The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-04-18
SANEO DOMINGO.
Report Of the Commtssion oner

SANTO DOMINGO.
Report Of the Commissi onerl
The report opens by giving the rest
luton under which the Commission {
Inquiry was appointed. In accor6ane
with the resolution the Commissioner
lproceeded to the Island of San Domil
lgo. They traversed the the Dominica
Republic from end to end il several d
rections either by the agents or in pei
son; one Commissioner crossing it fror
south to north and others from east
west. They spent several weeks at th
capital in daily conference with the Pre-.
iident and chief officers of the Govern
ment in examining the official record.
land as at all other places, in constant in
Itercourse with people and taking test
Imony from witnesses. They visited th
vicinity of the western border of th,
country where it was reported that ther
were disturbances, and remained wee
lasitbe capita. of the neighboring repub
|lic, Hayti. There were some supple
mentary Investigations made of the po
Ilitical state and condition and form o
i iGovernment. ri ls
| The present Government of the Do
lshinican Republic is in theory a consti
i|tutional republic. According to it's Con
Istitution the Government is divided int
three braBches-Executive, Legisiativ,
land Judiciak The first consists of !,
President and Vice, President elected
by IN Electoral College for aterm of si,
years, with a difference Of three years IL
the time Of their election. Both Presi
dent and Vice President are ineligible to
the Presidency during the following term
The President appoints Council %.
State, consisting of Minister of Pub.
lie Instruction, Interior, Police and Ag.
riculture, of Public Works, Commerce,
War, and Marine. On one of these four
Ministers the duties of Minister of For
eign Relation devolves, at the will of the
President. The legislative branch OF
the Government consists of q Senate,
Sensdo Consnlto, elected by primary
assemblies and has two members tor the
city of San Domingo, two for Santiago
and one for each Of the other provinces
and districts, nine members in ALL
These hold Office six years, and may be
reelected. Each province and district
has a government, and each parish aud
military post has Commandant nomin.
ated by the Executive, and responsible
to him. The towns are governed by
Councils elected by primary assemblies
for three years The Judiciary consists
of Supreme Court whose seat is at the
Capital with President, four ministers
and one Attorney General, who are cho-
sen from nominations made by the Elec-
toral College, and who hold Office five
years. In every province and district
there is q Court OF the first instance sit
ting in the respective Capitals, consist
ing Of Judge. Prosecutor and Attorney
Generals l.all nominated by the Executive,
and holding Office ave years. 1t was
found that this court had, in many parts
of the Republic, fallen into disuse. FL
nally, each town and parish, or com.
mune, has an Alcalde, appointed by the
Executive and holding ofice at his
pleasure, and corresponding to our JUS
tice of the Peace. In this latter case
practice is certainly far better than the.
ory. In all parts Of the Republic it was
found that the Alcaldes held Office avir-
tually during good behavior, and not
one was found whose characters did not
inspire respect sa
The Commissioners found the Gov
eminent organized and in complete op-l
Grafton in all its departments, exercising
every function of legitimate Govern
ment, with General Buenaventura Baez
as Chief Magistrate, In full and peace
able possession Of an parts of the Re-
public, except on the Haytien border
which is disturbed by insurrect,onary
leaders, aided by Haytiens and political
intriguers. These are melted to be ex.
traordinarily active at this time by fear
Of annexation to the United States.--.
From all thai the Commissioners coulli
ascertain. President Baez has the respect
of the great majority of the Dominican
people for his administrative abilities.
aud the strong attachment of many of
the leading men, who regard him as the
only statesman among them who can;
hold the nation against domestic faction
and foreign war. In the year 184S, af-i
ter five years of anarchy, consequent
upon the expulsion of the Haytien pow Z
er, General Baez was regularly elected
President of the Republic. 1t appears
that he was chosen man, who by his
education, fortune, and public services.
would he most likely to secure the gen.
eral confidence, and heal the wounds in.
fiicted by civil and foreign wars. In
one delegation of leading cItizens who
rendered to him the Chief Magistracy,
was General Cabral. There is audible
testimony to the fact, that under him,
despite the difficulties that have beseti
him, the Republic has eDjoyed as much
liberty as any Of her predecessors dared
allow, and more tranquility than they
knew how to give. Nor do the Com
missioners find that there is any oppo-l
nent 10 the present Administration of
that Republic who has now, or who ey-l
er9has had, any claim to the Chief Mag,
istracy by title superior to the present
incumbent. Whatever technical defects
there might have been in his original
title to the Office. it was confirmed by
the National Convention, and ratified by
the assent and support of the people. 81
The frequency of civil commotions
during the long period, and consequent
insecurity of property, have paraiyzed
industry, discouraged accumulation, and
SO impoverished the country that for the
last two years the financial resources of
the Government, as its officers informed
us, have been inadequate to pay the ex.
penses. e s,g
The instructions which still exist are
headed by Cabral and Luperon. The
former of these is universally conceded
to be the more important, hut neither
has a distinct flag or regularly organized
..r.v,x, Tho commissioners find tho r