Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-04-14

government, would exercise upon the Institution
of slavery has not escaped attention. Geograph.
icaliy II lies between the two last strongholds OF
slavery In North America Cuba on the west, and
Porto Rico on the east. In the present impotency
OF its government II exercises little influence, but
and under more favorable circumstances their
moral influence would be felt ~ neighDoring
islands. II would be all on the side OF freedom,
Nor would that influence be merely moral. Conf
mercnl Influences work In the same direction. San
Domingo is capable of ofsupporting millions OF peo-
ple land e cheap in fertility y certainly EQUALS
is even better suited to the production OF sugar
and coffee. II could supply the whole market OF
the United states with these great Mest India INDIA
teen per cent. of all the imports of the United
States were the productions OF slave labor. This
trade Is % e man SarS uPpTs ~ aSo tne aSd be sSss
ton which would be attracted by these, with vast
advantage In the West India trade, arising irom
the fact that any duties laid by the United States
on West India productions for revenue
slave products, and would inure to the protection
of Dominican free labor, II Is not too much to ex.
pect that San Domingo might be developed into a
powerful State, which, by the inevitable course OF
trade, would make slave labor in the neighboring
islands Improbable, and, by the spread OF it's
IDEAS render the whole slave and caste system
odious.
The Commissioners of course felt deep inter-
est In the experiment of self-government which
the blacks trying In Hayti. They stated to the
President OF the repuDnC tnht tney bnOulu ne Blhu
to be put in the way of asceralniDg what were the
claims of Hayt upon San Domingo; what were the
views aud wishes of the Haytien people with re-
spect to any changes that might be brought about
In the neighboriug republic, but they received no
announcement to pursue their inquiries They
asked verbally and through our Minister In writ
ing for permission TO explore In the Interior of the
island, but this was met In spirit equivalent to a
refusal, They contented themselves, therefore,
with taking such testimony and gathering such In
formation upon matters bearing upon the qnes-
ton of annexation as they could, without giving
offense.
.h- CoNoIUsIoN. .t HtG-
In reviewing the whole field of their investiga.
tons looking to the interests of both divisions OF
the island, they are firmly persuaded that the an
nexation of San Domingo to the United States
would be hardly less beneficial to the Haytien
| than to the Dominican people. This benefit
would arise: First from the example winch
would doubtless be afforded, of a wel.regulated,
orderly and prosperous state-the great
| need of that part Of the world, and
which it has, as yet, never seen. second
| and more direct benefit would arise from the
| eqU table establishment of boundary line be
| tween the French-speaking and Spanish. speaking
natives upon that island and its guarantee by .
strong power. This would end the exhaustina
| border warfare, which has been one of the great
| est curses of Hayti, as we'll as San Domingo, and
would enable both to devote their energies thence
| forward to the education of their people and the
| development of their resources
Respectfully submitted, i. +. WADE,
| ANDREW d. WHITE,
| H. G. HOWE,
To the President of the United States.