The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-25

ly and persistently, with the results a
ready shown 1t ought to be added tina
the annual saving or interest on the det
reduced and paid is $l2,000,0OO Thi
reduction has moi been made by the ali
Of additional taxes, but by large repea
of taxes. If the fidelity, integrity anC
economy Of the administration can enabl
Congress to make q still further rGduCtiO
in the rate Of taxation and exempt n stiI
larger list Of objects, il ought to be dont
il It can be- done without impairing pub
lie credit at home and abrOad-withOu
embarrassing the regular and necessar
operations of Government know thcr
are some good Republicans who havr
serious doubts a. to the policy Of rCduC
ing the public debt so rapidly during tn
present generation, have shown tina
Ihe reduction already made was from
money saved by the economy and vigi
lance OF the present administration, Thu
far no one certainly ought to object, nor L
its continuance on such terms, hut we stol
reducing the debt because we say tn
next generation will he so much mort
able to pay 1t, aud therefore leave 1t t
them, that generation will in all proba
bility be quite MS willing to adopt our eX
ample and leave II to their children, anC
so il may he postponed from ono genera
tiOn 10 the next, until in the end disasters
may Overtake the nation before the deb
Is provided for. Our public credit will
thus be seriously impaired, and our pros
poets Of funding the debt al a lower rate
OF interest utterly oyerthrown Attel
that the Indian policy Of tht
present administration was more CCOnom
iCal than that pursued by preceding adj
Mr.. Delano then reviewed
the serious and difficult questions at issue
between this country and foreign nations
dwelling more particularly on our critical
relations with Great Britain. lie gave Il
short history Of the negotiations tor the
settlement of these questions, including
the much vGXCd question Of the Alabama
claims. In connection with this subject
he said m unsatisfactory adjustment oI
these difficulties had been attempted dur
Ing the last days and amid the expiring
as II were, OF the last Ndministra.
ton, the results Of which were SO distaStc.
full that they were at once repudiated by
President Grant, by the Senate and by the
people. This first result OfthC announce.
nCnt by the President Of the attitude Of
this Government toward England was, |
think, the cause Of our subsequently sue.
ressiul negotiations. There was no threat,
oning and no clustering, but nm expression
u the determination to insist upon our
rights This, also, came from one known
% have fixed purposes and fearless char.
lcter. Here we paused and Great Britain
and reflection led to advance.
nent, but England ending finally in IL
reaty which, think, is one Otthe n0blest
OF diplomacy that has ever
lCcn accomplished by this Government
IN the matter Of the late negotiations for
he annexation of Santo Domingo, the
Secretary explained many facts hitherto
lOt generally known, which reflect credit
IpOn the President and present the SantO
Domingo question in light very different
rom that In which II has been recently
brought before the country. He said that
his imperfect review Of the foreign policy
md acts Of the administration would he
Incomplete were II not made loincludo the
SAN Domingo question, concerning which
10 much has been said and written nbu.
i've of the administration. Every ci-
orl seems To have been matte to
induce tho belief that the scheme for
lie annexation Of the Dominican part OF
he Island Of llayti, or the acquisition OF
he bay and peninsula Of SANTANA Origi.
rated with Gen. Grant, and that he had
iscd undue means to effect these Objects.
greater blunder has not been commit
cd, and wish 10 show the exact process
~ which the question was brought to
Ills present status. 1t Is n matter OF his.
Ory that ~ long ago rs 1915, during the
of Mr., Taylor, m agent
vas sent to EIaytl TO examine the bay of
'amana and tho adjacent portion OF the
sland, with n view to obtain lO0thOld
here for naval station. Again, during
he administration of Polk, in lS4O, Lieut..
}. d. Porter lnOw AdmirAl,) examined
he Island lOr the same purpose, and
made favorable report. Also, during the
administration Of Mr.. Pierce, Capt. Geo.
3. Mcclellan made similar survey for
be same purpose, and returneda favorable
eport. At this time, and for several
ears following, the representatives Of
Ipain, Great Britain and France opposed
he acquisition by tho United States Of
ny rights in tho Island, threatening the
,eople there with direct punishment il
hey did not at once forego such ncgOtia.
ions. It was OF the utmost importance
o Spain TO Obtain exclusive control Of the
crritory Of San Domingo, with the hay
nd peninsula, As IL would give them NIB.
olute control Of the entrance to the Ca.
ibean Sen, with all the immense pollti.
al and military advantages which would
esult therefrom, but she was compelled to
bandon her efforts. In August, 1861, n
provisional government was formed,
nd in the same year negotiations were
csumcd with the United States. In
anuarv, 1867, the Assistant Secretary Of
,tate was sent out as u special agent, at.
ended by Rear Admiral Porter, and In.
estGd with ample power to con.
lude convention, subject 10 ratiil-
alton by tho Senate, for the Ces.
ion or lease Of the bay and Peninsu.
A of Samana, provided it should be
ound to offer the advantages which were
ought. Owing to proposition in the
Dominican Constitution that government
ould not consent to nh absolute sale Of
crritory, but offered lease upon the de.
ails Of which the parties failed to agree.
President johnson unwilling to relinQuish
he project, directed our commercial agent
here to accept the terms for + lease
vhich had been rejected by the A0rlner
gent. No progress being made by the
gent for some months, his instructions
we're revoked. Later in the same year,
sO7, II was announced that the two pow.
rs on the Island had entered into treaty
lot to ALLEVIATE any portion of their terri.
ory. This was subsequently found to he
N error, but It had tho effect to put
stop to our negotiations for q time.