Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-04-13

government, would exercise upon the Institution
of slavery has not escaped attention. Geograph-
slavery in North America-Cuba on the west, and
Porto Rico on the east In the present impotency
Of its government 1t exercises little influence, but
the inhabitants are earnestly opposed to slavery,
and under more favorable circumstances their
moral influence would be felt in neighboring
islands. II would be all on the side of freedom.
Nor would that influence be merely moral. CoE1i
mercial influences work In the same direction. San
Domingo Is capable of fsupporting millions of peo-
ple land s cheap; in fertility 1t certainly equals,
and probably exceeds, the neighborng isles and it
is even better suited to the production of sugar
and coffee. 1t could supply the whole market of
the United States with these great West India
staples. During the year above mentioned seven
teen per cent. of all the imports Of the United
States were the productions of slave labor. This
trade Is the main support which the slave system
has. With liberty or free labor, and the immigra-
ton which would be attracted by these, with vast
advantage in the West India trade, arising from
the fact that any duties laid by the United States
on West India productions for revenue
sSTe sWd produces and would nupe o tSe
of Dominican free labor, 1t is not too much to ex
powerful state which, by the inevitable course of
trade, would make slave labor in the neighboring
islands Improbable, and, by the spread of its
ideas, render the whole slave and caste system
odious.
The Commissioners of course felt a deep inter-
est in the experiment of self-government which
the blacks are trying in Hayu. They stated to the
President of the republic that they should be glad
IO DC put III Iue way Ol WuhL NeIc luc
claims of Hayti upon San Domingo; what were the
views and wishes of the Haytien people with re-
spect to any changes that might be brought about
in the neighboring republic, but they received no
encouragement 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
refusal They contented themselves, therefore,
with taking such testimony and gathering such in
formation upon matters bearing upon the ques-
ton of annexation as they could, without giving
offense.
CONCLUSION.
In reviewing the whole field of their investiga-
tions 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 which
would doubtless be afforded, of a well-regulated
orderly and prosperous state-the great
need of that part of the world, and
which Ii has, as yet, never seen. A second
and more direct benefit would arise from the
equitable establishment of boundary line be-
tween the French-speaking and Spanish speaking
natives upon that island, and its guarantee by a
strong power. This would end the exhausting
border warfare, which has been one of the great
est curses of Hayti, well 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, B. F. WADE,
ANDREW d. WHITE.
l.. G. HOWE,
To the President of the United States.