The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-06-09
ST. Domingo.
President Grants Message on the Dominican
ut Treaty. &
III the Senate of the limited Statas.

ton, with view to its ratification, an,
additional article to the treaty of the 10Th
of November last Tor the annexation of
the Dominican republic to the United
States, STIMULATING for an extension of
the time for exchanging the notifications
thereof signed in this city on the 14th
inst by the plenipotentiaries of the par
ties. 1t was my intention to have also
negotiated with the plenipotentlary of
St. Domingo amendments to the treaty of
annexation to obviate objections which
may be urged against the treaty as it is
now worded but on reflection, deem it
better to submit to the Senate the pro.
priety Of their amending the treaty as
follows: First, to specify that the obl.ga-
lions of this government shall not exceed
the 81, 100000 stipulated in the treaty !:
secondly, to determine the manner of ap-
pointing the agents to receive and dis
bNrse the same; thirdly,t to determine the
cla SIS of creditors who shall have prece-
dence in the settlement of their claims !;
and finally, to insert such amendments as
may suggest themselves to the minds of
the Senators to carry out in good faith
the conditions of the treaty submitted to
the Senate of the United States in Janu-
airy last, according to the spirit and in
tent of that treaty. From the most reli-
able information can obtain, the sum
specified in the treaty will pay every just
claim against the republic of St. Domingo,
and leave balance sufficient to carry on
a territorial government until such times
as new laws for providing a territorial
revenue can b. enacted and put in force.
feel an unusual anxiety for the ratif.
cation of the treaty, because believe 1T
will rebound greatly to the glory of the
two countries interested to civilization,
and to the extirpation of the institution
of slavery The doctrine promulgated
by President Monroe has been adhered
to by all political parties, and ] now
deem Improper to assert the equally i'm
portant principle that hereafter no terri
tory on this continent shall be regarded
as subject to transfer to European pow
er. The government Of St. Domingo has
voluntarily sought this annexation 1t is
weak power numbering probably less
than 10000 souls, and yet possessing one
of the richest territories under the sun,
capable of supporting a population of
10000, 600 of peoplein luxury. The pop
ulat,on of St. Domingo are not capable Of
of maintaining themselves in their pres
emit condition, and must look for outside
support They yearn for the protection
CT our free institui ions and laws, our pro
gress and civilization. Shall we refuse
them? have information, which be-
lieve reliable, that a European power
stands ready now to offer 100000 for
the possession of SANTANA Bay alone, if re-
fused by us. With what grace can we
prevent a foreign power from attempting
to secure the prize
The acquisition of st. Domingo is de.
sirable because of its geographical posi-
ton. 1t commands the entrance TO the
Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus transit
of commerce. 1t possesses the richest
soil, best and most capacious harbors,
most saluhrious climate and the most val
liable products Of the forest, mine and
soil of the West India Islands It's pos
session by us will, in few years, build
upa coastwise commerce of immense mag
nitudc, which will 60 far towards restor-
ing to us our lost merchant marine 1t
will give to US those articles which we
consume so largely and do not produce,
thus equalizing our exports and imports
In case of foreign war it will give us
command of all the islands referred to,
and thus prevent an enemy from ever
again possessing himself Of a rendezvous
upon our very coast. At present our
coast trade between thcsStates bordering
on the Atlantic and those bordering on
the Gulf of Mexico is cut in two by the
Bahamas and the. Antilles. Since we
must, as it were, pass through foreign
countries to get by sea from Georgia to
the west coast Of Florida, st. Domingo,
with stable government under which
her immense resources can be developed,
will give remunerative wages to tens of
thousands of laborers not now upon the
island. This labor will take advantage
of every available means of transportation
to abandon the adjacent islands and seek
the blessings of freedom and its sequence,
each inhabitant receiving the reward CT
his own labor Porto Rico and Cuba will
have to abolish slavery as q measure of
self preservation to retain their laborers
St. Domlngo will become large consum-
er of the products of Northern farms and
The cheap rate'at which
her citizens can be furnished with food
,ools and machinery will make it neces-
'ary that the contiguous islands should
nave the same advantages in order TO
compete in the production Of sugar, cof-
zee, tobacco. tropical fruits, &C. This
will open to US a still wider market for
,ur products The production of our own
upply of these articles will cut off more
han $100,0O0.O00 of our annual imports,
BESIDES largely increasing our exports.
With such a picture it is easy to see how
,ur large debt abroad is ultimately to be
With a balance of trade
gainst us, including interest on bonds
leld by foreigners and money spent bv