grievance, either fancied or real; and he debated the
resolution in a spirit not at all justified by the subject itself. He
spoke of it as "a measure of violence" and a "dance of blood." "In
other days," said he, "to carry a project, a President has tried to
change a committee: it was James Buchanan. Now we have been called
this session to witness a similar endeavor by our President. He was
not satisfied with the Committee on Foreign Relations, and wished it
changed. He asked first for the removal of the chairman [Mr. Sumner
himself]. Somebody told him that this would not be convenient. He
then asked for the removal of the senator from Missouri [Mr. Schurz],
and he was told that this could not be done without affecting the
German vote."

Mr. Sumner continued: "The negotiation for annexation began with a
political jockey named Buenaventura Baez; and he had about his two
other political jockeys, Casneau and Fabens. These three together, a
precious copartnership, seduced into their firm a young officer of
ours, who entitles himself _aide-de-camp to the President of the United
States_. Together they got up what was entitled a protocol, in which
the young officer, entitling himself _aide-de-camp_ to the President,
proceeded to make certain promises for the President. I desire to say
that there is not one word showing that at the time this _aide-de-camp_,
as he called himself, had any title of instructions to take this
step. If he had, that title and that instruction have been withheld.
No inquiry has been able to penetrate it. . . . I ask you," said he,
addressing the Vice-President, "do you know any such officer in our
government as '_aide-de-camp_ to his Excellency the President of the
United States'? Does his name appear in the Constitution, in any
statute, in the history of this country anywhere? If it does, then
your information is much beyond mine. . . . However, he assumed a
title; and it doubtless produced a great effect with Baez, Casneau,
and Fabens, the three confederates. They were doubtless pleased with
the distinction. It helped on the plan they were engineering. The
young _aide-de-camp_ pledged the President as follows: 'His
Excellency, General Grant, President of the United States, promises
_privately_ to use all his influence, in order that the idea of
annexing the Dominican Republic to the United States may acquire such
a degree of popularity among members of Congress as will be necessary