New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-25

op TUE COUNTRY-UIs VIEWS ON ANNEX
ALTON.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-Thc following is o
copy Of an official letter received here;
United STATES STEAMER sEyERN,l
OPP sANTo DOMINGO CITY, Jan. :, ISL. }
The Hon GHO NJ. RoBEsoS, Secretary Of me Nary:
The severn arrived here the LIST inst lSundayl ana
Lieut. Commander Allen, and the Eng man-of-% war
Iiaccoon, Capt. Howard, at anchor GU tals Guy
salute OF q guns, aud had the Dominican nag at her
fore, which returned from the Tort and ten our
commercial agent, Dr. Fisher W. Ames, received salute
Accompanied by the latter and my fun staff called n
President Baez, and was very kindly received 10y mn
sef and his Cabinet assured him Of the continued &c
and effort Of President Grant to secure e an eia1
ton OF Dominica TO the United states ana OF my peeo
HAT this object would be ultimately secur a. nave
n c ncsence Of his cabinet In the first of these was
accompanied by portion OF my st II, aDdin the last only
by Capt Caldwell, the chIct Of staff. -
have not satisfactorily what Is the stua-
ton here, hut viii briefly state my belief ON the subject
desires the anne xaon OF san Domingo to America;
Delay in accomplishing this Is attenGed by hianclai
yery rich aud large extent OF valley country on the west
frontier az San Domingo, watorrd by the ahents OF
spanish nancs, but OF which the Domincans have not
had the complete possession. II Ia here that Cabral
operates with small predatory party, which President
Bacz believes il procured and supported by Hayti:
e.. Is e san between Jsn g? SAN 40 b @S. east ard
IIayti hccording TO the treaty between spain
always small whence he makes raids and retreats
casion requires Hi, last operation noised about a
Increment defeat annexation very insignificant,
and amounted TO "A few persons killed, wounded. and
captured by his followers At Azia ami at TIE posts on
several reads leading westward from it, the Domincans
100 $50 troops Tnese seem to be In POI
eiton or defense against inaarson from without or m
main organization Of troops though there are some
troops here and an other places. Inough The ofdi.
nary expenses Of the military, Which il the chief
administration, estimated about $1,000 monthly, the
revenue s 80 snail and the paper money or me coum
have been long time unpaid ana measures are now
proposed looking making the paper money like our
Continental currency the French dssignats and
vdng for receiving real money for duties where
There is n geological survey OF San Domingo now in
progress under Prof Cab for the Government, for which
they be repaid BY public lands There is survey
IN progress by Mr. Wilson, the English engineer, Tor
railroad from Santiago (back OF PetO Plata to SANTANA
Bay. II leads Through rich and productive valley
country aud IL considered practicable. The capital foI
from island There is steamer making monthly
trips b,,ween NewYork aud Peurto Plata. samana and
this city. This Steamer brings supplies Tor thS part o
squadron is cultiyanS trade with the island and
The United states have the capital and skilled labor
Of every kind which this island wants Under or Gov
erment san Domingo eau supply the United States with
cheap coffee and sugar. and Increase our coast trade and
ho'ae market. TIE military defense would nc neon
siderable, and object OF solcitude than that
OF u great part of coast or that OF the West
India Islands generally. it, naval defense would need
island. is the maritime strength OF the counties to
which they leopg. sau Domingo from its capacity for
the trcp,c prodrt 0ns which the comfort OF peo-
PIE requires, is necessity to America, aud never per-
haps the tide of lime have ANY people received the
offer Of so valuable for 80 small eonsidera-
ton.
Tie prejrdcia cry OF speculative Interests IN behalf
OF .nexStion srclns entitled to snas considerations
since capital and enterprise jIs what wanted
here, and the the be,ter being free to enter tins
great and ivitng field Of profitable investment and pro-
duction. Like objections WOULD IN mucn more force,
have applied 10 tho acquisition OF California After an,
It simply the sovereignty that the United States really
needs III the interest OF our people and those people Inc
population OF san Domingo i small and cgnicssedy eS
celeEt Of this kind, With the annexation OF san Do
mngo the boundary question will be settled by an easy
natural revolution Of opinion in Uayu FOR anneKa-
tor to America The circumstances all seem favorable.
Respectfully yours, 5. l.. LEE,
Rear Admiral Commanding y. A. Fleet.