The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-31
"WuArI I Know AnoUTn SAN Don1Sa o.
A communication in the Cincinnati Com


A communication in the Cincinnati Com.
snercial says:
The Dominican Republic, so-called, com.
prises about t~o-thirds of the eastern por.
tion OF the island Of Hayti. Its area is
slightly greater than one-half the State OF
Ohio, or about twenty-three thousand
square miles. 1t has mixed population
white, black and colored-of about two hun.
dredthousand people, who have maintained
their independence Of all European inter.
ference for more than quarter Of cen.
tury. The forp Of government il republi-
can, but 1t has, In fact, been q military
despetism.
Anirregular line drawn from the mouth
Of the river Pcdernales on the south, to the
north OF Massacre river on the north coast,
separates San Domingo from the Republic
of H.yti. The two Republics have never
beenupon cordial terms with each other.
In 1861, General Santana, the com.
mander-in-C Chief Of the Dominican forces,
and tue de fdcto ruler Of the Republic, sold
out the entire island-the Dominican por-
ton Of ito the Spanish Government, I'M
der tho pretense that the people were anx-
ious to he annexed to and become vassals
Of that kingdom. Spain was not 1ong in
discovering that she had been duped by the
Dominican General, for general inslirrec-
tion soon broke out, which spread through
out the island, and all the forces Spain
could spare were not sufficient to subdue
1t. The Spaniards were beaten and driven
IRON every post in the island, and gave up,
whipped. The royal decree incorporating
San Eomingo with the monarchy of Spain
issued In 1S6l-was revoked in April, 1865,
since Which time the Dominicans have been
| 1nGpnplHQnf nf al ink
There his bean, however, considerable in
ternal ttouble. During the war with
Spain Pdanco was the Provisional Presi-
dent, but vas soon displaced by General
Plmentel, Who had greatly distinguished
himself In the Spanish war. This officer
was chosen with great regularity and una
nimity, but The term Of his 0fkss ', "a. iiilllr
ed 10 three niunLhs, III the expiration Oh
which time the people, in great numbers,
met at the city of st. Domingo, and repu-
dated General PimentePs further authori-
ty, and General j. NJ. Cabral was named
Protector. --
Upon assuming authority Cabral at
TEMPTED tc negotiate with Pimentel, but
did not succeed. The latter, however,
being deserted by many of his adherents,
soon resigned. In December following
1S65) General BaeZ was cle:ted President,
and win some interruption has held the
supreme executive power up TO the pre-
sent tine. Cabral appears to have revolted
agaip,t bis authority, and was once chosen
Pres sdent by his followers, during the fol-
loving year, but he was again displaced by
Bs:z, and has kept up predatory war
fac from that time till now. He is charac-
terized by the partisans Of Baez as BAN
dit, living and supporting his followers
lpon plunder.
The adherents Of both parties are under
stood to be favorable to a union with the
United States. 1t will be remembered that
the principal city on the island (St. Domin-
|go) has the honor Of being the oldest civil
lzed city on this continent, it having been
founded by COlumbuS-sO says the tradl-
tion-in 1902.
The productions of the island are not
we'll known to our people. Thirty-five
wears ago Balbeo called attention to the
immense quantities Of fine timber produced
there, embracing many Of the finest speci-
mems in the world, which may be had tor
the mere labor of bringing them into mar
ket. Coffee and tobacco are said to be album
dant, and to grow luXuriantly with very
little care OF labor.
The city of st. Domingo contained apop-
ulation in 1SG0 of eighteen thousand peo-
pie, black and white.
SINGULAR STORY OF GEN. SAM HoUsToN.
The secret of Hou>ton's resigning the
Governorship of the State OF Tennessee
three days mter marrying young wife
has never been revealed. lie did so, went
among the Indians and hcrauao great
chief, and only leappearcd when Texas
was struggling for independence.-C Colum-
bus (Ga.) Enquirer.
With re.r,rd TO the historical INQUIRY here
made, we have to say, that very little is
known by Gen. Houston's best friends.
That little Is SO honorable to him that we
shall, for the first time, put it in print. We
NAV premise that our information is de-
rived indirectly from one now deceased.
who, during her life, had right to know
what caused that strange episode in the
life of that great man. Gov. HouSton's first
bride was 4 Tennessee belle of surprising
beauty, anG Of considerable social rank
She was, if not the affiauced bride, ut least
the sweetheart OF a neighboring gentleman
when Gov. Houston sought her hand. Her
family being very ambitious, forced the
match, and she was married. After retlr-
ing 10 her bridal chamber her department
was such as to cause him to suspect that
while her hand was his her heart was
another's, She confessed the truth when
interrogated, and while promising fidelity
and wiftly duty, declared herself unable to
love him. He at once retired from the
house, leaving his bride as pure and spot
less as ever. He then resigned his position
and went among the Camanches. In due
course Of time the lady sought and OBJ
taineu q divorce. Conduct like this was
honorable to all Observation-Disclosures
(1eIGs) NerS.