The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-26
SANTODOMINGO.
Highly Important Developments
Threatened Complication with
nd-ReInfOrcemcnt OF oar
Naval SquadrOai-Proiected lawn
sion of Uayti.

Some time ago we printed con.
densatioa OF a long letter TO the Phil a
deIphia Inquirer, from its special San
Domingo correspondent, in which he
recited a number Of facts and circum-
stances going to show that the anneXa-
ton project was by no means aban'
doned. In a letter written from Sam
ana, September 3Oth, and published in
the Mguirsr on Monday, he recurs TO
the subject in substance as follows:
When, last August, our naval force in
Stamina Bay was weakened, President
Baez became fretfully querulous lest
tor to maintain his 1fbias tbisaS fast fsHRla %sdlRSg lRg $8&
Notwithstanding the fact that the one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars al,
vanced as rental Of Samana Bay for
another year enabled him 10 strengthen
his power considerably, he continued
his urgent pleas for naval reinforce.
ments, claiming that it was necessary
to have one ship at Puerto Plata, on
the north side Of the island, one at
SANTANA Bay, and one in the vicinity OF
San Domingo City.
He was assured from Washington
that he should be reinforced, and, &C.
cordngly, on the 9th ofSeptcmber, the
United States steamer "Snawmut ar
rived at Samana for permanent duty,
with information that as soon a. the
naval reception to the Russian Duke,
Alexis, was over, the Severn and
kansas would follow. This will
make fleet Of five vessels, carrying
forty guns. Instructions were also
brongh; from Washington directing the
exercise Of the utmost vigilance III
maintaining the interests Of Baez
Strange and serious complications
have, however, arisen within the past
few weeks, which may necessItate the
presence Tan even larger naval ;orce.
There il serious danger, unless prudent
counsels prevail, OF our being involved
in a controversy with England, whose
navy is largely represented in the west
Indies. For some months trouble has
been brewing between the Government
of Great Britain and that Of Baez, and
recent events have very nearly forced
matters TO a most serious elimination.
The original cause OF the difficulty wa'
the reputation by the Dominican Gov
ernmeut OF their valves, or bonds
given by them in return for loans from
merchants 10 Puerto Plata, mostly
Englishmpr. These bonds, it was cX-
pressly contracted, were to be recclva.
ble in payment OF the Custom lonse
duties on importations; but when
offered in such payment were rcpuila-
ted by Collector Gonzales, acting under
instructions from PresihentBaez
When the British Consul protested
against this injustice, instead OF obtain.
ing redress Tor the merchants, he was
grossly insulted by the Vice President,
an illegitimate son OF Bacz, who even
went so far as to endeavor 10 break up
the Consuls business, he being a part
ner in mercantile house at Puerto
Plata. This gentleman complained to
the British naval at Nassau, and a. long
ago as last December an English friga,e
was dispatched after redress from the
San Domingo authorities, the design
only being frustrated by a notification
sent to the British Captain by Com
mander McCook, OF the United States
steamer Nantasket, that his instructions
would compel him TO defend the Do
minicans at all hazards. The English
Captain hesitated to take the respOnsl'
bility OF an act that IN ght involve war
between the two countries, and reported
the matter 70 his Admiral, who referred
it to the Home Government.
Last fall a full Consul General was
sent out to inquire into the matter. lie
was, however, grossly snubked by Baez,
who defautly told him be vas backed
by the United States navy, and even
threatened to take from the British con-
sulate the former Dominican Secretary
of War. who was then under the protec-
ton of the English flag. The Consu!
General, as may be supposed, went of
| in a huff" vowing retaliation. What
will be the upshot no one knows, but it
is clear that under their presentinstruc'
tions our naval commanders would have
to resist to the last any British inter
ference.
An invasion Of Hayti is also project
ed, at the head OF which is Baez. The
avowed object il the expulsion ol