop  want St. Thomas, unless we were to take it, as
the question. After that, at Toronto, Mon-  we might Santo Domingo, and throw it back
treal, Halifax, and Quebec, we shall hear from   again into the sea.
more than four million throats, " Hail Colum-    The inception of these treaties under Presbia!"  Here is the true field of honor.  But,  ident Johnson was widely at variance with the
if we show an indiscriminate and promiscuous  course pursued by Jefferson in 1803 in the case
desire to annex anything and everything, even  of Louisiana, and of Monroe in 1819 in the case
a slice of a tropical island, a match of the  of Florida.  They started with legislative concheapest and most dubious character, how can  currence.  They got the consent of Congress
we expect our proud and fastidious Anglo-  beforehand, and, to quote the language of the
Saxon neighbors on the north, ripe in expe-  lateSenatorBenton, "thetreaty-making power
rience and liberal culture, with their solid and  was but the instrument of the legislative will."
extensive patrimony, to join such a union with  Besides, the subject then in hand underwent
any alacrity or affection?                    public discussion. There were no secrets. The
I am sincerely apprehensive that the project  people understood what they wanted and what
for Dominican annexation will seriously jeop-  was on foot.
ardize our prospects in the North, and perhaps    Manifestly, in so important a step this was
postpone the interests and happiness of mil-  and is now the proper course. If the treatylions of people indefinitely. The northern field  making power, working in secret and wholly
of enterprise, which might attract our people  irresponsible, may totally disregard the public
and capital, would be one of assured health  judgment, then republican or popular governand profit, and contribute to the power, cer-  ment is a farce.
tainly not to the weakness, of the nation.         THE "MONROE DOCTRINE" INTERPRETED.
The New Dominion, once infolded by our flag,    There has been so much loose talk on the
would find the blood coursing in its veins with  subject of the " Monroe doctrine," so called,
a swifter current and fuller pulsation, and with  that President Grant may have been justifiedall her industries, her commerce, and national  I think he was-in making an earnest experi



10
ment to find out its practical meaning or how   unanimously in favor of annexation, and being
it is to be understood by the present genera-  an independent State it was claimed,with more
tion. It has by some been held to include  adroitness than integrity, that Congress had
much more than I think the simple declara-  the constitutional right to admit such States
tion warranted. As read by me it only declared  into the Union.  Annexation was an issue
"America no longer open to European colo-  made at the presidential election, and the cannization;" not that we wanted to colonize.  didate in favor of annexation had succeeded,
President Monroe only desired that all parts  whether that was the decisive issue or not.
of America might have a chance to be inde-  The people of the North and West, it is true,
pendent and republican if they chose, without  opposed it because the message of President
any European hinderance or interference, and  Tyler in December, 1843, "squinted at war
those refractory Spanish-American colonies,  with both" Great Britain and Mexico, in order
which Spain was then striving to coerce, were  to obtain it.  Beyond that our people were
objects that challenged our own as well as a  vehemently opposed to it on the ground that it
world-wide solicitude.  The doctrine was not  was a sinister and premeditated extension of
that we were to seize all the land adjoining us,  the area of slavery. They were opposed to it
nor was it by any means susceptible of the  on account of the sham proposal to "reanselfish interpretation that European vultures  nex" territory which never belonged to us.
were to be driven away in order that the Amer-  They were opposed to it because' an army of
ican eagle might swoop down and clutch the  observation," not a fleet in the bay of Samana,
prey.                                        was sent into it, and then a false declaration
The wise founders of our Republic contem-  made that " war existed by the act of Mexico."
plated a simple form of government, one im-  They were opposed to it because of the threat
posing the smallest possible burdens, upon   of South Carolina that, if not annexed to the
which it would be wholly incompatible to in-  United States, it should be annexed to the
graft a system of colonies or outlying depend-  slave-holding States.
encies. Alargenavy,without whichthedefense    Our treaty with Great Britain, commonly
of colonies or distant States would be impos-  known as the Clayton and Bulwer treaty, made
sible, was regarded by our fathers with great  April 19, 1850, fully illustrates the American
distrust.  Jefferson, in his simplicity, only  construction of the Monroe doctrine, so called,
wanted gun-boats; but Jefferson never sought  when it was restrained bythe limitsof sanityand
to colonize or to annex distant islands. He  sound statesmanship. Although the particular
sought to make bone of our bone and flesh of  object of this treaty was to secure a ship-canal
our flesh the great delta of the Mississippi.  from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, yet it
It remained for our late Secretary of State,  declares that the high contracting parties "not
always grand in his conceptions, even when  only desired, in entering into this convention,
wrong, first to grasp the north pole, and then  to accomplish a particular object, but also to
to leap back almost to the equator, or to altern-  establish a general principle," and if they had
ate between icebergs and earthquakes.  In  not in wordsso declaredthe compact then made
his world-traveling eye not only "the whole  established a precedent upon which a general
boundless continent" was ours, but all of its  principlefindsanimpregnablebasis. Itwasprooutlying incoherentdependencies were equally  vided that neither Great Britain nor the United
to be coveted. Strange that any Republican  States will ever occupy or fortify or colonize,
administration should have been lured by such  or assume or exercise any dominion over Nicadoubtful baits I                             ragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any
But Jefferson only coveted Louisiana, hold-  part of Central America. This is a most iming the great outlet of the Mississippi and our  portant and emphatic enunciation of the genemost magnificent domains lying west of that  ral policy of the United States, and evinced our
river, which it was desirable to have at any  willingness to be excluded from all dominion
cost, even at the price, he said, of an amend-  over territory in the direction of the tropics,
ment to the Constitution, if necessary.      outside of our present limits, provided EuroIn the case of Florida, it was the home of  pean nations were also to be excluded. It is
the Seminoles, whose predatory warfare could  a positive renunciation of the wild policy ot
not be repelled without following them within  territorial expansion in the direction named.
the boundaries ofaforeign Government, involv-  Here a bit was put in the mouth of our own
ing a double war, and, therefore, this territory,  prancing nagof "manifest destiny," and Great
contiguous to our southern boundary, had to  Britain was forced to abandon her legacy from
be acquired as a measure of prospective peace  the pretended Mosquito king, of laced-coatand
rather than of aggrandizement, though it re-  cocked-hat memory; and that was all and just
suited in a most expensive Indian war.       what we most desired.  Who ever heard that
Texas was largely settled by our own people,  treaty denounced as any violation of the Monroe
and thegeographicalhomogeniety between that  doctrine? Nobody!
country and the United States made it a tempt-   HAYTI WANTS SANTO DOMINGO; WE DON'T.
ing acquisition.  The people of Texas were    Santo Domingo is a portion of an island




II
greatly coveted by Hayti, from which it was vio-  zone is more exhausting than heavy labor in
lently wrenched in 1844, and to which it geo-  the temperate zone, and that any crops must
graphically belongs, as truly as Louisiana, Flor-  be intermingled with black vomit and yellow
ida, and Texas belonged to the United States.  fever, with poisonous insects, and other pests
Hayti wants it, claims tiever to have abandoned  too numerous to  mention, all~ equally the
it, and in due time might probably have it, un-  spontaneous fruits of Santo Domingo? Justice
less prevented byextraneous interference. Our  to ourselves requires that we should take care
good will might be profitably extended to both;  of what we have at home before we scatter
we might fairly encourage legitimate corn-  abroad.
merce, of which we should get little, but not an           OUR FUTURE GROWTH.
illegitimate, entangling, and indissoluble alli-    Some speculative political economists inance, of which we should get too much. The  dulge in predictions about the future vastness
addition to us would be poor indeed; but, added  of our population; but is it not preposterous
to Hayti, it might tend to build up a home and  to expect our past ratio of increase for an ina Government of greater promise to the hberty  definite length of time?  When the best lands
and welfare of a large portion of the colored  shall be exhausted, as we may find at some
race in the West India islands.  To aid such  time they will be, and certainly when our popan enterprise would be a mission worthy of  ulation becomes dense, it would be unphiloour high position. The colored race are en-  sophical and contrary to all history to expect
titled to try the experiment of practical inde-  the same ratio of increase from  births, nor
pendence.  Their civilization should not be  could we hope the same increase from immicr4mped and overshadowed by holding them   gration.
forever in contact with a superior race.  For    There will be a declension in the power to
us to rob them of their only opportunity in the  absorb as well as in the sources of supply.
West India islands puts the risk of their final  During the fiscal year 1870 we received 387,098
shipwreck upon us, and gives to them no scope  immigrants.  Since 1847, only twenty three
for the exercise of self-reliance or for the  years, the number of foreigners who have
development of their natural growth.           made our country their home amounts to
We stand in no need of it because of any  4,297,980.  Our present population, but for
surplus population from which it is desirable  such accessions, would amount to only one
to be disincumbered. If there is any pur-  third of what it is now. The difference bepose to have the colored race expatriated from   tween receiving and  sending' out annually
the continent at least it is not now avowed.  300,000 men is marvelous, and it is a point
Emigration to the new States now draws heav-  deserving especial attention.  The average
ily upon the older States.  These new States  cost of raising a man in any civilized country
and Territories, upon which we expend and  is rather over than under $1,000, and of a
must expend millions for their development  woman rather less; but the average is still not
and protection, and the southern States, which  less than $1,000.  Upon a removal to a new
have recently had a new birth, have a right to  country they augment its capital by the trans-.
every surplus man, and every surplus dollar  ference of their economical value as future
which can be spared from all the other States.  producers and the exchangable value of all
They should not be made to stand back for an  property which belongs to them.  Our coununnatural flirtation in the tropics, discreditable  try has been exceptionally enriched by the
to our age and dignity.  Our affection, as well  capital and labor of vast numbers who were
as our interest, should constrain us to husband   reared at the sole expense of others.  That
all our resources, not at present any too  greatly enhances the present prosperity of
abundant, for the improvementof our broadly   western States, filied with able-bodied men
extended but unsettled estates. Do we want  which have not yet been taxed for their infancy
sugar and cotton lands?  Have we not got  or old age.  We have thus brought to us annuthem in abundance in Texas, in Arkansas, in  ally from  abroad a capital of $50,000,000 by
South Carolina, in Mississippi, in Louisiana,  persons who add each year by their labor from
in Alabama, and in Florida?  Who wants to  two to three hundred millions more. To-day
build up a foreign insular El Dorado to corn-  portions of Germany sorely feela comparative
pete with these States, and proclaim, as we  loss, and  are studying-certainly  Austrian
must if we are in earnest, that they are worth-  statesmen have been studying-how to prevent
less itl comparison with Santo Domingo? Is  this annoying depletion  which may so disit to be preferred that the tide of people from   astrously affect their wealth and power as a
the North and East, now setting so strongly  people.
toward the West, and which would tend south      Santo Domingo could not be of the slightest
ward also if the States there would respond to  value to us unless repeopled and supplied with
the President's hearty desire and " let us have  capital, to be subtracted from our home stock
peace," is it to be [ referred, I say, that this  or accepted as questionable foreign gifts-the
tide should be diverted by the fiction of crops  spawn of the Caribbean sea and the Mexican
without labor, spontaneous sugar, coffee, and  Gulf. Any gain there would be either so much
tobacco-forgetful that light labor in the torrid  positive loss at home or a gain of numbers




12
with a loss of character.  Although the task   gross amount of their exports it will be seen,
is as hopeless as would be the resuscitation of   from the table I give, that cotton is reckoned
Tyre or Sidon, Carthage or Babylon, if it were  at thirty-four cents per pound, muscovado
possible, could we afford it?  Shall we post-  sugar at seventy-four cents per pound, and
pone the great destinies of Kansas, Iowa, and   coffee at eighteen and a half cents per pound.
Nebraska, of Colorado and Montana, and the  The number of ships engaged, it is also true,
youthful and vigorous States on the Pacific   was large, (sixteen hundred it has even been
coast, until we can plant and hatch out a new   claimed,) but their size must have been very
brood of States in distant seas? New Orleans  small. Their great port, the city of Santo Domand Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York,  ingo, admits nothing else, or ships only of the
Boston and San Francisco, are very considera-  fourth class or less. One steamship of the presble sea-ports.  Can we expect to rival them in  ent day would be equal to a score and more of
Santo Domingo?  Does any one suppose that  the vessels then ordinarily employed.  The
our people would add anything to their own   island was then the great distributing point for
wealth or length of days by going there, rather  French commerce and exchange, or the comthan by accepting the opportunities to be found   mercial metropolis of the New World, just as St.
in our own rich and many-sided domains?  Thomas has recently been the seat of a considHere experience is our guide, and we do not  erable trade from being practically a free port,
risk all on an experiment, already, time and   although itself actually producing nothing; a
again, exploded.  Here we stand on terra  trade that would be annihilated by the impofirma, with no ghost of failure rising up to con-  sition of even the most trivial taxation.
front our faith and progress.  Let us remen-    Statistics are excellent if they are truthful,
ber, even if we forget many earlier destructive   but when embellished with fictions or distorted
visitations, that so late as 1842 the shores of   by the wrinkles of age they are merely matheSanto Domingo to the extent of sixty miles were   matical monstrosities.  I might quote Malte
submerged in consequence of earthquakes.  Brun, James Redpath, who resided there for
In 1770 an earthquake in Hayti destroyed Port  some time, and many other authorities, but
au Prince.  What has been may be again.   McCulloch's Geographical Dictionary is acBut these shocks, however much to be dreaded,  counted rather higher statistical authority than
are not more portentous than the shock to be   the work, so often quoted and relied upon in
apprehended to our political system  from a   this case, of the malignant Tory author of
misalliance with one or all of the West India  Alison's History, which, it will be rememislands.  The annexations, safely tolerated in   bered, so elaborately libels America and the
the youth of the Republic, may not be so  Americans.  The historian who identifies refreely indulged as we reach maturity, when the   publicanism with the powers of hell may have
accumulated debt of all the toil and excesses   been a prodigy in conic sections and fluxions,
of both youth and age, past and present, must  but he is not therefore to be always trusted in
be met and paid at the same moment.             the simpler forms of facts and figures. " What
STATISTICS EXCELLENT IF TRUE.          is history," said Napoleon, "but a fiction
We have been cited in most respectable  agreed upon?"  But this of Sir Archibald's,
- quarters to some chronicles as to the ancient  relied upon by the Senator from  Indiana and
magnitude of the trade of Santo Domingo,  also by the Senator from Michigan, I may say,
and I may be pardoned for saying that we  is not agreed upon.  I will therefore give Memight just as well be cited to those concerning   Culloch's table of "exports of the French part
ancient Venice or Carthage. When commerce   of Santo Domingo during each of three years
has once forsaken any place, does history show   ending in 1789," including the very year when
that, under any circumstances, it has ever re-  the exports were largest, and when they have
turned?  But are there not good reasons for  been, as Senators will remember, claimed to
suspecting the solidity as well as the veracity   be a hundred millions, or a greater amount
of any history which puts forth a claim to one  than we find to have been exported by nearly
hundred millions of exports at any time past,  all of North America thirty or forty years
present, or to come, for Sarrto Domingo? By   afterward:                                 Livres.
exposure to a little criticism such figures will  Clayed sugar, pounds................58,642,214  41,049,549
shrink up amazingly, and what in magnitude  Muscovado sugar, pounds......... 8,659.829  34.619.931
appeared to be a camel may turn out after all  Coffeepounds.................6.........71   663187
only a ver small weasel.                     Cotton, pounds........................... 6,698,858  12,397,716
only a very small weasel.                       Indigo, pounds......................... 951,607  8,5:4,463
Let it be admitted that at one period of time,  Molasses. hogsheads..................  23.061  2,767,320
and about 1789, the trade of Santo Domingo   Rum, hogsheads.....................   2,600    312,000
Raw hides, number...................   6,500  52,000
was quite large, but of course it included that  Tanned hides, number.............7. 7.9UO    118.500
of Hayti, for Santo Domingo only dates its
independence from  1844, which is yet unac        Total value in livres...............................171544.666
Total value in sterling.............................~1.765.129
knowledged by Hayti. The articles produced         lr, in United States money.......................$8.825,625
there were luxuries, to some extent of only..
recent extensive use, and being in great de-       This, it should be noted, was in the years of
mnand bore enormous prices. To make up the  the very highest prosperity-embracing the




13
western end and the only end of the island that  even one quarter belongs to Santo Domingo.
ever had any prosperity-and is really but a  In 1868 the imports of Santo Domingo from the
trifle more than the small city of Portland,  United States, according to our own records,
Maine, sends annually over the Grand Trunk   were $83,363, and the exports to the United
railroad. Yet it is the prop for sixteen hun-  States $64,110. Yet, with these beggarly but
dred vessels and a hundred millions of exports  indisputable facts before us, it is seriously
in the past and in expectancy l               argued that a few dashing Americans would
DOMINICAN EXPORT BUBBLES.            work out the miracle of giving us a trade only
Let me call attention to the fact that the  surpassed at present in its vast magnitude by
greatest number of people in Santo Domingo at  that of the United States with Great Britainl
the time of the greatest amount of commerce  I may say with the Prince of Denmarkwas 400,000 slaves, 25,000 whites, and 25,000       "They fool me to the top f my bent."
mulattoes, and then bear in mind the fact that
the United States in 1830 contained a popula-    It appears also that a firm  in New York,
tion of 12,866,020.  No one will deny our own  Spofford Brothers, now own and run a line of
activity, whether as to production or trade, and  steamers under a grant to a Mr. Funkhouser,
yet our whole exports then amounted only to  with a provision that five per cent. of the
$73,819,508, or less by more than twenty-six  import and export dues on all merchandise
million dollars than 425,000 working tatterde-  carried by said line between New York and
malions in Santo Domingo are represented to  New Orleans and the Dominican republic be
have exported in 17891  With a population of  allowed to the owners of the steamers.  Pray,
17,069,453 in 1840, hur exports amounted to  how would such a grant be disposed of by us?
only $104,805,891, and yet it is assumed that    The Senator from Indiana, in a former dein proportion to numbers the Dominicans in  bate, took pains to quote from an official docu1789 exceeded the United States in its products  ment the amount of our trade with Cuba and
exported in the ratio of thirty eight to one.  Porto Rico, and to contrast it with that of the
Need I say more touching the D)ominican bub- British American possessions and Mexico. It
ble, or the hundred millions of exports which  is large, it is true, and somewhat larger than
would gush forth by only hoisting the American  the latter altogether.  The figures of the first,
flag 9                                        including exports and imports, were $88,102,Even by the coercion of the military police  670, and of the last only $72,000,000. Bas
of Toussaint L'Ouverture, when every man not  for what purpose does the Senator array these
a proprietor was compelled to hire himself as  figures?  Santo Domingo will not bl. out ox
a laborer to some agricultural proprietor, and  supply the place of Cuba and Porto hico, and
to work from sunrise to sunset, they were only  if such a result were possible it coul,  give us
able to raise the value of the products to one  no larger market for our products.  The torrid
third of the amount of 1789, and when the  zone everywhere furnishes only limited markets.
restraint was removed in 1825, under Boyer,  They consume little, and that little, it happens,
the exports for the entire island dropped to  can be mainly obtained elsewhere at less cost
the pitiful sum of four shillings two pence for  than from us.  If the contrast was intended to
each inhabitant.                               be unfavorable to the trade of the British posIt may be a proper question to ask, what  sessions and Mexico, then it was a mistake, h'r
does the trade of this part of the island now   the reason that while our exports to Cuba and
amount to? Is it not curious that even British   Porto Rico are small, they are in proportiow
statisticians, proverbially painstaking, make  to imports much larger to the Dominion and
no separate account of it, but include it with  other North American British possessions. 8o
that of Hayti, of the two by far the most con-  far as they concern the Santo Domingo quessiderable?  Like gold dust it has first to be  tion, the figures so prominently put forth ae
caught up with something else, or by quick-  without any logical significance.  I fancy they
silver, before you can find or estimate it at all.  were intended to give the  impression that tLe
The latest returns I have found of the trade  balance of trade would be made all rightthrouh
of Hayti and Santo Domingo combined, in  the annexation of Santo Domingo, and in tht
British documents, are as follows:            view they are entitled-I say it with all respectTotal           to about as much consideration as we should
imports. Exnorts.  give to the toy blocks of children, with whiec
1861.....................................~137,471  310.555  they sometimes build barns, forts, or churchs,
1862................................................   151,719  474.842  as it may bpleasejuvenile architects. T
183.............................142  as it                 please juvenile architects.  The
1864......................2....,.......... 251,210  459.876  Dominican block-house is of about equal sub1865................................................  230,287  348.419  stance  and  of  equal ingenuity.
Instead of one hundred millions from Santo    Usually the Register of the United States
Domingo, the exports, includingthoseof Hayti,  appears to follow the British example in makamount to no more than from one and a half  ing up the report of the trade of Hayti and San
to two million and a half of dollars, and of   Domingo, and combines them  together, not
this it would be more than liberal to allow that 11 considering the latter worthy of any separate




14
notice; but in 1868 a separate account was kept,  be a cure for many evils at home —naval,
and we find our domestic exports to Hayti  military, financial, moral, commercial, and
were $2.956,983, and of foreign goods reex-  political-as well as the precursor of reforms
por\ed $299,619, while our domestic exports  greatly needed abroad. A panacea of such exto Santo Domingo were only $64,110, and but  tensive pretensions is commonly found upon
$2,091 of foreign goods reexported.  Our  trial of small virtue anywhere, and certainly
imports for the same year from  Hayti were  cannot be counted upon where it has signally
$760,087, and from  Santo Domingo  only  failed when tested by other parties, as Santo
$83,363; the trade with Santo Domingo thus  Domingo often has been by other nations.
leaving a balance of about twenty thousand      The opinions of the President of the United
dollars to be paid by us in gold, while the  States, official and personal, are entitled to
Haytien trade was exceedingly healthful, leav-  great consideration; and having given them
ing a balance of $2,196,896 to be paid to us  that consideration, both from duty and inclinain gold. A critical examination of the trade  tion, I feel that they must be adopted or reof Santo Domingo has been provoked. and  jected, with perfect independence, as God enits absolute nullity, therefore, deserves to  ables us to see the right. The message asserts
be fully exposed.  Its consequence has been  of this measure thatmagnified by being confounded with that of       It is to provide honest means of paying our
Hayti, although the trade of that little republic  honest debts without overtaxing the people."
is quite restricted.  Of coffee we imported in   But how? The President is too much in
1868 from Hayti 4,631181 pounds, and from   earnest to deal in jokes, and this must be treated
Santo Domingo only 21.815 pounds. From   as a serious matter. It geems to be argued
Hayti we imported 30,827 pounds cocoa and  thatannexationwould enablethe United States
219,098 pounds of cotton, but none from Santo  to obtain from Santo Domingo all of our sugar,
Domingo. Of sugar we got $20,092 worth  coffee, tobacco, and tropical fruits; and it is
from  Hayti, and $10,111 worth from  Santo  then stated thatDomingo. Of dye-woods we received from          "The production of our own supply of these artiHayti to the amount of $419,442, and how   cles will cut off more than one hundred millions of
much do you think, Mr. President, from   our annual imports, besides largely increasing our
exports. With such a picture it is easy to see how
Santo Domingo?  Reinember the immense  our large debt abroad is ultimately to be extinforests we have been told about, only requir-  guished."
ing a few blows of the woodman's ax to ship    The colors of this picture are positive and
countless cargoes I The amount, all told, was  very brilliant, but can they be warranted not
to the value of $15,9881                      to fade when exposed to the sunlight of facts
Nearly half of all our imports from Santo  and figures? How would it do for a Secretary
Domingo were in two items-$16,326 in ma-  of the Treasury to entertain such speculative
hogany, and $22,029 in lignum-vitae. Why, sir,  visions? Treasury estimates must be built upon
some of the farmers not many miles from this  the solid data of ascertained facts. The imcapital do nearly as large a business every  agination is a poor financier, wholly without
winter in cutting and selling cord-woodl It  thrift and great only in gigantic disbursements.
would be eclipsed by the trade of mere boys  Let alone the grand assumption as to the
in Michigan or Mainel Of tropical fruits-and   capacity of Santo Domingo to produce all the
here certainly we ought to find a surfeit, their  articles enumerated-eclipsing Cuba, Porto
growth is so luxuriant, so entirely laborless I-   Rico, and all the sugar countries of the worldthe amount we have to acknowledge is twenty-  not stopping even to deny the averment of the
one dollars for ripe fruits and eight dollars for  message that it is "capable of supporting ten
preserved fruits  The owner of a California  millions of people in luxury," how are these
garden would feel himself treated unhand-  vast products when grown to be covered into
somely if a single visitor should not consume   the Treasury of the United States?
or carry away more than our whole year's    Supposing the fertility of the soil and the disimportation from Santo Domingo!  Here are  position to labor not to be overstated, when
the facts taken from our own documents. Mr.  annexation shall come to pass, the sugar,
President, contrast them with the hundred mil-  coffee, tobacco, and tropical fruits produced
lion theory-"the house that Jack built"-  there, much or little, would nevertheless be
which grave Senators have indorsed in this  the property of private owners, and must be
Chamber I Do they warrant such extravagant  paid for accordingly, and the price would be
predictions?'               the average price of such articles in the chief
COCOANUTS AND BANANAS WILL NOT PAY OFF THin marts of the world, but not less than the
PUBLIC DEBT.                  cost of production in Santo Domingo.  If the
If we may accept the theory'of the Presi-   world's supply of coffee and sugar were to be
dent in his annual message, the annexation   so largely increased, however, by a hundred
of Santo Domingo would be the appropriate   millions, then it is plain to see that the price
plaster, not only for nearly all our national  might be greatly diminished; so much so, persores, but for those of other lands. It would  haps, as to make the cultivation of such crops,




15
even in Santo Domingo, unprofitable, and then  by the civil, military, naval, and miscellanetheir curtailment or total abandonment must  ous Cuban expenses, Spain only nibbling anspeedily follow. Sugar has been a profitable  nually about fifteen hundred thousand dollars,
crop in Cuba when cultivated by over six hun-  and this sum is really transmitted to Spain in
dred and fifty thousand slaves, the slave trade  support of legations, pensioners, and employes
replacing the enormous losses caused by the  connected with the island government.
annual mortality of the laborers; but it has not    Only nominally has she secured this pitiful
been profitable in Hayti since Haytien inde-  sum of $1,500,000 of annual revenue, and has
pendence, nor in the British West Indies since  actually already sunk a capital in her latest
emancipation. Isit tobe expected that Amer-  inconclusive effort to suppress the Cuban reicans in such a climate can successfully corn-  bellion, which she cannot hope to recover, or
pete with the cheap labor of Cuba, Brazil, or  even the interest thereon, from all the future
India?                                        revenues of Cuba, though her sovereignty were
Still keeping the " picture" before us, that  to be prolonged for coming ages.  Cuba has
all of our sugar, tobacco, and tropical fruits  a population of 1,443,381, of which 662,587are
might be obtained exclusively from  the east  slaves and 216,176 free colored. Santo Doend of Santo Domingo, it follows then that  mingo is estimated to contain 120,000 inhabwe must surrender millions of revenue which  itants, though the late commission estimates it
is now obtained from  these sources. How   higher, which, if we were to oppress with equal
would such a deficit be made up?  Man-  rigor, would yield in proportion, it will be seen,
ifestlyit could only be done by levying an  a net revenue of about one hundred and twentyequal amount upon tea, salt, or some other  five thousand dollars. But instead of even this
articles imported from foreign countries. A   paltry credit we should have millions of expendcertain amount of revenue is indispensable to  itures, such as it has cost Spain to establish a
the existence of the Government.  Remove  doubtful supremacy in Cuba, or Great Britain
duties from one quarter and they must be put  her less doubtful despotism in Jamaica. Truly,
on in some other. If our supply of sugar,  if while our present Administration has been
coffee, tobacco, and tropical fruits could be  so successfully paying off over $100,000,000 of
obtained free of duties something else must  debt annually, the annexation of Santo Dothen assume the burden. If our imports of du-  mingo has suddenly become the only mode by
tiable articles should be diminished one fourth,  which the public debt can be extinguished withthen a proportionate increase of the tariff upon  out overtaxing the people, as the idea would
the remainder must follow or internal taxa-  appear to be entertained in most respectable
tion must again be resorted to for means to  quarters, then our condition  is deplorable
supply the deficiency.  No one proposes to  enough, as that measure, by increasing our
resort to the latter at home, and therefore it  expenditures and diminishing our receipts,
could not be imposed upon Santo Domingo.  would really only plunge us into difficulties far
With no duties upon our exports to or from   deeper and more inextricable than those we are
Santo Domingo, and no revenue from internal  now called upon to confront.
taxation, what becomes of annexation as "an          THREATENING INCREASE OF TAXES.
honest means of paying our honest debts?"       The possession of Santo Domingo would
Beyond all doubt it would cripple our Treas-  heavily increase national taxes, as it would be
ury, and be the signal for the imposition of  absurd to suppose that a country without an
new taxes at home, and of no insignificant  acre ofpublic lands, ofonehundred and twenty
amount, if the dream of cutting off $100,000,-  or one hundred and sixty thousand poor Do000 of imports should ever come to pass. The  minican men and women, unaccustomed and
milk in free cocoanuts will not pay the public  unwilling to labor, could or would make even
debt. I am inflexibly opposed to any increase  the smallest contribution to the payment of
of taxation and in favor of reducing the present  the public debt or even to their own defense.
burdens at the earliest day.                  The tracks would all be outgoing from  the
The fallacy of expecting any revenue from   Treasury, and none incoming. The first thing
Santo Domingo may be fitly shown by the ex-  to be done would be to appoint a Governor,
ample of Cuba with respect to Spain. Spain   whose staff and surroundings must be equal
needs and ever has needed more revenue, and  to those of the captain general of Cuba, and
no one Fill question the zeal with which she  Governor of Jamaica, or he would rank only
has attempted to obtain it. We denounce the  as one of the "poor white trash," and turn
Spanish impositions upon Cuba and would not  out to be no Governor at all. The judiciary
be likly to imitate such rapacity; yet the sum   and other branches of the civil service must be
total of that taxation is less than half that  furnished, and there would be plenty of room
borne by the city of New York, and for the  for all the discontented culls thrown out of
latest years I have found prior to their present  custom-house employment at home.
civil war amounts for maritime to $6,721,250,    Then a permanent naval squadron would be
and for internal to $5,527,462, or a total of  ornamental and contingently indispensable.
$12,248,712. Nearly all of this is exhausted  Docks, arsenals, hospitals, and  navy-yards




I16
must follow as a matter of course, as Santo  says,'the yellow fever would effectually seDomingo is surrounded by dangerous rivals as  cure the island in case of an external attack
well as by dangerous reefs, and our naval squad-  if the policy of abandoning the coasts and
tons would be in constant dread of barnacles  destroying the towns were acted on."  But
and constant need of repairs. Forts, martello-  will it not be far better not to put ourselves in
towers, and other fortifications, would have to  a position where we must depend upon such
bristle up around the whole circuit of the shore  dolorous auxilaries, or where municipal suilines.  How  many regiments of soldiers-   cide would be the best of available defenses?
horse, foot, and dragoons-would find employ-  A TROPICAL CLIMATE NEVER EXEMPT FROM TROPICAL
ment and graves there the experience of Gov-                   DISEASES.
ernments having similar dependencies suffci-    There is a question of some gravity as to the
ently discloses. Revenue cutters would find  salubrity of the climate in Santo Domingo. If
an ample field for their prowess, as smugglers  it is really healthful why is it that its populawould replace ancient buccaneers. Riversand  tion has been forever on the wane? Its colharbors would require improvements; rail-  ored population, without thrift or fertility,
roads, with subsidies, would turn out to be  steadilydiminishesinnumber,andwhitesnever
postal or military necessities. An assay office  go and stay there with any purpose to make it
and mint could hardly be refused to a land of  a family home. Concede that the soil is ferso much undiscovered gold, where they are  tile and hot in its fecundity, then may it not be
now compelled to use paper money instead of  asked whether it is not true everywhere under
pieces of leather, such as were in vogue when   a tropical sun that a country, rank to rottenthe mines of Cibao were most productive, and  ness in its vegetation, is equally rank in its
yet yielded but half a million dollars annually   malarial diseases?
to the labor of wretched miners.  More than     True, it would seem to cost nothing to raise
all, schools and school-houses would need to be  children in Santo Domingo, because until they
established with laws making attendance com-  are five or six years old they go forth like our
pulsory.                                     first parents in Paradise, without shame, as
This long catalogue of requirements may  naked as they came into the world.  Even
seem extensive. But there is not one of them,  adults are often content with little more than
if a treaty were ratified, that would not at once  one garment, and are not very fastidious
be loudly called for; and our home people would  whether that is a shirt or a coat, a pair of
have to foot the bills. Spain kept an army in  pantaloons or a hat. Why is there no increase?
Cuba, prior to the late civil war-including  In the first place, from universal and unconinfantry, cavalry,andartillery-of twenty- eight  querable indolence, no extensive crops are
thousand men, or nearly as large as that now   grown, and when any are grown the owners
maintained by the United States, and a navy  are in such constant dread of military raids
made up of four frigates, fifteen steam-ships,  and the periodical hurricanes, with both of
and thirty-two smaller vessels. This indicates  which they are so often visited, as to make
the climate into which it is sought to plunge  subsistence precarious.  In the absence of
American institutions I                       these, droughts not unfrequently'destroy large
Such an annexation would expose the peace  tracts of vegetation. A regular supply of food
of the country to new complications and to con-  is necessary for any increase of population;
stant peril. Revolutions and civil discord seem   and for this end tropical fruits, though ever
to be the normal condition of the tropics. The  so abundant in their season, are an insufficient
doors of the Temple of Janus are never closed  substitute.  But the hot seasons of every year
near the equator nor in Spanish American   are as fatal in their ravages as famine and
republics. The defense in case of war of this  epidemical diseases are sure to be active apd
patch in the ocean would involve an outlay  vigorous, though the people are not.  Malte
of men and money greatly in excess of the  Brun, speaking of the bay of Samana, says:
importance of the territory or of its people:   "The banks of that vast basin are unhealthy, and
and afterall our expenditures, any naval Power,  Europeans are unwilling to reside there."
having the most iron-clad vessels at hand, in   Of course an excursion party, traveling on
case of war, would at once become its master;  the bounty of the Government, with something
any improvement made by us would only make  of the pomp of Antony visiting Cleopatra, sped
the prize the more glittering and valuable to  along by the imperial clarion of music, and
the captors.                                 leaving the stern frosts of a northern winter
At home we may be invincible; but as de-  for the soft and sunny lap of the tropics, where
fenders of out-lying dependencies we should  the earth is all clad with greenest verdure,
drop to a third or fourth-rate Power, because   would be pleased and in smiles with everywe have not and ought not to have a large navy,  thing; with the birds of the air, beasts of the
for the mere glory of naval supremacy, or the  field, and even with creeping things.  They
vanity of a comparison with the royal and   are happy. Severe and irreverent critics they
imperial navies of the Old World. We might,  cannot be. They are there for the purpose of
indeed, follow the advice of Mackenzie, who  being pleased; nobody expected anything less;




17
and they would be careful not to stay so long  years. In Canada the annual mortality is only
as to encounter the perils of the climate. How   reported at ten in one thousand men. It will
much knowledge, uintinged by "lthe animated  thus be seen that military service in the West
particles of the rainbow," would such an ex-  India Islands is more fatal to life than even
cursion party obtain as to the statistics of  that in Algeria, so much more destructive than
mortality il the fraction of five weeks of time,  the average home service to the French army.
devoted to all the objects of their mission, not  A change of the political sovereignty could
excluding social enjoyments and ceremonies,  hardly be expected to effect any change of the
and, under the adroit manipulation of Baez,  climate.
bankrupt, as he is in money, and with no repu-    The colored race withstand the climate and
tation to spare?  Birds of passage, even the  the yellow  fever somewhat better than the
wild geese, which go south in the winter and   white race, but the bulk of our Army-three
fly northward with the earliest breath of spring,  fourths at least-are recruited north of the
might as well be summoned to testify about the  Potomac, or from the cities of New York, Cindog-daystheyhadneverseenundertheequator,  cinnati, and Chicago, and are almost entirely
as such a February party to testify touching the   white.  At Key West we know the fearful
summer solstice at Santo Domingo.              fatality that attends our troops.  It may be
The commissioners will be recognized as  saidthatwhensenttoSantoDomingothey might
most intelligent and highly respected gentle-  be stationed in the interior, among the mountmen, but their time was too short and their  ains, but there they would be useless, except
task too great.  They will undoubtedly be able  in cases of insurrection. They must be placed
to state that tropical plants grow in tropical  on the coast and around harbors. These would
countries, and to refute all such stories as that  be the places requiring defense, requiring a conrelated in the only joke ever perpetrated by  stant military police, and here our troops must
Washington, as to Newark, that the mosqui-  lay their bones in obedience to laws they have
toes are so fat and large as to " sting through   no power to resist.  Jamaica, Cuba, and Santo
the thickest boot;" but in the brief time they   Domingo for years were called the graves of
expended they must have been so hurried as  Europe.  Do we want to make the latter the
to be obliged to follow in large measure the  grave of America?
"memorandum for a tour" in New Jersey, to        Eighty years ago there were twenty-three
be found in Salmagundi, as follows:            British forts in Jamaica, besides fourteen posts
"A knowing traveler always judges of everything  or batteries, with officers and men. How many
by the inn-keepers and waiters-set down Newark  there are now I know not, but probably there
people all as fat as butter-landlord member of the  are not less. And how is that island held and
Legislature-treats everybody who has a vote-   governed now?  Great Britain still holds the
mein. all the inn-keepers members of Legislature  g
of New Jersey-saw a large flock of crows-con-  island, but its industry has perished, and she
eluded there must be a dead horse in the neighbor-  would probably be glad of an excuse to cut loose
hood-mem. country remarkable for crows-won't  from it forever. Since the late rebellion there,
lthh es           e i  pe" from it forever. Since the late rebellion there,
resulting in such fearful tragedies, the entire
Mr. President, I would take the word of the  authority is vested in the governor, assisted by
commissioners for ~5,000, but I would not  a privy council, appointed by himself, consisttake their indorsement of the climate of Santo  ing of six members, and a legislative council,
Domingo for more than five weeks.              consisting of the privy council and six nonBut the fate of French and Spanish armies,  official members. This shows conclusively that
early and late, disclose the facts.  We know   a West India government must be supported
that, with the aid of the climate, a few ignorant,  by an army, and also shows the arbitrary style
ill-clad, ill-fed, and ill armed Dominicans have  of government which is still necessary after
destroyed large and well appointed armies.  an occupancy of the island by the British ever
Army statistics show what is the rate of mor-  since the time of Cromwell. Such men as
tality, when we compare the South with the  Governor Eyre only can maintain order.  It
North within the extreme limits of our own  is also to be noted that when slavery existed
country, and these prove the mortality in the  there were, in a population of three hundred
South to be nearly four times greater than in  and forty thousand, thirty thousand whites, but
the North and East. The number constantly  in 1861 the whites were reduced to less than
on the sick list from malarial fevers and dys-  fourteen thousand.  Is there not some proof
entery is also vastly greater.  Nobody will  in this that there is no health in the West
question that Jamaica is as healthv as Santo  India archipelago for white people? Who will
Domingo, and yet the average deaths there of  say that Santo Domingo car be governed with
the British army, from  1837 to 1855, were as  less sacrifice of life or treasure than Jamaica?
great as at Bombay, or over sixty annually in  And Jamaica is much smaller than Santo
every one thousand men, while in some years   Domingo.
they reached the rate of three hundred men out    The history of Santo Domingo, early and
of one thousand in a single year.  This is a rate  late, shows the climate to be incompatible with
which destroys a whole regiment in about three  labor. It is a sad reflection that its million or




18
more of native inhabitants, when reduced to  cane is grown it is consumed in its crude state
forced labor, were all speedily exterminated,  or converted into molasses and rum.  Coffee
From the highest numbers, whatever those  may be grown, but not enough is produced for
may have been, only sixty thousand were left  their own consumption, and it is imported and
in the short space of fifteen years, and in forty  sold at retail for twenty five cents, gold. Nothyears no more than two hundred of the original  ing considerable is produced except tobacco.
inhabitants remained. When their places were  They are dependent on the United States for
filled, from  time to time, by millions more of   even potatoes, onions, beets, flour, butter,
other Indians and hardier sons of Africa, even  lard, and cheese.  They have some mahogany,
these stubborn races gave way, and for two   but there is no demand for it.  I will ask the
centuries the climate appears to have been   Secretary to read from the document as I have
most destructive to the vitality of the human   marked on page 338.
race, drawn from whatever quarter of the globe.    The Chief Clerk read as follows:
The experiments made within the last five    " Cotton and cocoa are raised in insignificant quanyears show that of some hundreds of men hired  titles. There are no productionsfrom minesin Santo
to go and work on Santo Domingo plantations  Domingo. The exaggerated accounts published in
nearly all were stricken down by disease, and   the United States are gotten up by adventurers who
nearly all were stricken down by disease, an    have obtained concessions for nothing and expect to
fewlivedtoreturn. Thewoefulmortalitywhich  realize profits from the credulity of their fellowfollowed more than four hundred freedmen, an   citizens. There is no question that there are indintprnise' for a time in charge of the Senator  cations of copper and gold. as these metals have
enterprise for a time in charge of t    enator  been found in small quantities, but it is extremely
from Kansas, [Mr. POMEROY,] landed at Isle A  doubtful whether enterprises in search of these hidVache, Hayti, and from which our Government  den riches would be profitable. As a warnin to
at  such as may be tempted to embark capital in Dohad to rescue the survivors at great expense  minican mining enterprises,itis proper tostatethat
and scandal, is too notorious to be disputed.    Mr. Heneken, an English gentleman who resided in
Mr. POMEROY. As there can be no dis-  this country more than thirty years, was constantly
cussion on this subect after the Senator con    engaged in visiting all parts of the island. He was
cussion  on this subject after the   na member of the Geological Society of London, and
eludes, I hope he will not connect me with  employed scientific engineers and Cornish miners,
any such scheme as that.  I had no more to  but it proved to be labor lost. He died about five
do with it than a dead man.                      years ago, impoverished and disappointed. The
do with it than a dead Y ~an.                 wealth of this country consists in its various cabMr. MORRILL, of Vermont.  The Senator  inet, lignum-vitse, and dye-woods, and the fertility
from Kansas had charge of the $500,000 raised   of its soil, which is capable of producing all tropical
for the purpore of colonizing some freedmen.  plants in abundance; but it languishes in consefor the pupore of colonizing  ome freedmen.  quence of its constant revolutionary state, and beMr. POMEROY.  But I say, as to those  cause it has but a small and ignorant populatioAn.
who went to Hayti, I had no more to do with   Efforts have been made attimestointroduce a white
it than a dead man, and protested against them   immigration, but unsuccessfully. Nearly all the
immigrants from Europe and the United States fell
all the time.                                    victims to the climate in a very short time after their
Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont.  It was not  aarrival. This fact is repeatedly recorded in the ard
chives of this consulate. There are no white fieldmy purpose to impute any blame to the Sen-  laborers in Santo Domingo,"
ator.  One chapter of the historian, Alison, I
think I have shown to be a chapter of blunders,    Mr. MORRLL, of Vermont.  I present
and I shall now turn over another leaf and  this report of an authorized agent of our Gov
quote from a passage on the West India islands,  ernent, resident of Santo Domingo, and sent
where he is sustained by all standard author-  to Congress by the Secretary of State, as a
ities, and where he is most probably entirely   very satisfactory document to be read and hung
right. He says:                                  up alongside of the report of our late comright. He says: f.-1                      ~'  missioners; but I must say that I have no
It is a land of slavery and pestilence, where in-  missioners; but I must say that I have no
dolence dissolves the manly character and stripes can  idea that our commercial agent, by anticipaalone arouse the languid arm; where death bestrides  tion, intended to refer to any "exaggerated
the evening gale, and the yielding breath inhales  accounts " published by the commission
poison with its delight; where the iron race of Japhet
itself seems melting away under the prodigality of  BAEZ WANTS THE MORAL FORCE OF GUNS-HIS PEOPLI
the gifts of nature."                                 MAY PREFER THE UNITED STATES TO BAEZ.
This is the salubrity to which we are so ear-    But were all other circumstances as favornestly invited! It appears to me the less we   able to Dominican annexation as they are in
have of it the better.                          fact repugnant to the scheme, there still reFrom  the report on commercial relations  mains one more vital consideration, namely,
(Executive Document No. 18) transmitted to  do the people of Santo Domingo really desire
the House of Representatives December 6,  to sink their independent existence and be
1870, by the Secretary of State, I find valuable   permanently stitched to the mere selvage of
information communicated by our commercial  the United States?  Decidedly no I The rulagent, J. Somers Smith, at Santo Domingo,  ing passion of the people, mainly descendants
which fully corroborates the statements already   of Indians and forty different African races, is
given as to the utter poverty of the resources  a hatred of the white race.  Smothered it may
of the country and its extreme unhealthfulness.  be for a time, but it is sure sooner or later to
The whole document shows that while sugar  crop out. In the Haytien part of the island,




19
where the same races prevail, white persons  "moral support" of our guns, as our Secretary
are excluded from becoming citizens and from   of the Navy softly calls it, shall be withdrawn,
becoming owners of land. They have really  Cabral and his party protest against the validsought independence, and have abundant faith  ity of the whole transaction, are now in arms
in their own autonomy, if they could only keep  successfuly disputing it, and the popular vote
the Haytiens at bay.  The fact is conceded   seems to have been a poor copy of the very
by the commissioners that they would now   poorest Napoleonism.  It is clear that Santo
prefer independence if they believed that to  Domingo could only be held by a military and
be possible.                                  naval force, as it has been held for the past
A temporary gust may now blow in favor of  year by our Navy. The masses, however conthe United States; they may want to realize  fused and unstable upon other matters, have a
the $600.000 to pay off back salaries; they  traditional aversion to the rule of any foreign
may fear Baez while he seems to carry already   nation, manifested  in their public records,
the United States flag; they may yearn for  and on many bloody fields of battle, which it
peace so that they will not be conscripted to  would be sheer blindness to disregard.
fight in the army of Baez; they may only echo    It should be borne in mind also that the conopinions of leaders to day which they will be  sent of Hayti seems to be as essential to the
ready to change to-morrow; they may expect  transfer of territory as that of Santo Domingo
sudden wealth and not taxation; but it would  itself.  Without such consent even now borbe a great mistake to suppose that Dominicans  der warfare seems breaking forth from every
have more respect or affection for the United  jungle and which Baez is incompetent to grapStates than they have for France or Spain.  pie with, but piteously asks the United States
From language, religion, and association their  for aid to suppress. Cabral and Luperon, and
inhering partialities must all be in favor of the  their malcontents, with the aid of the dusky
Latin race and the infallible Catholic church.  warriors of Hayti, always ready for an unreIn  1848 the present adventurer, Baez,  lenting crusade against the whites, might prove
attempted to sell out his country to France.  a formidable foe in a desperate climate even
In 1861, not to load the recital with other  to the United States.
instances, Santana made a transfer of Domingo    It should also be noted that of the 22,212
to Spain, at-the time with universal applause.  square miles now claimed by Santo Domingo
But very soon the people were inspired with  1,000 square miles are reported to be held
othersentiments,andwouldnotsubmit. Within  and occupied by Cabral or by Hayti. Did the
three years they drove all the Spanish forces  commissionerspenetratethispartoftheisland?
out of their territory, and Spain, with enorm-  But suppose it were to be admitted that every
ous losses, once more abandoned Santo Do-  Dominican, those who have large claims for
mringo. There is no more reason to suppose   unpaid salaries and those who expect salaries
the people favor the annexation now pro-  hereafter, as well as those who hold leases of
posed than that which they then trampled in  land in expectation of annexation, was known
the dust of a revolution. The rival chiefs,  to be in favor of the measure, would that be
whose baseness is only equaled by their pride,  any reason why we should be?  It might be a
and whose treachery is surpassed only by their  very good bargain for them and yet a very bad
servility, may seek safety, titles, and wealth  one for us. Are we to accept of all peoples
by such a measure; but the people, whatever  and tribes who may express a desire for such
they or others may now say or think, will ever  a union? A patrimony quite ample, if propstand ready to accept the lead of any patriotic  erly husbanded, by such a course would soon
chief who may hereafter raise, however rudely,  be squandered.
the banner of revolt or of independence.         Finally, no Dominican can be legally bound
Already evidence is accumulating which  by any compact which carries with it terrishows the popular vote, obtained through the  torial sovereignty.  Their latest constitution
enticements of Baez and the moral force of  declares that "neither the whole nor any part
the guns of the United States Navy, to have  of the territory shall be alienated."  We know,
been a delusive juggle.  A vote so swift and  therefore, that not even the conscience of
so one-sided affords grounds for suspicion,  Baez, nor that of any other Dominican, can
especially when the imprisonment of the first  be in the way of repudiating an act so maninegative  voter disclosed the compulsatory  festly illegal and constitutionally indefensible.
part of the process. The banishment or im-    It will be seen that I place little reliance
prisonment of those known to be opposed to  upon any evidence that the Dominican people
annexation is also an ugly feature.  Cabral,  are largely in favor of being annexed to the
not interior in cunning nor in popular favor  United States. If the assertion be made that
to Baez, declares the popular vote in favor of  fifty or more Americans would be sufficient to
annexation "a sham."  Cabral, and fighting  mold and shape the destinies of the whole of
men enough to frighten if not to overwhelm   Santo Domingo, it should be remembered that
Baez, whenever the stars and stripes and the  a greater number of Americans have been hov



20
ering in and about the island for more than a  it is the first step in a policy of diseased enlargeyear and a half. Doubtless they have not been  ment, which any lover of his country might
wholly without influence; but the disinterested  look upon with the gravest apprehension, there
government of Baez, whose salary, and that of  should be some opportunity left for escape.
all his cabinet, legislature. and judiciary, will    The annexation of Santo Domingo would be
be likely to remain unpaid unless annexation  the extension of empire unaccompanied by any
succeeds, has staked its existence upon the  addition to the empire of national stability and
success of the scheme. Hence the anxiety for  virtue.  Our territory is already enormous, and
success, without which they must fight for the  every map, through constant additions and new
doubtful honor of supremacy in the adminis-  explorations, becomes annually antiquated and
tration of the Government. There is an exi-  as useless as agray-hairedalmanac. We should
gency which requires foreign aid to relieve.  build our Republic to last, and not for the show
That may be the opinion of the entire party of  of a single season. When Alexander retreated
Baez. I do not think the United States Gov-  from  India he caused to be made and scaternment ought to be used for his extrication.  tered arms much larger than his men could use,
THE PUBLIC VOICE AGAINST THE MEASURt.    and higher mangers and heaver bits than were
I have admired the President's inflexible per-  suitable for his horses, to impress foreign naseverance more than his political sagacity in  tions with an exaggerated idea of his greatness.
adheringtothepolicy of Dominican annexation   But this trick of the showman is now only
in the face of undeniable evidence that there was  remembered as a folly.  We shall fail to imno sentiment in the country of any party or of  press the world by playing the giant abroad and
any State warmly in its favor, because it brings  the pigmy at home, or by spreading great Amerto mind his inflexibility in braver and grander  ican flags abroad while those at home, torn
enterprises, and I have no doubt of his patri-  and tattered, fail to command respect and obeotic motives. The House of Representatives,  dience, or by sending our symbols of power
by a vote of nearly two to one, have once pro-  where they will be surrounded, not only by a
nounced against it. On the 1st of February,  Babylonian confusion of languages, but where
1869, a resolution giving the assent of Con-  we can have no directing and constructive
gress to the project of annexation was defeated  power over the character of the people. To be
by a vote of 110 against 62. The non-commit-  strong we must have the love of a thoroughly
tal amendment to the joint resolution author-  amalgamated people, and something more than
izing the expedition to Santo Domingo was a  mere local patriotism.  Real strength does not
hostile one, and it was carried in the House  consist so much in power to conquer the world
of Representatives by thirty majority, and I  as in power to resist the world, and even wealth
am assured that the naked question of annex-  is much less often found by going abroad after
ation would have been defeated by a still larger  new objects than by search at home for and
majority. In the present House of Represent-  diligent use of such as we already possess. We
atives it is likely to receive a more decided   may also virtually extend our territory by exrebuff; and yet a vote of the House will be  tending our knowledge of that we now have,
necessary, or the appropriation to carry the  and cultivating its present resources, its natmeasure into effect will fail. The Senate, as  ural affinities, and its future possibilities. The
we learn from  the message, has rejected a  glory of a State does not consist merely in the
treaty of annexation.  All this should be  magnitude of its extent, but largely in a fit corcounted conclusive as to the unbiased opin-  respondence of all its parts and the mutual
ion of the highest legislative bodies of the  respect and habitual affection of its people.
country, and most likely as fairly reflecting    SANTO DOMINGO AND HER DEBTS GO TOGETHER.
the sentiments of the people.  Opinions of    No one can'doubt if the late treaty had been
any other sort can be put off as cheaply as  ratified, or ifannexation should at last succeed,
put on, and it would not be complimentary  that the United States, having diverted the
to the national Legislature to suppose they  little remnants of what it is a farce to call the
would act on any other.                       national property of Santo Domingo, having
The treaty of annexation itself awakened  shielded her by absorption from responsibility
no enthusiasm, and was smothered by cold  to other nations as well as to individuals for
neglect and by an almost universal silence.  debts, and having appropriated all her resources
So improbable seemed its success that it was  from customs duties, would be bound, by internot even dignifiedby denunciation. But upon  national law as well as by honor, to,,pay all
a measure of so much gravity ought not the  of her outstanding obligations, whatever the
people to be heard from before the question is  amount, however contracted, and under whatsettled forever? Let the people, at least, have  ever administration.  No stipulation between
time to consider whether they could afford to  ourselves and Baez to the contrary, if made,
accept any part or the whole of the island even  would have any more lasting force than that
as a gift; much more, whether they can afford  made with Texas, or would bind other parto buy it at any price, or at the cost of war. If  ties, or be worth the paper upon which it




21
might be written. A State or Territory cannot  there not something like this looming up in
be prosecuted for debt like an individual. The  Dominica?  Will not her creditors say, as
United States itself would resist any such in-  Ruth said to Naomi, "Entreat me not to
dignity, and would be held to account for the  leave thee, or to return from following after
old scores of any territory annexed as surely  thee, for whither thou goest I will go."
as the husband, if the wife be indebted before    THE AMERICAN CHARACTER WORTH PRESERVING.
marriage, is bound afterward to pay the debt,    The people of the United States have some
having adopted her and her circumstances  pride as to their character-personal and natogether; and this Dominican debt nominally  tional-that which they inherited and that
amounts to millions, as it has been contracted  which they have made for themselves. They
upon a depreciated credit and a depreciated  claim that all men were born equal, but they
currency, itself a debt yet to be redeemed.  do not claim that allhave equally improved the
The creditors are widely scattered, and some  talents given to them by the great Father of all
are citizens of nations who will protect their  mankind. They claim, and justly, that selfrights to the last extremity.                 government is the best of all governments;
Many of these debts may be questionable;  not that all men can or will govern thembut the proof of their validity, supported by  selves, nor that it can be safely intrusted to
interested swearers, would be impregnable.  the untrained, unlettered people of many other
There are many large unsettled war claims  nations.  Is Santo Domingo one of the transwhich cannot even be estimated.  Hayti an-  cendent exceptions? Not atall; and we know
nounces a very large claim, by no means easily  that its incorporation under our flag would be
to be settled.  One administration acknowl-  the incorporation of an inferior element, deedges one class of claims and another a differ-  signed to invite much larger accessions of the
ent class. Who is to decide? Is it not absurd  same sort; and as such a precursor it may be
for the present Dominican Government to give  encouraged by those who would like nothing
a schedule of their debts, which is reduced by  so much as to chronicle republican degradatheir own illegal and arbitrary edicts from four  tion, though themselves not unwilling to be
hundred to one, from sixty to one, from thirty  released from such far-off dependencies.  Toto one, and from one third to one sixth? Will  day Great Britain does not regard Gibraltar,
their creditors abide such scaling? It is wholly  Quebec, or Malta as essential to British power.
improbable; and yet it is solely by this process  Of what use is Gibraltar as against Russia or
and by omitting all account of interest they have  Prussia?  Great Britain cannot suppose the
contracted to pay, and which is overdue, that  United States are afraid of Quebec. She is
they are able to compress their debt within the  conscious that her North American provinces,
prescribed limits of $1,500,000.  Instead of  though inhabited by a gallant people, could
$1,500,000 in gold, the whole debt is quite  not be held in time of war for a single month
likely to be very much more, how much no  as against its more powerful neighbors, and
one can tell.  Ratify such a treaty and the  knows equally well that, in like circumstances,
bottom  of Dominican claims would not be  she could terminate any hold we might have
sounded in the present generation, but a fresh  on Santo Domingo in a much shorter time.
brood of claim  agents, like carrion birds,  Fortified places count very little in the preswould flock to the Capitol for their prey. Our  ence of a vigorous enemy. The engineers of
action in the case of Texas is not likely to be  destruction nearly always prove more potent
forgotten. The joint resolution in that case,  than the engineers of defense.
March 1, 1845, roundly and stoutly provided:    Annexation of any sort, if to be accepted by
"That Texas should retain all her public lands,  us-and there is no possible annexation which
debts, taxes, and dues of every kind, and all vacant  would not be more profitable to the party anand unappropriated lands, to be applied to thepay-  nexed than to ourselves-should seek us, and
ment of the debts and liabilities of said republic of  ought not to be bought, conquered, or obtained
Texas, and the residue of said lands, after discharg-ought not to be bought, conquered, or obtained
ing said debts and liabilities, to be disposed of as  by any of the common acts of diplomacy.  It
said State may direct, but in no event are said debts  should come, spotless as a prairie homestead,
and liabilities to become a charge upon the Government  asa free-will oering of lands, hands, and
of the United States*"               ^"'"     as a free-will offering of lands, hands, and
of the United State8."           hearts, and not be too eagerly sought, as though
And yet, when the clamorous Slidell and  a few acres of the nether regions were indisothers had become the holders of these claims  pensable to our paradise.  Were all Spain to
to a large amount, on the 9th of September,  be offered to us today on the same terms pro1855, all claim  upon the United States for  posed by Baez for Santo Domingo it would, of
liability was once more relinquished, and Con-  course, be instantly declined, and yet its incorgress paid to the State of Texas in bonds the   poration into our system presents less insupersum of $10,000,000; but Texas was not even   able objections; the people are much more
trusted to pay these greedy creditors herself,  intelligent; but larger numbers, by magnifying
as they were adroitly required to give receipts  the enormity, only make the ugly features of
to the United States themselves for not less  such a proposition more visible.
than $5,000,000, or their share of the job. Is    The United States should have too much




22
self-respect to accept of any annexation save  having acquired in seven years an empire as
such as would add political and moral strength  large as that acquired by the Romans in seven
to her free institutions, wisdom to her coun-  hundred; but the great Alexander was no
cils, and buttresses to her Constitution, and  sooner dead than his colossal empire was
cannot afford to favor, nor can President Grant  found to be as incurably debauched as he was
with his grand history afford to favor, the an-  known to have been himself, and the empire
nexation of a people, confessedly inferior to  was at once broken into numerous military
the French, or to the Spanish, or to any other  fragments to vex the world with new wars and
European nationality, whose latest constitu-  a fresh brood of tyrants.  At last Macedonia
tion forbids the alienation of their soil, and  itself, the ancient seat of Philip and the base of
whose present chief is confessedly too weak to  the son's power, was reduced to a mere Roman
maintain ascendency over his own countrymen  province, while the city of Alexandria, built
except through the standing menace of the  to perpetuate the name and splendor of its
flag and guns of the United States Navy. It  founder, has long been a conquest under the
will touch our honor if it shall turn out that  dominion of the Turks, who give away its
we hold up a chief in order to make or to hold  ruins, with barbaric munificence, to British
up a treaty. We may even make some of the  museums.
ancient British acquisitions of Lord Clive and    The decline and fall of Rome was made cerWarren Hastings in India respectable by such  tain when it commenced its work of centuries
a modern indorsement.                        of triumphant and ferocious territorial aggranI cannot but regard a policy, though it be  dizement. In his last will the advice ofAugustus
only the first step in the direction of what may  against this policy came too late. The blunder
be called tropical annexation, which would  he would restrain had already been committed.
tend to make our nation a conglomerate of dif-  The people of vast untutored provinces were
ferent habitudes and nationalities, instead of  made Roman citizens, but these foreign-made
one united, compact whole, as fraught with  citizens only served to undermine the power
unmistakable calamities.  An empire may be  and glory of the original seat of Roman greatable, through its more despotic rule, for a time  ness, which diminished in its stamina and
to hold discordant peoples in subjection; but  virtue-the main pillars of any State-as rapmake such materials sovereign and equal, as we  idly as it increased in its bulk of gross material
must-for we accept for ourselves nothing less,  possessions.  Gibbon asserts and abundantly
crowning all with our fourteenth and fifteenth  proves that the Roman people were dissolved
amendments-and it would be only a question  into the common mass and confounded with
of time as to how soon they would, by intro-  millions of inferior provincials. The instituducing extravagance, corruption, local divis-  tions of Rome were destroyed by the poison
ions and collisions, wreck the best form of  everywhere lurking in and around ill-advised
constitutional government ever devised by the  territorial expansions. Even the exalted type
wit of man and ruin the fairest hope of the  of ancient Roman virtue and manhood was
world.                                        unequal to the strain, and the country of the
THE WARNINGS OF HISTORY.            Scipios and Caesars was finally vanquished,
Unfortunately, the life of republics has not  and vanquished by even the Huns-even as
been immortal.  There is one, however, that  Egypt was conquered and for centuries ruled
has stood unchanged fourteen hundred years  by the Mamalukes.  So much for ancient examidallsurroundingchanges; but San Marino  amples. Let us now come down to a later
is not only the oldest but the smallest State in  period of history, without even glancing at the
Europe, a State that never courted destruction  rapid decadence of Mohammedan conquests,
by expansion.                                 and watch the inflexible result.
The lessons of history, I am aware, are litte    Spain under Charles II became the proudest
heeded, and a fast people in a headlong pur-  nation of the earth, in consequence of the
suit of material interests often refuse to recog-  extent and importance of its territorial acquisinize that they are on the same road marked.by  tions, both in the Old World and the new. She
the bleached skeletons of nations wasted or  could boast of Castile, Aragon, and Navarre,
fatally stricken down by the results of a similar  of Milan, Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia, of
mad ambition.  Conceding that the despotism   Cape Verd and the Canaries, of Tunis, of the
which controls an empire may be the best  Philippines and the Moluccas, of Peru, Chili,
adapted among all governmental institutions  and Mexico, and finally, under Charles V,
for the control of colonies, distant provinces,  of Cuba and Hispaniola; and it is a part of
and foreign territories, let us see how it has  this last ill-omened island which our excellent
fared with a few of such examples in the past,  President has so earnestly sought to clutch.
and where success might be looked for, if any-  But all of these more or less magnificent
where.                                       Spanish appendages contributed only a moAlexander pursued territorial acquisitions  mentary splendor to Spain, and then for the
until tradition records that he wept because he  most part they dropped from the parent stem
could no longer find a new world to conquer,  like overripe fruit, and brought a deeper and




23
more lasting humiliation upon that haughty  nies and revolts —but are there not eruptive
but exhausted country than has been visited  social and political symptoms at home which
upon any other nation in modern times. The  at present tax all the resources of the most
riches from the tributes of enslaved peoples,  consummate British  statesmanship?  Even
succeeded by luxury and effeminacy, proved   Gladstone's constituents petition him to resign
to be apples that turned to ashes in the mouth.  because he has made them paupers. In the
Take the case of Bonaparte, who would have'event of internal commotion, or of a great war,
made, to borrow the language of one of our  Great Britain has no colony which could take
best American thinkers, "the earth for his  her part or that would contribute a penny to
pasture and the sea for his pond," and where  her exchequer or a man to herarmy. Charles
are his possessions now? The ode of Byron  XII said he taught his enemies how to conquer
fitly answers:                                him, and it may be found that the British will
"Is this the man of thousand thrones,     have taught the Irish, as well as the Indian
Who strew'd our earth with hostile bones?  Sepoys, an art which may hereafter plague
And can he thus survive 
Since he, miscalled the morning star,    even British conquerors. At any rate, it is
Nor man nor fiend hath fallen so far."   apparent that Russia, Denmark, and Spain, as
And these words almost as well apply to  well as England, no longer cling to colonies
Napoleon the last as to the first.            with their ancient tenacity. They can part
There is, however, still another recent exam-  with them without any heart-breaking.
pie. I mean that of the famous house of Haps-    The framers and founders of our Governburg, or the emperor of Austria, who recently,  ment seem to have been diligent students of
besides Germans, held under his command Ital-  history, and the debates in the constitutional
ians, Poles, Croats, Dalmatians, Slovaks, Ro-  Convention, as well as the papers composing
mansand Hungarians; butthebattleofSadowa  the Federalist, show that they were keenly
left Francis Joseph among the poorest and sad-  alive to all the facts bearing upon the career
dest monarchs of Europe, and from the first  and fate of republican forms of government.
rank, Austria, cut in twain by the astute and  Under the old Confederation a union of Canrelentless Bismark, fell to a second-rate posi-  ada and other British provinces with the United
tion among the nations of the earth, henceforth   States was openly contemplated and provided
with ample leisure to reflect upon the hollow-  for, but when the Constitution of 1789 was
ness and folly of incongruous annexations under  ordained and established such a union had
one dominion of separate, remote, and diverse  become apparently hopeless, and the expatripeoples.                                      ated Tories having made the provinces their
Are we to shut our eyes to such significant  home, it was then undesirable, and perhaps
facts, which stand forth, as light-houses upon  repugnant to the ardent patriotism  of the
dangerous coasts, in all the pages of history?  States. At all events, the peril which tracks
Can any one be under the delusion that human  the unlimited extension of territory in the pronature has greatly changed or that the United  gress of nations in all ages of the world was
States are to have a charmed life and be ex-  so obvious and so grave in its character that
empt from all perilshowever recklessly guided?  no power was anywhere given, under our ConIt appears to me that these great historic facts  stitution, by which such acquisitions were to
should have their proper influence-and I ask  be ever authorized, directly or indirectly. In
no more-in the decision of the question before  other words, they were all forever soberly and
us. Shall we not first of all preserve the in-  silently renounced.
heritance of our fathers?             *         This should be a barrier high enough  at
It may be said that England has not en-  least to make us pause before we attempt to
dangered its permanence, or its solid founda-  leap over it. It is not enough that the plain
tions, by its extensive colonial system. That  and palpable force of the Constitution has been
remains yet to be solved. Her mastery has  disregarded; ought it to be again and now?
been maintained at the immense cost of her  The advantages should be overwhelmingly in
present national debt and her present and past  favor of any scheme of annexation before it
system  of taxation, and of such a navy as  should be even  mooted, and its character
makes it not inappropriate for her poets to  such as would be cordially approved by the
boast that " Britannia rules the waves;" but  people of all sections and of all parties of our
it must be borne in mind that no British colony  country. Nothing less can justify any annexis represented, or has any control, in the home  ation. It should not be a doubtful question
government. British statesmen are not em-  carried by a beggarly and reluctant vote. Can
barrassed byanysuch foreign admixture. Aus-  it be doubted, if ever carried atall, it must
tralia, New Zealand, India, and the African  be by hesitating votes and by the leanest of
and North American colonies may not forever  constitutional numbers, whether by treaty or
submit to imperial control, nor will their sepa-  the legerdemain of a joint resolution?  Can it
ration from it be likely to be restrained by  be doubted that the annexation of Santo Doforce. At present the British empire in India  mingo, with the long, dark train which drags
stands firmly-bating rather too frequent muti-  just in the rear, would have been rejected with




24
scorn by the wise founders of our Govetn-  sponsibility for its decision invoke the largest
ment? Certainly it has no element of charge-  ptriotism.
ter and no advantage of position which can    Individuals occupy but a brief space in the
contribute to the safety or glory of our peer-  march of time, and a generation blots them
less Republic. All history shows that we ought  out, perhaps forever, butnations have a conto beware of what could not be other than s  tinuity lasting for ages and a character to be
hot-bed for the germination of national dis-  transmitted to the immortal pages of future
cord, national extravagance, and national  history. The past of our country issecure, and
effeminacy.                                  I would not jeopardize the future by the empty
It will not be pretended that there has been  mockery of an exchange of moral grandeur for
any enlightened public judgment in favor of  apparent or even for real material greatness.
the annexation of Santo Domingo. There has  If J can divine the secrets of my own heartbeen all that in favor of President Grant; and  and what I claim for nmyself I cordially corncede
his well earned popularity, in spite of his Do-  to others-there is no passion, no sentiment
minicanism,     t tutes theentire strength, the  lurking there which doesnotbow to a profound
baek bone ofthleasure;  Uninded by him,  desire that ot eountry shiallstand foremost
may I nottenture to say it would not have had  among the nations 6ot the earth, foriemost in
or have a corporal'sguard ofsupporters? To   free and liberal institutions, foremost in its
me, as well as to some others, it would have  moral fiber and intellectual reach, foremost in
given peculiar pleasure to have been able to  literature, arts, and laws, and foremost in all
supportthemeasurebecause ofthecountenance  the glories which crown the most elevated civlent to it by the present Administration, of  ilization and the most liberal, and, I hope I
whose integrity of purpose I have not a shadow   may add, stable form of human government.
of doubt; but it was and is a question in its    But, regarding the annexation of Dominica
scope beyond the life of any party and far  in all its aspects, present and future, foreign
above all parties, and my responsibility began  and domestic, as boding ho good to our counat the point where that of the Executive most  try, as a policy withering tb its highest and
properly leaves off;. and if I could not inde-  noblest aspirations, and as at war with the
pendently and conscientiously acquit myself        "Unity and married calm of States,"
of my whole duty on a question which so pro-  which all of us should most diligently seek, I
foundly concerns the destiny of our country,  shall vote against any measure even squintand, which once decided in the affirmative, is  ing at such an annexation, should such ever
irrevocable, I should hold myself unworthy of  again come up, with a solemn and abiding
my place. My age, if not my experience,  conviction that I shall never have an opporwarns me to endeavor to be earnestly for the  tunity of tendering to my country a higher
right. The question and the measure of re-  service.