New-York tribune., 1871-03-28
United STATES AUTHORITY IN, SANTO
DOMINGO.

rrrrp FROM SECRETARY ROBESON-WHAT OUR
GOVERNMENT HAS RIGHT TO ENFORCE
WI,uISGTON, March 27.-The following let
ter has Just been made public:
GIyy DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON. March q, 1871.
To Rear Admiral s. p LEE Commanding nor" A"1"''
AnwfesI: herewith inclose a copy Of letter which
purports have been addressed on the 2t'n day oI
mary last by the officer commanding the tennessee 10
the Hon BENJAMIN r. Wade CHAIRMAN Oh ihe and hch
was published in the correspondence OF The NEW. YORK
TRBsE the hIh day OF ahs present ts eessae
were simply 10 convey the Commission on the eAPeui
non 10 s9u 9urep Of general instruction or direction,
naturally feel somewhat doubtful OF the authenticity OF
ths eer Du' nncb az which s calculated to msead the
people and authorities Of Sano DOMINGO as 10 tne true
snrt and extent the orders Of the Executive 10 the
naval vessels there may perhaps, embarass To- some
extent the officers in command OF those yess 10
thought il right to correct the uniOunden utaS .,ein
contained through you, the Commandant Oh 'he Meet i'll
those waters. .,,.,..o cha ,vr,,a, ass,,r,cs
, effect that II any person connected with the COnus
sion taken prisoner by the opponents OF the Don
sny and might under the rules of civilized warfare be
treated as SUCH because the United states mas III the
oninon OF the writer through the orders OF the EAeen
I've to the naval vessels there chosen 10 take part In the
internal conflicts OF the Dominican Republic Ihls state
mehe martiv been made hastily in ignorance OF the real
circumstances Of the case or IN nappfehehSon oi tner
he United States ia dealing with the regularly consti
tuted Government OF the dominican Republic, ia man,
law and though the right OF revolution against c0nt
tinted authority Just and adequate cause inheres
in every people yet the constituted government s ti
il AZ actually overthrowD the legal representative OF the
nation in all It's relations 10 other people ana the right or
reyolrtlon does carry with IL To the revoiutoniss
nendne their contest their right to treat the agents OF
rher nations as enemies when not In arsagalhst the,
while they are acting they have an International
yh IN act In accordance with the laws OF the eIistng
Covernmcnt Such treatment without formal notlce,
Is contrary 10 the rules OF civilized warfare and the
notice II given s at the peril Of the insurgents, and IA
nstied only when the disturbance rises TO the dignity
Of a revolution. IA. ,,.,.t ~,
chosen 10 take part has taken part IN the Internal
conhicts OF the Dominican Republic Inc situation Is
mis- The President Of the United states has ny te Co
ttutop the right 10 make treaties subject 10 the rati
cston of the senate The Congress OF the United states
i'm 1866 appropriated considerable sum oi money or the
uderstood purpose OF acquiring, by lease purchase
mart OF the Island of Santo Domingo. Inc pay ana
ppeninsuIa OF samana were considered most
appropriate for purpose ss q ha'al stat0I,
afGd afpGd fhe Repubnc ~ santo Domingo Itself. with
its yorabe position and natural resources s friendly
government and people, seemed Ior me uiposes vi
commerce and civilization, far the most desirable for us
Of those fragments OF continent wch ne across the
gateways of domestic commerce anu sn. up tne en-
France 10 our great To initiate oil treates u the
right OF the President ana mus ne had he
power TO negotiate treaties Ior the cesson
of saaua aud the xaton OF the D0hlincan hePnb
lie H. upon proper consideration, he Iiought riBht
and for the Of the country whose nsres Axs