The New York herald., 1869-02-24
ST. DOMINGO.
General Bauiks' Pretecteraae scheme-6ew-
ards Negotiatiea with Baez-The Asnexa-
taOn Idea.

General Rauks' Protecteraae scheue-e3ew-
ards Negotiatiea with Baex-The Asnexa-
tion Idea.
ST. DOxIkGO, Feb. Q, $780,
The excitement OF Mr.. Johnson's wholesale plan
OF taking this island ana the nutter produced By
Mr. Phelps Alta vela resolutions were subsiding into
cheerful acceptance OF manifest destiny. when Mr..
Banks proposal for protectorate stirred Il all up
again. II Mr.. Banks, Mr.. President and the HERALD
say the word IN the proper way Hayt Is theirs but.
as grim Cromwell would say, t'keep your powder
dryn and work with common sense, while you trust
TO Providence. This protection business Is ~ sm-
pie as the multiplication table but 1t must COM
mence with free and neutral port at SamanS, or
wellpaid-for United States naval station on the
Mcclellan ste or, better st both OF these together.
and very soon az that.
The gentleman who came here to conclude the two
million loan omitted some new ideas-that Is, new
to the Powers here-on the Alabama question,
though, OF course, It Is to be presumed they have
been ventilated In the Northern press. They are as
follows:-ShouId the washington Cabinet press its
views to point which the British Ministry could
not concede and hostilities ensue, It would be
privateer war; A thousand Alabamas would take
the sea. aud the ocean commerce OF both nations
would disappear In twelvemOnth. That Of England
would find shelter under neutral ags, and all the
harbors Of Europe would be conveniently open to
her indirect trade; that Of the United states would
be more removed from friendly and neutral ports,
even here In the West Indles.
England would probably lose Canada and her
round Oh the war By compacting the whole Of North
America In the Union; but all that could be done BY
purchase for tenth Of the money In costs Of war,
and therefore need be no object. The serious point
ia how we should come out OF 1t commercially and
(which u the question asked here) what an advan-
tage free port ct Saman6, which would be always
safe ana OPEN without the perious cost OF defend-
Ing Y IN war would be to- American interests IN any
This consideration was as early as 1865 submitted BY
Baez to Seward by confidential medium; but there
was no grand money speculation IN that plan, and 1t
facts and arguments then adduced proved to hum that
such Outport would be Of priceless advantage to
kings who were disposed to negotiate for free and
neutral port at Samana as great steam centre, he
made dash for st. Thomas He would have bought
reduced to extremity he dared not attempt the dis
memberment OF the republic That failed, and we
cured his loan in such way as to keep up his gov
ernment for two years. and BY the end OF that term
he trusts to the development OF the mining and In
dustrial interests OF the country for maintaining It
without sacrificing Samana.
The idea OF annexation failed to alarm the people
because Il came In the form Of . fraterna invita-
tion highly atterng their self-respect, and II the
project Is followed up In that gusc there will be no
opRos..on worth mentioning a ,g 70 the measur srs
made after the Seyb0 asc0 and some twenty persons
are held for examination on charge OF conspiracy:
with the utmost rig0r OF the law, but before this
system Is put into effect Baez will proclaim gene
raj amnesty and only those who renew scdtttOus
efforts are to sufYer the death penalty.
The roads are bad beyond description. Before
signing the drafts for the first $780, 900 nstament OF
the loan two engtneerS-brought from Europe for
the purp0se-made scientific reconnaissance OF the
gold DISTRICTS TO see whether there was su11cient
promise OF mineral wealth 70 secure the payment OF
principal Of $1,000, 600 with interest. They came
back IN sorry bodily plight having left two or three
horses dead on the road but the evening Of their
turn there was Cabinet meeting that lasted until mid
night. The details yet secret but at ITS close Mr..
Baexs Secretary Of the Treasury had the documents
for 5000 900 every two months for ten instaments.
Should Mr. Baez die retire from power during the
process OF payment the loan closes ut that point and
nstalmens cease but all the securities given remain
a. given until principal and interest OF the sums ad
vanced shall be paid up In full The object OF this
singular secret clause is 70 keep the money out Of
the reach OF reYolutiOn-makers