Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-18
SAN DOMINGO.
The Presidents Messnge, and Commits
sioncr's Report.

have the honor TO submit here with to
the two Houses of Congress the report
Of the Commissioners, appointed in pur-
suancc OF the joint resolution, offered
Jan. 10Th, 1871.
II will be observed that tlliS report more
than rustains all have heretofore said in
regard 10 the productivencss and health
fulnc!s of the Republic of San Domingo; /;
Of the pnannity Of the people for anrex-
alton to The United States aud their peace
able character 1t is due TO the public,
as certainly rs to myself, that | should
here give all the circumstances which
first led to The negotiation OF Il treaty for
the annexation nl the Republic Of San
Domingo to the United States.
When | accepted the arduous ard re.
sponsiblc position | ncw hold, did not
dream of insiituting any steps for the ac.
quisilion of insular possessions. believ-
ed, however, that our institutions were
broad enough to extend over the whole
continent, rs rapidly as other peoples
might desire 10 bring themselves un.
der our protection. believed further,
that we should not allow any independent
Government within the limits OF North
America. to pass from y condition Of in
dependence TO one of ownership or pro-
lection, under European powers. Soon
after my Inauguration as president, was
waited upon by an agent Of Bacz, with a
proposition to annex The Republic of San
Domingo 10 the United States. This gen
tlemm represented the capacity and de.
sire of the people, and their character
and habits. about rs they have been de.
scribed by the Commission, whose report
accompanies this message.
He stated further. that being weak in
numbers and poor in purse, they were
not capable OF developing their great re.
sources that the people had no incentive
to industry IN account of the lack Of pro.
lection for their accumulaions- and if
not accepted by the United States, with
the institutions which they loved above
those Of any other nation, they would be
compelled to seek protection clseu here.
To these statements, made no reply,
and gave no indication OF what thought
of the proposition In The course oftime
| @as waited on b. second gentleman
/ from san Domingo who made the same
representations. and was received in the
same manner. In view of these facts
which were laid before me, and with an
earnest desire 10 maintain the Monroe
Doctrine, believed that | would he de-
relct in my duty, il did not take meas
ures to asccrt lin The exact wish OF the
government and Inhabitants ui the Re.
public oI San Domingo. in regard to an.
ncxition and communicate the inlorma
ton 10 lhr people of HE United States.
| Under the attending circumstances, felt
that il turned Il deaf car to The appeal.
| might be justly charged with fragrant
neglect of the pub!ic interest, and an ut
ter disregard for The welfare oil down
trodden race, praying for tie blessings OF
nee and strong government, and Tor
protection in the enjoyment of the fruits
OF their own industry.
These opponents of annexation, who
heretofore have proIeSsed % be preemi.
nenty the friends oI The rights Of man,
| believed would be my most violent
assailants il neglected 50 clear duty.
Accordingly having appointed q Commits
siomcr to visit The island who declined OH
account of sickness, selected second
gentleman, in whose capacity, judgment
and integrity | had and have yet the
most unboundcd confidence He visited
San Domingo, not TO secure or hasten an.
neXaiion, but to learn all the facts about
the governm, nj. people and resources
OF that Republic. He went certainly rs
well prepared to make IN unlavorablc re.
port rs a favorable one, il the facts war
Iantcd it. His report fully coroborated
the views ofprevous commissioners, and
upon its receipt felt that Il sense OF duty
and due regard for our great national
| interests, required me to negotiate u
treaty lo. The acquisition of the Republic
OF San Domingo. As soon as it became
publicly known that such Il treaty had
been negotiated, the attention of the
country was occupied with allegations,
calculated 10 prejudice the merits OF the
case, and with those whose duty had con
nectcd them with it. Amidst the public
excitement thus created the trial tailed TO
receive The requisite two.thirds vote of
the Senate, and was rejected, but whether
the action OF lha; body was based
wholly on the merits OF the treaty, or
might not have been in some degree in
huenced by such unfounded allegations,
could moi be known by the people, be-
cause the debates of the senate in secret
session were not published. Under these
circumstances | deemed il due 10 the OF.
fec which hold, and due to the charac-
ter OF the agents who had been charged
with the investigation, that such proceed
ings should be had as would enable the
people TO know the truth.
A Commission was therefore consiitut'
cd under the authority OF Congress, con.
sisling ol gentlemen, selected with spe'
cial reference TO their high character aud
capacty for the laborious task intrlsted
to them; who were instructed TO visit The