The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-07
ST. DOMINGO.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN SE0REEA RY SEWARD
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE RE-
PUBLIC--DETAILED ACCOUNT
or THE CON VERSATION.
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Press.

| PUBLIC--DETAILED ACCOUNT
| or THE CON vERSATION.
| fCorrespondence of the Philadelphia Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb
| A letter has been received here from
San Domingo, giving the substance of Il
conversation held there on the l4th OF
January, between Secretary Seward and
President Baez, at the national palace.
| The Cabinet of Dominica were present.
The responsibility of the source whence
| the information comes entities it to
credibiily.
President Baez said he was very hap
by to have the honor OF receiving the
Secretary of State of the United States
at the national palace; that Il revolution
has been made in the Republic. and that
the whole people having acquiesced in
it, it lacks nothing TO give stability to
the present Government. but that 1t
should receive the recognition OF the
great Republic OF the United States.
Mr.. Seward said, I see before me a
person General Cabral) who, may say
| has heretofore, net improperly, but most
loyalty, been the obstacle to the reco9-
milton of the Government under your
administration When the power OF
Spain was cast off by the people of DOM
utica, they announced to all other ma
tons the restoration of the Republic of
Dominica, aud General Cabral as its
head. Satisfied that the revolution was
as successful as it was just, and believ-
| ing that it was permanently established
under the conduct of General Cabral
the United States did not hesitate mo-
ment in instructing their Consul resid-
ing here to recognize the Republic by
putting himself into political relations
under General Cabral.
Before those instructions could be eX-
ecuted there was change, an irregular
one, without the form of constitutional
action, and General Cabral was not
President aud not in his place. You,
General Baez, were found at the head of
| the Republic, in antagonism, as it SEEM
ed, to the will of the people, as it had
before been expressed in favor of Gen.
Cabral, though not hostile to you. We
sought to know how the Government
of the Republic was to be permanently
reorganized, and under whose admins
Itration in due execution of the national
will, which is for all foreign States the
supreme law. m s.. sf U
All our difficulties are now happily
dIspelied. Gen. Catrai 10 no fonSoi
| President by the voice of the people,
but you are President in his stead, and
the acquiescence of the people are qua
ranteed by the presence of General Ca
brai acting in full harmony with you
as member of your Administration.
| President I5aez said: was In France.
| came to America on my way to my
country; heard that the Spanish rule
was cast off, and that the Republic was
| al ounoaccfllllV enQtalnn1
| / was prepared to accept, and heard with
satisfaction, that state Of things.
General Serrano had been proclaimed
President provisional Presdent). L
was prepared to acquiesce in his admin
istration. The people considered again,
and General Pimental was chosen Pro-
visonal President; / was ready to ac-
auiesce in that. While / still remained
abroad the people considered again and
called General Cabral to the Presidency;
[ was content with that arrangement,
but there came q declaration OF the pop
ular will calling me to the Presidency.
| That call was sustained by Gen. Sierra
| no. Gen, Pimental and Gen. Cabral, and
| it came in o form SO solemn that L was
obliged to regard it as the will of the
people. l.
/ caused the Congress of the Republic
to be convened. They have ratified that
desire, and / have accepted the admin
istration under the guarantees OF organic
law; and with view of cementing the
harmony of the Government have in
yited General Pimental and General
Cabral to be members of my Cabinet. /
am still holding similar trust for Gen.
Serrano, which hope will be accepted
by him.
Mr.. Seward: President, your policy
seems to me to have been eminently Ju-
dicious. | trust that it will prove as
successful as it was manifestly wise.
President Baez said: hope that all
parties will acquiesce i'll complete re-
turn of peace and order. But 1T would
complete our good fortune, and give us
the only guarantee that remains TO con-
solidate the Government, II the great
republic of North. America would give
| us its recognition. When Dominica
separated, in 1874, from Haytl, many
| other Stairs recognized Dominica J but
the United States, for reasons douptiess
of their own, have never recognized
Dominica. The enjoyment of their
| favor is essential 10 our STABILITY ana
peace. and have always thought 1T a
| hardship that it could not be secured.
| Now. however, since learn that the
| United States have proclaimed general
| liberty for all classes of men, hope that
the obstacles which have prevented our
recognition may be deemed to have been
| removed.
Mr.. Seward. President, when the
United States, separated from Great
/ Britain and established themselves an
independent nation, they organized
! themselves into a republic, and laid for
| its foundation the principle of the
equality of men, u principle with which
any form of human slavery is incom-
patible. But Africa slavery existed in
| the country, and while in theory and in
form our condition was one based upon
the eaality of all the people of the ma,
ton, slavery nevertheless existed and
| had guarantees in local or state laws.
The first great effort of the friends OF
freedom and humanity was to eliminate
slavery with its influences in every form
from the Federal republic, and toglve
to the nation the character and policy OF
a nation opposed to human bondage.
Every step that weadvanced in attemPt-
ing to impress this character upon the
nation, we were met by the slavehold-
ing portion of the republic, by the me-
naces of disruption and Acknowledgement
| xnfr