The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-03
COjLUMBIA,, s. G.
Friday Morning, Maroh 3.flS7l.

THE SAN DoM1Nao PRospEcr. The
statements from st. Domingo as to the
disposition OF Hayti in regard TO st.
Domingo annexation are contradictory.
one account representing her as hostile
and another as manifesting no opposi-
ton. II is not easy to understand how
her sentiments-one way or the other
could be ascertained in 80 short time,
and there is no evidence, indeed; that
any of theoommission or correspondents
have yet been in Hayti. There seems to
be great unanimity. however. as to the
beauty OF the island and the charms of
the climate. This is the season when
the climate Of that region Is on it's good
behavior, md the time for the visit may
have been selected with q view to that
fact. Perhaps, the Baltimore Sun sug-
gests, il the expedition had gone in July,
Il vonld have sent home less agreeable
impression. The climate, indeed, would
play an important part were Hayti to be
hostile to annexation. and compel the
United States to make an armed occupa-
tion. Whilst the whole military force
of Hayti could. probably. in fair field.
be routed by q single brigade of Ameri.
can soldiers, yet neither France nor
Spain has been able to make head way
against the climate of that "sanitarium. I"
A pertinent piece of history in regard to
this matter is revived by DIR. F. Quixano,
correspondent of the New York Sun,
who declares his entire indifference as to
annexation, but writes to combat the
notion of Rev. DR.. Vinton, that st. Do
mingo is desirable as q resort for inva-
lids. On the 10th of May, 1861, the
Spanish Government issued royal de-
cree. in which it declared that the terri
tory of the Dominican Republic was
once more incorporated into the Spanish
monarchy. This was the result of q sale
OF the couatry by Santana, who was
President at that time. In February.
1868. the people revolted against the
Spaniards, and shortly after the CORES
pondent was appointed g surgeon in the
Spanish army. operating for the sup
preston of this revolt. This gave him
an opportunity to acquire thorough
knowledge of the climate of the island.
In less than one year, Spain sent about
10000 soldiers to San Domingo. Of
these, scarcely $4,000 left the island,
when, in 1866, the Spanish Government
abandoned the war, in consequence OF q
vote of the Cortes repeating the Act of
annexation; the others. $4,000 in num-
ber, met their graves, through the effects
of the malarial fever there. The records
of the French Sanitary Board during the
war Of France against the Republic of
Hayti, show that ont of $4,000 men
whom France lost in that inglorious
struggle. over 10000 perished from the
malariai fever. The physical character
of the country, its mountain ranges and
dense forests, afford an unusual eppor-
tunity for protraoted defence, during
which multitudes of lives may be sacri-
feed by the climate. 1t is, perhaps. q
glimmering of these facts which gives
the commissioners pause, and is very
likely to induce Congress to think twice
before it commits itself irrevocably to
annexation. Irrespective of all this,
however, if we really wish and mean to
possess not only San Domingo. but the
whole island Of Hnyti, we have only, in
the winter season, to send troops enough
to kill off all enemies, and then-sup:
posing national strategical and CONNER
cial importance demands i've can hold
this ''patch of the earth's" surface with
u small force, and at small cost of life
and treasure during the remainder Of the
year, leaving in the island, indeed, little
food for disease. 1t is not very
humane idea, however, for our humani-
tarians to carry out.
News from France announces affairs as
gradually assuming such peaceful
aspect that we may now regard the war