, 1865-02-10

Ministers invoked every sentiment or justice,
humanity, and honour il counselling the annex
alton of this unhappy island. They believed
such a measure was all the more desirable, con-
sidering the circumstances and character of its
inhabitants, the fertility of it's soil, and the
strong attachment which the people, after past
excuses, whereby they had been terribly diSa-
bused, p%rofessed towards their ancient metropo-
lis.
The annexation was thus founded upon two
most noble, just, and weighty reasons. The
first was the right inherent in the unanimous
will of q people, a right not disputed, and pre-
viously affirmed by the general assert of the ma
tions of Europe and America In a recent case.
The second was the duty of humanity, OF COM
passion towards the unfortunate people who
sought favour and mercy, overwhelmed as they
were by a sea of disasters and misfortune. No
other right supported nor supports. the Spanish
Government in holding the Spanish portion Of
the island Of San Domingo neither the right Of
revindication nor the right Of conquest, both be-
ing opposed to the policy Of the Government,
the interests Of the people, and the friendly re-
lations which Spain has always endcavourcd to
maintain with the independent States Of Amerl-
ca, which once formed part Of the immense ter
ritory protected by the t~utelary mantle Of the
Kings Of Spain.
"But such AattcriDg hopes soon disappeared
fatal symptoms very soon manifested them
selves that the annexation had not that spouta-
neous and unanimous support upon which 1t was
based, Nevertheless, it was the duty of the
Government to ascertain with certainty whether
those violent protests, several times repeated,
did not proceed only from a discontented few,
but were the expression Of the feeling of a peo-
pie who rejected the legitimate power they had
invoked in a time of trouble and distress. The
agitation increased and gained towns and from
tiers, extending over the whole Of the territory,
and at this day the Spanish portion of the isl
and Of San Domingo presents to the civilized
world the spectacle of an entire people in AIMS
ungratefuliy resisting as tyrants those whom
they called i'll as preseryers.
80 strange , p Ii zeal phenomenon has been
examined by the Ministers undersigned with de-
licate attention and deep study. They have
thoroughly silted The sad History IF the anpexa-
ton Of San Domil go, AID bay, Considered the
question from every point Of view ina enable,
commencing by those Of justice and right, and
last regarding those of expediency. They have
we'll taken into account the reasons that might
be alleged on the ground of the national honour
and respect, and hare considered the event of
the most brilliant future possible a triumph OBJ
tanned at the cost Of immense sacrifices they
have weighed the arguments for and against that
may be based upon considerations of national
and foreign policy, and, finally, have carefully
made the sad calculation of the numerous and
precious lives that Spain loses every day that
this sterile contest is prolonged, and Of the great
amount of treasure it consumes.
GAS a result of this laborious examination,
the Ministers are impressed with the conviction
that the question of San Domingo has reached
a point which will allow us to make the follow
ing Deductions
That it was a delusion to believe that the
Dominican people, as a whole, or in the great
majority, desired, and, above all, demanded
their annexation to Spain, That the struggle
having become general it does not now bear the
character Of a measure taken to subject a few
discontinued rebels, but Of a war of conquest
completely foreign to the spirit of Spanish po-
Icy. That even by concentrating our efforts
and sacrifices in order to obtain a triumph we
should place ourselves in the sad position Of
holding the island entirely by military occupa-
ton, full of difficulties and not exempt from
dangerous complications that even under the
most favourable hypothesis that a portion of
the population may show themselves devoted
to US after victory, the Governmental system
that would have to be established in those do
minions must either be little suitable to the
usages and customs of the inhabitants, or very
dissimilar to that of the other colonial provinces.