The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-19
OUR RELATIONS WITH DoMiNICA-THE INTER-
FERENCE OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND.-GENE-
RAJ, CAZNEATPS MISSION

AfA4AADhn
Dominican government, and the anxiety manifested by
Of the opposition journals msrepreent the action
Of General cazneau for purpose Of affecting njurousy
the administration Of President Pierce have induced Gen
Cazneau TO place disposal The and statements
contained in the following communication We invite
special attention to Them containing Of little
interest
For the Usion.
The anti-Amercan journals OF Europe have largely oe
euped themselves in concert with their faithful allies
the disunon press of this eounyn misreprsentng the
motives and circumstances OF the treaty which had con-
cluded with the Dominican republic, but which was after
wards aside by the hostile interference Of France and
England This was be expected for the enemies Of
American progress instnctvey favor any attack the
internal peace national greatness OF our republican
Union and naturally oppose whatever tends 10 give the
United States pre-emnence the European kingdoms OF
their idolary.
If such thing exists american system of policy
the Dominican republic had the strongest claims on the
friendly notice Of government and at the solicitation
of many Spansh-Amercan friends who felt the import
OF the crisis caused those claims and the condition
that country be laid before President Pierce at the
commencement of his administration.
Its geographical vicinity and central position were urged
in behalf Of interests common 10 both nations as well as
its desirable harbors its valuable professionally what
country does produce, and must purchase its
wantsexactly what people supply the best
terms It's commanding situation at the intersection OF the
great and growing lines of American commerce. its free
and liberal institutions lis expressed wish to enter into
closer relations with its great neghhor of the north
and not least among these considerations, the significant
fact-Rhch American patriot cam and which no
American statesman WILL overook-that this neglected
republic is the only territory in the whole circle Of West
India islands under American rule
This solitary oohod of American nationality is strug-
Cling for life against the attempts of Solonqne to reduce
to negro despos He claims for the negroes under the
title they acquired by their former massacres Of the
whites the right TO hold the Of the in subec
ton, and to blot out civil and religious liberty at their
pleasure. France and England secretly omen these pre-
tensions and they sustained less openly by
the leading disunon journals in the United States.
The Donincans asked nothing but to be left in the
peaceful possession of their parimony and to receive
from the United States the moral aid of national recog
milton and the encouragement of fair reciprocal treaty
Their object stable and independent nationality With
free security of person. property and religion for all creeds
classes and races and to the Dominican people in
this necessity also the soundest of policy for
the United States.
In plain terms these the questions before Shall
the entire West Indies with their hundred thousand
square miles Of territory, and their three millions of in
habants be wholly Afrcanzed and made the implements
of European opposition American progress shall
encourage the Dominican republic to maintain indie
pendent nationality and become the nucleus of Amer-
system in the Antiles2 Shall the allied powers, who
boast that their position at the gates of the Gulf of Mexico
enables them any time to cut in twain the commerce
between the northern and southern States Of the Union
be permitted increase this power by encroachmens
exclude altogether, while they usurp Samana the
key of the Caribbean sea- they have before usuped the
of San Juan the Invaluable inlet of the Nicaragua
route and the Ruatan archipelago the general ontport of
cur sthmus transit TO California, shall we be allowed
to obtain by fair negotiation haven of refuge in
American where treat and trade without
| asking the consent of France and England?
1t be no violation of confidence etiquette to say,
in reply the unjust impuation upon the President
that Car have understood his views the Domn-
lean question: they only what he has declared TO the
world in his inaugural address At time and IN no
way has he to my knowledge gone one step beyond that
document with regard to my mission and to stop short of
ought to entail eternal disgrace on any American be he
President or private citizen.
1t the systematic policy of France and England to di
vide degrade and mpoversh the American republics and
many Of their most serious difficulties in the Of the
unfortunate Dominican republic may be traced to the in
| nigues OF European agents.
They deprived this republic of the advantages resulting
from recognition by other American powers and de-
cared kind of Mosquito protectorate, which would
cude il from entering into any treaty relations independ
Of their vile and policy II is not denied that their
agents employed threats promises and, finally, open
display Of force TO deter the Dominican government from
completing the treaty desired to enter into with the Uni
ted States The members Of the Dominican Congress- who
gave the conclusive evidence of this interference
declared they considered both the legislative aud
ecuive powers under European duress and asked TO
say in good faith, whether believed the United States
government would defend the honor and freedom of these
negotiations from European dictation.
1t was a momentous question with the Dominican peo
pe for as of their ministers truly observed to me- off
the powerful American Union submits to the dctaon of
the allies it cannot expect the feeble and unsupported
Dominican republic 10 resist their we sacrifice per-
bap its very existence in support of interests which the
Americans win not defend for Themselves
Whatever may be the requirements of European dipo-
macy know Of nothing in which makes it necessary
for representative of the United States to sacrifice truth
and honor; and replied candidy to this appeal that
had full confidence in the patriotic intentions of the Amer
can Executive and that Congress had, in various FORMS
asserted that firm resistance European encroachment
on American soil a undamen tai doctrine OF the Amer
lean system bnt | obliged to acknowledge it had
permitted bare-fced violations of this principle by Eng
land Nicaragua and Honduras and il might therefore
continue passive while France coonized the Bay of Sa
mana.
did all in my power to induce the Dominican govern
10 resist these assumpton but justice compes me to
admit that, pressed il every side by France
England and Hayti and in doubt whether the United
States would sustain the cause il had no alter
native bnt to submit to the demands of the allies and
recede from the treaty they had invited from the United
States.
II, e.. A. - Al. n Il