Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-12
The Report Of the San Domingo
Commissioners,

The President last week transmitted to
both Houses Of Congress the report of the
Commissioners sent last January to the is
land of San Domingo on q tour of observa-
ton, and for the purpose of helping the
President and the friends of annexation in
the business Of Incorporating that island
into the United States. 1t was predicted a
the time this device was gotten up, and
while the project was before Congress, that
such commission would not be able to add
anything Of Importance % the stock of
knowledge in respect to that island which
was now in possession Of the government,
and of every individual who has taken any
pains to inform himself in regard to that
tropical region; and the report Of the com
mission verifes this prediction. We have
no room 70 give the report, as it would oc-
cupy more than page Of the FREEMAN, but
brief summary will show that it contains
nothing really new.
The government Of the republic Of Do
minica (the commissioners say) is republi-
can-which was generally known before.
The present president Baez. however, was
not elected he g took " possession Of the
Office in an irregular way. This is not new
information. Baez's usurpation is defended
by the commissioners on the ground that he
is better man than the official he forcibly
turned out Of Office As this information,
however, must have come chiefly from Baez
himself, or persons who are abou him, it is
not very valuable.
Revolutions, civil wars, etc, have been
common in the island. The island has been
d" infested with " jealous, aspiring and
seditious leaders, On account Of this the
penal code has become very strict, and polti-
cal offenders are conveniently and summarily
put out of the way. This means that those
in power keep in power until a revolution
turns them out. All this shows what a good
country and people we should get by annex
alton.
Cabral is a bandit-but he makes Baez
much trouble. He has possession Of a por-
ton of the republic the Haytien por-
ton. Luperon is another troublesome fell
low Cabral and Luperon have buC a few
hundred men under them; but as the com
missioners did mt see them, nor 60 near the
portion of the country held by them, Baez
must have kindly estimated their forces, in
order that an accurate idea Of their insignif-
canoe might be conveyed through the com
missioners to the people of the United
States. The commissioners make no men
ton Of the fact, which they must, however,
have known that our navy has been aiding
Baez in defending himself against these very
bandits.
The " difficulties "a mild word-of the
republic have also been " aggravated . by
the fact of g provincial jealousy . between
different sections but the commissioner 6
kindly volunteer the opinion that 81 strong
government like the United States
could put down these 9 aggravated Difficult
ties" This is probably true but unfor-
tunately we have considerable OF job of
that kind on our hands now in the territory
we already possess. Those who think we
have not enough Of that business at home
can stipulate if they like for additional
" difficulties" Alexander, we believe, did n t
sigh for more worlds to conquer until he had
conquered all he knew of; and we do not at
present absolutely sigh for more . difiul-
culties," and shall not until we conquer
those we have.
&" Local liberties" in the island - have
suffered greatly the - exigencies an
other mild word of the central civil anc
military authority having brought about
this suffering but the commissioners say
the " germs of local liberty > are no
wholly destroyed" If we are obliged t
take this republic with its q difficulties, .
what a fortunate circumstance it is tina
these - exigencies - have not " wholly de
stroyed " these " germs "
To gesrid of revoluti ons, etc, the Domin-
leans transferred themselves to Spain il
IS6l,-and to get rid of the Spaniards the
got up a revolution against them, whic
5000 Spanish troops failed to put down
and then the Dominicans went back to thei
accustomed . anarchy" Now they wan
the United States to try this Spanish expert
ment over again. Every body wants to b
annexed, because they want strong govern
ment to give them peace and order bu
the commissioners don't tell US how it hap
pens, when . everybody wants peace an,
order, there should be nothing certain in tn
island but " anarchy " and . revolution
Could mt the commissioners be induced t.
make another visit to the island, about mex
September, and make further investigation
on this point, as well as in regard to tn
g salubrity of the climate
There are some Americans in the island
and they want to be annexed. This,
commissioners say, was " very touching"
The commissioners further infer the desir
of the people for annexation from the fac
that they (the COMMISSIONER were not ecu
off, as they might have been, although the
slept with their - windows wide open,' an
the doors only slightly secured Tha
question must now be regarded as settled
The commissioners evidently expected oppc
sitiOn to annexation would be manifested b
assassination. Perhaps this is what keE
them away from Cabral.
The people of the island are nearly all co
ored and ares strange to say without Or,
Iudice on account of color. A white man
regarded as the equal of colored man, how
ever mixed - the color of the latter ma
be. There are no paupers,-and in a cour
try where people do not need to wear clothe.
and the spontaneous productions Of the re
gion are quite sufficient to maintain life. thi
is a singular and most gratifying fact-The
are peaceable, inoffensive people, VIII
never commit murder, arson or burglary
and didn't rob the commissioners and "
are therefore at a loss to understand what
the necessity for the 4" rigorous penal code ;
mentioned elsewhere are all Roman