Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-08-31
ORR INDIAN POLICY.

ceding administrations, Mr.. Delano re-
viewed the serious and difficult questions
at issue between this country and foreign
nations, dwelling more particularly on our
critical relations with Great Britain.
THE ALABAMA TREATY.
He gave short history of the negotia-
tions for the settlement of these questions,
including the much-vexed question of the
Alabama claim. In connection with this
subject he said:
An unsatisfactory adjustment of these
difficulties had been attempted during the
last days, and amid the expiring embers,
as it were, of the last Administration, the
results of which were so distasteful that
they were at once repudiated by President
Grant, by the Senate, and by the people.
This first resolute announcement by the
President of the attitude of this govern
ment toward England was, think, the
cause of our subsequently successful nego-
tiations. There was no threatening, no
clustering, but an expression of determi-
nation 10 insist upon our rights. This,
also, came from one known to have liked
purposes and a fearless character. Here
we paused, and Great Britain reflected,
and II Election led to an advancement by
England, ending, finally, in treaty which,
I think, is one of the noblest achieve
ments of diplomacy that has ever been &C
companied by this government.
THE SAN DOMINGO JOB.
In the matter of the late negotiations
for the annexation of San. Domingo, the
Secretary explained many facts hitherto
not generally known, which reflect credit
upon the President and present the San
Domingo question in light very differ
ent from that in which it has recently been
brought before the country. He said !:
This imperfect review of the foreign pol
icy and acts of the Administration would
be incomplete, were it not made to in
clude the San Domingo question, concern
ing which so much has been said and
written abusive of the Administration
Every effort seems to have been made to
induce the belief that the scheme for the
annexation Of the Dominican part of the
island of Hayti, or the acquisition of the
Bay and Peninsula of Samana, originated
with General Grant, and that he had used
undue means to effect those objects. A
greater blunder has not been committed,
and I wish to show the exact process by
which the question was brought to its
present status. 1t is matter of history
that as long ago as 1S45, during the ad-
ministration of Mr.. Tyler, an agent was
sent to .Hayti to examine the Bay of Sa-
mana and the adjacent portion of the
island, with view to obtain foothold
there for naval station. Again, during the
administration of Mr.. Polk, in 1916, Lieu
tenant D. D. Porter, now Admiral, exam
ined the island for the same purpose, and
made a favorable report. Also during
the administra ion of Mr.. Pierce. Captain
George B. Mcclellan made similar sur
vey for the same purpose, and returned 8
favorable report At this time, and fol
some years following, the representatives
of Spain, Great Britain and France op
posed the acquisition by us of any rights
in the island, threatening the people there
with the direst punishment if they did moi
at once forego such negotiations. 1t was
of the utmost importance to Spain to OBJ
tain exclusive control of the territory Of
San Domingo, with the bay and peninsula
as it would give her absolute control OF the
entrance to the Caribbean Sea, with all the
immense political and military advantages
which would result therefrom; but sh'
was compelled to abandon her efforts. II
August, 1865, a provisional government
was formed, and in the same year nego
tiations were resumed with the United
States. In January, 1867, the Assistan
| Secretary of State was sent out as specia
l.
| and invested with ample power to con
by the Senate, for the cession or lease O
the Bay and Peninsula of SANTANA, pro
vided it should be found to offer the ad
vantages that were sought. Owin|
to prohibition in the Domini
can Constitution, that governmen
could not consent to an absolut
sale of territory, but offered a lease, upol
the details of which the parties failed t
agree. President johnson, unwilling t
relinquish the project, directed our CON
mercial agent there to accept terms for
lease which had been rejected by the fol
mer agent No progress being made b
the agent for some months, his instrut
tions were revoked. Later in the sam
year, 1867, it was announced that the tw
powers on the island had entered into
treaty not to ALLEVIATE any portion of thei
territory This was subsequently foun
to be an error, but it had the effect to pJ
stop to our negotiations for TIM
Again, however, in November, 1867, tn
Dominican Government sought to rene'
the negotiations, and they were pendin
in march, 1868, at the time of the dow1
fall of Cabral and restoration of Bae
This termination of our negotiations CAV
rise to great solicitude On the part Of SON
of our leading men, the distinguish
Massachusetts, Senator among them, le
some European power should obtain po
session of the bay, the great Importance
which was then conceded by all men WI
had studied the subject. In Decembe
1868, the government of BaeZ opened II
gotiations with the United States for Il
/ annexation of the island, and the enti
unanimity of the people was assured.
, This was the situation of the San d
milgo question when General Grant W
inaugurated. In June, 1869, he appoint
> Mr.. Hunt, of Philadelphia, a gentlem
3 thoroughly acquainted in Hayti, to vi
! the island and make a report upon its !
, sources, and the condition of its popu
4 ton. Mr.. Hunt accepted the appointmel
e but was prevented from sailing by seve
r attack of illness, and General Babcock,
: the army, was appointed in his stead. {
der the instructions given him, the lat
s concluded a treaty for the annexation
d the San Domingo territory, and, as an
g tentative, a convention for the lease of t
h Bay and Peninsula of Samana The ter
r of the treaty required ratification by c
e zens of that country, which was Civ
l. with great unanimity. This treaty, it "
e be remembered, did not receive the rat
$, cation of the Senate, and the convent
e for the lease of the Bay and Peninsula
Samana is still pending.
d On the 18th of January, 1871, under
n authority of joint resolution of Congrt
IF the President appointed a commission
ID visit the Island of Hayti and make
L, port of it's condition, resources, etc. I
,e selection of this commission was such
d to fully satisfy the entire community, 6
their reports more than corroborated e
rything the President had said relative
,e that country. 1t was elaborate, thorou
and able, setting forth in minute detail
ne erything of interest or Importance in r
ic ton to the island and its people.
ne At this point, the subject having pas
le beyond the control of the President.
to transmitted the entire question to the
n ate, using in his message the follow
lis language:
is "And now my task is finished, and with it
at all personal solicitude the subject. My
bt being DONE yours begins, and gladly hand
w the whole matter to the judgement of the An
e. can people, and of their Representatives in
of gress assembled. The facts will now be sp