I now firmly believe that the moment it is known that the United States have entirely abandoned the project of accepting as a part of its territory the island of San Domingo a free port will be negotiated for by European nations in the Bay…

A large commercial city will spring up to which we will be tributary without receiving corresponding benefits, and then will be seen the folly of our rejecting so great a prize.

In view of the importance of this question, I earnestly urge upon Congress early action, expressive of its views as to the best means of acquiring San Domingo.

My suggestion is, that by joint resolution of the two Houses of Congress the Executive be authorized to appoint a commission to negotiate a treaty with the authorities of San Domingo for the acquisition of that island, and that an…

The question may then be determined, either by the action of the Senate upon the treaty, or the joint action of the two Houses of Congress upon a resolution of annexation, as in the case of the acquisition of Texas.

So convinced am I of the advantages to flow from the acquisition of San Domingo, and of the great disadvantages, I might almost say calamities, to flow from non-acquisition, that I believe the subject has only to be investigated to be…

PRESIDENT,--The resolution before the Senate commits Congress to a dance of blood.

Is it right that these commissioners shall serve without compensation?

Agassiz, is it right to expect him to give his invaluable services without compensation?

The requirement that the service shall be of this kind will necessarily limit it either to the rich or to the partisan.

It does not open a free field to talent, to fitness, to those various qualities so important on the commission.

I hope that the Senator will reconsider his judgment, that he will see that we cannot treat the pending proposition with the levity--he will pardon me--with which he treated it.

I insist upon this point: the object of the resolution, and I will demonstrate it, is to commit Congress to the policy of annexion.

Therefore do I say, this joint resolution, as it now stands, is entirely unnecessary.

The President has all the power it pretends to give.

I ask him to show its necessity; I ask him to show any good purpose it can serve; I ask him to show why it is brought forward on this occasion, unless to commit Congress to the policy of annexion.

I have already set myself against it, and I continue now as firm against it as ever.

The information which I have received since our discussions last year has confirmed me in the conclusions which I felt it my duty then to announce.

I object to this proposition because it is a new stage in a measure of violence, which, so far as it has been maintained, has been upheld by violence.

As Senator, as patriot, I cannot see my country suffer in its good name without an earnest effort to save it.

I doubt whether you can find a diplomatic paper anywhere in which any person undertaking to represent his Government has entitled himself Aide-de-Camp of the chief of the State.

The two duties are incompatible, according to all the experience of history.

No aide-de-camp would be appointed commissioner; and the assumption of this exalted and exceptional character by this young officer shows at least his inexperience in diplomacy, if not his ambition to play a great part.

We can simply speak of its existence, for the President himself has imparted that to Congress and to the country.

The treaty exists; and now the practical question is, By what means was it negotiated?