The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-04-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The following is the Presidents
message transmitting the report Of
the San Domingo Commissioners:
To the Senate and House of Represea-
tatiDes:
l have the honor to submit here
with to the two houses of Congress
the report of the Commissioners ap-
pointed 10 pursuance Of a joint reso-
luton approved January IL, 1871,
and it will be observed that this re.
port sustains all that have horetc-
lore said in regard to the productive
ness and heslthfulness of the Repub-
lie of San Domingo, and the unani-
NOUS feeling of the people for annexa-
tion to the United States, and their
peaceable character. It is due to the
people, as certainly to myself. that I
should here give all the circumstances
which first led to the negotiation of
q treaty for the annexation of the
Republic of San Domingo to the
United States. When accepted the
arduous and responsible position
which I now hold, did, not dream
OF institutiDg any stops for aequisi-
ton OF insular possessions. l be-
lieved, however, that our institutions
we're broad enough to extend over
the entire continent as rapidly as
other people might desire to bring
themselves under our protection. !
believed further, that we should not
permit any Independent government
within tho limits of North America
TO pass from : condition Of indepen
dence TO one Of ownership or protoc-
ton under any European power.
Soon after my Inauguration as
President l was waited upon by an
agent of President Baez with a prop
osition to annex the Republic of
San Domingo to the United States.
This gentleman represented the de-
sire of the people and their character
and habits about as they have been
described by the Commissioners,
whose report accompanies this mes.
sage. He stated further that being
weak in numbers, and poor in purse
they were not capable Of developing
their great s.esources. That The
people had no incentive to industry
on account of the lack of proteotior
for their accommodations, and that i
not accepted by US with the institu
tons which they loved above thos,
Of any other nation, they would b,
compelled to seek protection else
where. To those statements made
no reply, and gave no indications O.
what l thought of the proposition
In course of time was waited upor
BY Q second gentleman from San Do
mingo, who made the same represen
tations, and was received in thu
same manner. In view of the fact
which had been laid before me, ane
with the earnest desire to ,maintair
the Monroe doctrine, believed tha
i l would be derilict in my duty if
did not take measures to negotiat,
with the government and inhabi
tants of the Republic Of San Domin
60 in regard to annexation, and com
municate the information to the peo
pie of the United States. Under IT,,
attending circumstances l felt that i
| turned a deaf ear to this appeal,
might in the future be Justly charges
} with a fragrant neglect of public in
terests, and an utter disregard of tn,
welfare of q down trodden rae,
praying for the blessings Of fire.,
ana strong government, and for pro
lection 10 the enjoyment OF tho fruit
Of their own industry. Those oppo
nents to annexation who have here
tofore protested to be pre-eminently
friends of the rights Of man, l be-
loved would be my most violent as
sailants if l neglected so clear q duty
i Accordingly after having appoint
ed commission to visit the Island
who declined on account of sickness
l selected second gentlemen, in
whose capacity, Judgment and integ.
rity l had, and have yet, unbounded
confidence. He visited San Domin-
90, not to secure or hasten annexa-
tion, but, unprecedented, to learn the
facts about the government, people
and resources of that republic. He
went certainly as well prepared to
make an unfavorable report as IA.
vorable one, if facts warranted it,
His report fully corroborated the
views OF previous commissioners and
upon his report I felt that q sense Of
duty and due regard for our grea,
national interests required mo TO ne
gotiate treaty for the acquisition
OF the Republic of San Domingo
As soon as it became publicly known
such . treaty had been negotiated
the attention of the country was oc
cnpicd with allegations calculated ia
prejudice the merits of tho case. and
with thosc whose d. had connect
cd them with II. al (dst the public
excitement thus created, the treaty
failed to receive the requisite two.
thirds vote Of the Senate, and was
rejected. But whether the action OF
that body was based wholly upon
the merits Of the treaty, or might
not have been in some degree IN
fiuenced by such unfounded allega-
tons, could not be known by the
people, because the debates of the
Senate in executive session are not
published.
Under these circumstances, / Deem
cd 1T due to the character of the
agents who had been charged with
the investigation, that such proceed.
/ inQe ehOuld be had aa sunnld anahla