American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-16

Inc ARRIVAL OF hossuth ON the SHORES VI Anio-
RIGA promises to make this the great question
| Of the day. But while the eloquence OF the
great Magyar is thus directing the attention OF
the people of the United States to the affairs OF
Europe, few seem to be aware that precisely
the same question was recently presented to the
consideration of the Government of the United
States, in reference to the West Indies. The
analogy between the two cases is SO remarka-
BILE that it is to be regretted that the President
was not more explicit in his late message in
reference to the recent joint Intervention Of the
United States, England and France, in the con-
test between the Haytiens and Dominicans.
The action Of the Executive on this question,
| as applicable to this side of the Atlantic, would
throw much light on the question of the pro-
priety or improperly of extending the prnci-
pies involved to our European relations.
The Presidents message refers Kossuth and
Hungary to the consideration of Congress, but
dismisses the island of st. Domingo thus:
"Peace has been concluded between the con-
tending parties in the island of ST. Domingo,
and it is hoped on durable basis. Such is
the extent of our commercial relations with
that island, that the United States cannot fail
to feel a strong interest in its tranquility"
About the same time that Gen. Taylor sent
an agent to Hungary to report upon the condi-
tion of that country, he also despatched an
agent to the island Of st. Domingo, with full
powers to conclude a treaty of friendship and
commerce with the Dominican republic, if, in
his discretion, it should appear proper to do 50.
On his arrival on the island, the agent referred
to learned and reported to tho Department of
State the following facts:
The island of st. Domingo is, in climate, soil
and mineral productions, far superior to Cuba,
which it nearly equals in extent 1t formerly
belonged to France and Spain. BY treaty of
limits the boundary was fixed, giving to Spain the
eastern end of the island, about three fourths of
the whole, and to France the western end, about
one-fourth. The French portion, though so much
less in extent contained a population six times
more numerous than the Spanish part The
frightful history Of the French part Of the
island-the servile revolt, the massacre and
flight of the French colonists, many Of whom
took refuge in the United States-is generally
known, if not well and fully understood. The
the island is, on the contrary, but little known
in the United States. For twenty years after
the negroes of the French colony had driven
out the French and established the so-called re-
public now empire, Of Hayti, the eastern por-
ton of the island remained in the peaceful and
undisturbed possession of Spain. In 1921,
when Mexico, Colombia, and the other Spanish
A do ~ 20 -,
dependence, the Dominicans, carried away by
tho same spirit, declared their independence
with the view of forming part of the Colombian
republic. They hosted the Colombian flag,
and sent commissioners to ask admission as one
of the States of that republic. The Colom-
bians were then too much engaged with their
own affairs to undertake the defence Of the
Dominicans. Spain, engaged in the vain eff
fort of retaining her other more populous
and valuable colonies, left the Dominicans to
themselves. Boyer, then president of Hayti,
called out his whole military force, and pass
ing the frontier, under pretence of aiding
the Dominicans against the Spaniards, took
possession of their government and country.
The Dominicans soon found that subsection to
the Spaniard. The Real Audiencia was trans
ferred to Cuba. Their splendid institutions, to
the support of which all Spanish America had
contributed its wealth, were destroyed. The
celebrated university Of Sto. Tomas de Aquinas,
of the city of Santo Domingo, was closed; its
learned and distinguished professors were forci-
bly, elected, and the students were pressed into
the ranks of the Haytien army, or converted
into lackeys and grooms for the black generals.
Their splendid public edifces were torn down
or dismantled to furnish materials for the build
ings of their conquerors; and their property
confscated by extending over the whole island
the article of the Haytien constitution which
forbids "any white man TO put his foot on the
soil Nth The title Of proprietor or owner." Thus
spoiled of their property, many fed to other
countries; but the greater portion, stripped of
the means of going elsewhere, remained the
victims of the worst tyranny of the world.
In 1843 handful of Dominicans, driven to
desperation rose in the night and took posses
sion Of the principal gate of the city of Santo
Domingo. They were seconded by some of the
foreigners then there, who, by exaggerating
their numbers, induced the Haytien commander
Of the citadel to capitulate, before morning
came to show him the weakness of the move
ment Fast as the news spread through the
country the Dominicans rose, drove out their
opprcssors, and established a republican gov
eminent, which they have since sustained.
The Dominicans now number from 1901
to 100000; the Haytiens, from 100000 to
100000. The Dominicans prohibit the immi-
grafton of blacks, and invite the immigration Of
whites by offering grants of land, and paying
the expense Of their transportation and mainte-
nance until they are established in their new
homea The Haptiens forbid the immigration