Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-17
(TO the Associated Press.)

MORE SAN DOMINGO NEWS.
President Grant to-day sent to the senate Il
message, in answer to Senator Summers recent
resolution calling, substantially, for all the in
formation i'll the possession of the department
of state relative to Dominica. long letter
from Secretary Fish accompanies the message.
The first part of the letter reviews the history OF
Dominica, from the partition of the island be.
tween France and Spain, in 1777, including the
outlines of the events by which the Dominican
republic secured its independence and recogni-
tlon by Che United States; the fruitess negotia-
tons for the bay and shores of Samana under
Pierces administration; the renewed proposition
Of Dominica, made to Mr.. Seward in 1861, to
cede to the United States jurisdiction of SANTANA
Bay, on condition that we advanced to them a
loan of million dollars and supplied them a
quantity of heavy artillery. Stewards favorable
consideration of the offer and the visit of the
assistant secretary of state to San Domingo are
mentioned This mission resulted in ascertain
ing that Dominica would COncede only partial
control of a limited territory entirely made
quate for our naval necessities, privileges which
need no treaty to be obtained in any part of the
civilized world.
Mr.. Fish stated that full power to negotiate a
convention for the acquisition of SANTANA was
subsequently entrusted to Somers Smith, United
States commercial agent, but, no progress being
made, it was revoked May Sth 1861; and the
Cabral government previously in power having
been OYerthr0wn, all negotiations terminated
abruptly March 1, 1868. 1t would seem that
this failure was caused by apprehensiOns in
some minds that some European power would
avail itself of the opportunity which the United
States was apparently letting slip from its grasp.
On the LIST ofJune, 1868, the following letter APP
pears to have been received at the department,
addressed to Honorable VIM. II. Seward, de-
partment OF state"
SENATE CHAMBER, May 30.
Dear Sir: If you have any information with
regard to any movement on the part of the
n Talar TO INt
station in the West Indies, should be obliged
to you TO communicate it to me-
Faithfully yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.
The answer to this letter is not found on the
files of the department 1t is to be presumed
however, that efforts in that direction, at that
time, by European powers were unsuccessful
The new government of San Domingo reopened
negotiations with the United States, and before
the close Of Johnson'S administration very
favorable overtures had been made to
MIR. Somers, our commercial agent, by
President Baez, for the annexation of the
island or q cesson Of SANTANA. After the inaug-
uratiOn of President Grant, the policy which
led several previous administrations TO entertain
the negotiations which have been referred to-
was regarded as too well settled by the practice
of nearly seventy years to be then questioned.
1t was supposed, in the striking language of a
then recent speech in the senate on the acquisi-
ton OF Alaska, that, "our city can be nothing
less than the North American continent with its
gates on all the surrounding seas" On June Cd,
1869, President Grant appointed Benjamin S,
Hunt of Philadelphia special commissioner to
visit San Domingo, and obtain full information
on all necessary and important subjects bearing
on the question of annexation. Mr.. Hunt was,
however, taken sick while preparing for de-
parture, and Gen. BabcOck was sent out in his
stead, with substantially the same Instructions
Mr. Fish makes numerous references to Bah
cocks report previously published, which was
regarded as favorable to annexation, and states
that Babcock was directed to return to San Do
mingo and aid Raymond H. Perry, commercial
agent, in negotiating treaty for an annexation
Of the whole island, with lease of SANTANA as
an alternative proposition. The treaty and con-
vention for annexation negotiated not receiving
the approval of the senate, the treaty for the
lease is still pending before that body Evident
ly, nearly all parties in San Domingo are favor
able to annexation, but there appears TO have
been hostility to the form in which it was to be
consummated, growing out of the reputation
by the Baez government of the grant of salt
mines to one Davis Hatch, originally made by
the Spaniards when they attempted to reassume
their old dominion, during the rebellion in the
south. 1t was confirmed by Cabrll during the
few days he held power. Most of the special
inquiries in Mr.. Summers resolution, as
to the debt of Dominica and her relations with
European nations, and Hayti the feelings of
the natives on the question of annexation, ETC..
are answered by reference to the accompany
ing documents and reports, many OF which are
private and confidential, or have heretofore been
published. The secretary says all the CORE
spondence in the archives of the department
tends to show, that, should Baez fail in the
effort to annex Dominica to the United States,
the popular disappointment may find vent in
another revolution. He has no knowledge of
any obligations which Dominica is under to the
neighboring republic of Hayti, as to debt and
liability, save such obligations as are shown in
confidence blythe papers transmitted.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE BUREAU.
A circular was issued to-day, recognizing the
internal revenue bureau, which hereafter will
consist Of four principal divisions-of law, of
correspondence, statistics and matters not other
wise provided for, of accounts, and of distilled
spirits.
No information will be furnished for publica-
ton by any officer of the bureau, unless first
approved by the commissioner, when it will be
posted on bulletn-board kept for the purpose
CONFIRMED.
The senate, this afternoon, confirmed Rear
Admiral Stephen f. Rowan as vice admiral, and