The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-06
The Deminican Republic.

A writer in the New York Journal Of Commerce
furnishes the following interesting and importan,
information, in relation to the republic of St. Do
mingo, in the Island Of Hayti:
"The Island of ST. Domingo formerly belonged
the eastern fart to Spain, the western part to
France. Under low system Of morality, con-
siderable population Of free people Of color had
sprung in the French part of the island, when the
French revolution began. One Of the early results
OF that revolution, was the decree of the con-
stiiuent assembly Of France, of the 18th NAV,
1891, declaring that men Of mixed blood Of all
shades, born Of free persons, should be admss-
bile to the colonial assemblies. This admission Of
free people Of color to n political equality with
themselves, was resisted by the white inhabitants,
who, rather than submit thereto, made proposals
to Sir Adam Williamson, then governor of Ja-
maica, To place the Island, or rather the French
part Of it, under British protection. Their propo-
sitions accepted. and a British force sent to
occupy the posts Of Jeremi and ST. Niolas Mole
Santhonax, the French commissioner, alarmed
at the prospect Of the colony falling into the
hands Of Great Britain, proclaimed the general
emancipation Of all the slaves. This was followed
by coalition Of the free people of color with the
atrocities committed on lettering age, helpless in
fancy, and feeble womanhood, have given to the
Island terrible interest.
The people Of color, who united with and en-
couraged the blacks in these atrocities, have since
met with their merited punishment, in the oppres-
sion, banshment, and massacre, Of which they
have in turn become the victims.
Ii II great error, into which many have fallen,
TO suppose that the inhabitants Of the eastern
or Spanish part of the island, had any part in
these scenes OF vice and crime, and which have
rendered Infamous the very name OF that beautiful
island. Those excuses were confined entirely to
the French part. The Spanish part Of the island
remained undisturbed, and. until 1921, in quiet
submission to Spain, Of whose colonies it was, in
climate, soil, and mineral productions, perhaps
the most valuable, though most neglected. Over
looked and neglected by the cabinet at Madrid,
and their only source Of prosperity, their COM
merce with the other Spanish American colonies,
being cut of by the revolt Of those colonies, in
December, 1871, the Domincsns declared their
independence of Spain, and, hosting the Colum
bian flag, sent commissioners TO ask admission
one Of the States Of the Columbian republic. That
republic was at that time too much engaged in the
organization of its own government and affairs at
home, to attend TO the application Of the Domni-
cans. Spain. engaged with her other colonies,
left the Dominican revolutonists to themselves.
Boyer, then president Of Hayti, under pretence Of
marching to their assistance, took possession Of
the country. The Dominicans, few in number
and unprepared for resistance, were compelled to
submit. and found that they exchanged the neg
lect and the restrictive commercial policy ofSpain
for the far moro oppressive tyranny Of the blacks
Under this yoke they suffered till 1913. In that
year, driven by desperation, few persons, not
over hundred, rose in the night, and took pos
session Of the pr ncpal gate. Of the city Of St. Do
mtnGo. BY the influence of some of the foreign
residents, whose sympathes were with them,
and who went between them and the Haytien
garrison in the citadel, exaggsrating their num-
bers and strength, the garrison was induced to
surrender before morning came to disclose the
weakness of the'movement. As fast IA the unex-
pected news spread through The country, the Do
minicans hocked to the standard OF independence,
drove out the Haytiens, and established repub-
lican form Of government.
The Dominican Republic contains from l50, 900
to 200 900 souls. The Hsytiens number from
800 900 to 1,00O,00 The latter admit no white
person to hold any real estate, or enjoy any Of
the privileges Of citizen. The former is essen
tnlly white government, with about the same
intermixture OF other blood as in the Spanish
Main and Brazil The government always has
been, and still Is, in the hands Of the whites The
Immigration Of blacks il prohibited, and white
coioniss are invited by grants Of lands, the gov
eminent paying their expenses till established in
their new homes.
tons 10 the United States TO interfere to put an
end 70 the invasions Of the backs. Learning that
such an application had been made, the English
10 anticipate the tardy action Of our slower NOV
ing Government. profersd their mediation. The
Dominicans, Suspicious Of the negrophily Of Eng
land, hsstated to accept the offer, lest their doing
40 might afford prstext for English influence to
compel them to submit to the black Emperor Sou
louqus. The offer was threfore accepted, only on
the condition that the United States and France
should Join in the mediation.
The celebrated society Of the "Amis des noirs, T"
was established about the commencement OF the
French revolution, for the purpose Of ameliorat-
ng the condition ofths black population IN the
West Indies. IL leading members were Brissot.
'et,on, Mirabeau, Clavisre, Condorcet, and most
distinguished Of ali. the Able Gregorie, To their
nisdirected zeal may be attributed all the crimes
nd horrors, which have dssolated the island or
Ianto Minco, reduced it, inhabitants to condi-
on Of slavery far worse than that which it was