The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-04-14

HIS udS utSu dtCNiD pllSuSQ DJ GuC 4
report of the Commissioners here
with transmitted, which fully vindi- |
Gates the purity Of motives and &C
ton of those who represented the
United States in the negotiation.
And now my task is finished, and
with it ends all personal solicitude
on the subject.
Ny duty being done, I gladly hand |
over the matter to the judgment Of
the American people and their rep
in Congress assembled.
The facts will row be spread before
the country and a decision rendered
by that tribunal whose convictions
so seldom err, and against whose
will l have no policy to enforce. !
Ny opinion remains unchanged.
Indeed, it is confirmed by the report
that the interests of our county and
of San Domingo alike invite the an
nexation of that Republic.
In view of difference in opinion
upon this subject / suggest that no
action be taken at the present session
beyond printing and a general dis
mination of the report. Before the
next session of Congress the people
will have considered the subject and
formed an intelligent opinion con-
cerning it, to which opinion, delib-
erately made up, it will be the duty
of every department of the govern
ment to give heed, and no one will
more cheerfully conform to it than
myself. 1t is no only the theory OF
our Constitution, that the will of the
people constitutionally expressed is
supreme law, but l have ever believ-
ed that all men are wiser than any
one man, and if the people, upon a
full presentation of the facts, shall
decide that the annexation of the
R-public is not desirable, every de-
partment of the Government ought
10 acquiese in that decision.
In again submitting to Congress
the subject upon which public senti-
ment has been divided, and which
has been made the occasion OIL
acrimonious debates in Congress, a:
well as unjust aspersions elsewhere
may, l trust, be indulged in the
single remark that no man can ex,
pect to perform duties so delicate
and responsible as pertain to the
Presiden sial Office without sometimes
incurriDg tue hostility of those who
deem their opinions and wishes treat
ed with insufficient consideration
and he who undertakes to conducl
the affairs of great government as
a faithful public servant, if sustain
ed by the approval of his own con
science, may rely with confidence up.
on the candor and intelligence of 8
free people whose best interests ht
has striven to subserve, and can beal
with patience the censure of disap
pointed men. .. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 8, 1871.
The following is the report of tbs
Commissioners:
The report opens by giving the
resolution under which the Commits
sion of Inquiry WAS appointed. Il
accordance with this resolution, tn,
Commissioners proceeded to tht
Island of San Domingo. They trav
ersed the Dominican Republic from
end to end in several directions
either by their agents or in person
one Commissioner crossing it from
South to North, and the others from
East to west. They spent severa
weeks at the capitol, in daily confer
ence with the President and chic
officers of the government, in exam
lining official records, and, as at al
other places, in constant intercourse
with the people and taking the testi
mony of witnesses. They visited
the vicinity of the western border ol
the country, where it was reported
there were disturbances, and remain
ed a week at the capital of the neigh
boring Republic of Hayti,. where
some supplementary investigations
were made of tue political state and
condition, and Of the form of gov
ernment.
The present Government of the
Dominican Republic is in theory a
Constitutional Republic. According
10 It's Constitution the Government
IS divided into three branches-ex-
ecutive, legislative and judicial
The first consists of a President anu
Vie President, elected by an elec.
toral college for term of six years
with a difference of three years il
the time Of their election. BotL
President and Vice President are
Ineligible to the Presidency during
the following term. There is q
Council of State, consisting of the
Ministers of Public Instruction, In
terror, Police and Agriculture; OF
Public Works, Commerce, War and
Marine. On one of these four Min
listers the duties of Minister of For
eign RelAtions devolves at the will
of the President. The Legislative
branch of the government consists
of a Senate (senado consulto) J, elect
ed by primary assemblies, and has
two members for the city OF San
Domingo, two for Santiago d one
for each other province and district
nine members in all. These to
hold Office six years, and may be re
elected. Each province and district
has q government. and each parish
and military post has a commandant,
nominated by the Executive, and re-
sponsible to him. The towns are
governed by aguntamitOrs or coun-
ellis, elected by primary assemblies
for three years. The Judiciary con
sists of Supreme Court, whose seal
is at the Capitol, with President.
four ministers and one Attorney
General, who are chosen by the Sen
ate from nominations made by the
Electoral College, and who hold Of
flee five year. In every province and
district there is q Court of Fist In
stance, sitting in the respective capt.
tails, consisting of Judge, Prosecu-
tor and Attorney General, all nomin-
ated by the Executive and holding
office five years. 1t was found that
this court had in many parts of the
R public fallen into disuse. Finally
each town and parish or commune
has an Alcade, appointed by the
Executive and holding Office at his
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