New-York tribune., 1868-02-21
THE VEST INDIES.
sANTO DOMINGO

SANID DODlINOOs
THE SANTANA oUEsTION-DEBATE IN TIE MA
TIONAL CONGREss-sPEECH OF AN EMINENT
DOMINICAN ON THE sCBJEcT--rHE PoPoLA-
TIoN OF sANTO DOMINGO.
FROM Our Special Correspondent
SASIo DOMINGO CITY. jan H. 1868.
The question of the lease of. Samana con-
tnues TO agate the public mind here, and the puphc
discussion Of does not lessen the feeling Of opposition
which the action OF Cabra in the matter has awakened
On the 10th utmo lengthy debate the subject took
place the National Congress- and it will give some idea
Of the sentiments generally entertained by the Dominican
people relative the proposed transfer OF Saman to the
cred ON the occasion by Senior j. b. Zafra, OF the
able members OF the Congress- and OF the most
eminent OF the public men Oh santO Domingo Seior
Zafra discussed the subject threefold point OF
view First political question; second, as an eco
Under the first head he maintained that the proposed
transfer OF Samana is opposed to the fundamental prin
cipes of the Dominican Constitution and To the laws OF
Santo Domngo and that to introduce into their feeble
Republic foreign power OF such immense strength as
the United States would be 10 attack the Independence
of santo Domingo and TO put their nationality In peril
To pull down the Dominican ag" he said in order to
but odious aud whatever may be the motives such an
could not be regarded otherwise than as an act OF
treason" the second point he contended that as an
economical question: the proposed lease was anaosuTuly
You may lease spot Of land to private individual,
it has established itself upon the land upon the sea-
tho 'Unted States when the term OF their lease snail
have expired Withdraw from this place. give us back
solitude, and you ought to return IL 10 US
covered though It be with towns, with popnsa, ps.
ton, with railroads, fortlncatons, anu tne mus rda
of foreign industry ana cOmnerce IN, D Uh Vhuen
that we might rstabsh our Government over ~ where
Is Isl ne man nv %o w 70 wbo hue will stop tbe human flood
which, from samana, will invade us until 1t has forced
into the heart Of the Repubict But independently OF
this consideration the stipulated in the lease could
extrcate from the situation OF difficulty IN which
we are placed IL will only to the deficit in
the budget. and in that case the exgenoes Whlch may
be created by such state OF things are ncalcuaDe Inc
deficit will increase and we shall not be abe TO cover H.
that the end Of two years we shall have TO lease
sell another portion OF our territory to satisfy our ex
pensive foles. until, IN the end we shal anehate tne
whole of 1t. In dealing with the social aspect
Of the tbe thS Gs you intro
duce the foreigner among us, OF different language Color
religion, and customs from ours there WIN pe war Oh
caste Wherever there are whites VINO despse Dacks or
blacks who have escaped from state OF slavery people
will always look with an evil eye upon those VINO are not
OF the same themselves To part with Samana
in the way proposed TO declare war against the Haytan
people who. already full OF Indignation against tne cause
OF this fatal act OF annexation would nave the ght 10
regard traitors to our nationality IL would DO 70
declare war against S and nslons ho %od nj em bs right to
plant their flag also upon other points OF our territory
influence Of the United States 1t would be war against
property. Because the people, seeing many suddenly
they remain poor would consider themselves
authorized to revenge their poverty by de-
predaons upon the fruits OF the industry OF innocent
foreigners whom they would not be long in coming 10
consider az usurpers In short gentlemen 1t would be to
sSTsc GeSTfs the Of ] y s0 colony Of Of
Aicaps for whom place cannot be found In the great
American Republic, and which increased Dy seyeIal mil
could not contain, would extend itself from Hlgney 10
Mole st Nicholas and from Cape Beatta to Porto Platte
What then would become in the Of few years
OF the 100000 cOored Domincans who are nelther whites
nor backsi Would not the fate OF the old Indians whom
the spanards destroyed become tnat OF TINS easy
going, careless race, when exposed 10 new IN IN
yasiOn by other conquerors more poWeriui, anu anu
more sklful than the spanardi Further: u the
money. of the American should prove DC PETER yer
extent OF driving him out OF country which series OF
criminal and incapable Governors had corrupted DY
brcs will IL be possible TO satisfy the avarce OF reyolu
tonsts and spectators seek TO make their fortune
not by OF industry the only source OF prosperity
but rather the occupations and the chances OF war;
Will government possible while there exists party
who will sell themselves to those who will seek power
in order TO gain American gold Gentlemen, to speak
plainly consider the Of the Territory OF Samana
under every point or view, 60 school OF nm0ralty as
the focus of our future dssensons and transaction in
which, for every OF sod there will be paid several
pounds OF blood SANTANA will be point OF refuge for all
the eonir9tors an open dQor for tie denao9azaton
0f the whole Republic and finally the supGoisa revenge
our nationality nor believed It's existence possible In
1861 opposed TO the best omy humble ability the de
livery OF the country into the hands or the foeger TO-
day and before my unjust prosecutors defend the pru
cpe OF the integrity Of the national SOIL which should 10
no spcassfs feiiafx about the colOred race OF San
Domingo who neither whites nor blacks suggests
explanation which may not be OUT oI place herrr
santo Domingo ia not is generally supposed. blach y
republic The population Is about $4,000 Souls, OF "ch
number not than 10000 blacks All the rest are
| OF liked blood with the exception OF a few Thousand
natives the descendants Of the old Spanish 1alnes
but between these and the colored race OF when SeO
Zapa speaks. there is the most perfect socal eauaV
In fact the classes have become thoroughly fused
that they must be regarded one people III Is rgh 70
add that the Dominican blacks equally with their arer
portion tile soil OF santo Domingo to the United states
or to any foreign power whatever