Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-28

SECRETARY robson ATTEMPTS TO DEFEND
THE COURSE OF THE PRESIDENT.
The following is made public tonight:
NAVY DEPARTMENT. I

SECRETARY robson ATTEMPTS TO DEFEND
THE COURSE OF THE PRESIDENT.
The following is made public tonight:
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON. March 81, 1871.
To Rear admiral S. p. Lee commanding the
North atlantic fleet.
ADMIRAL: / herewith enclose copy of a
letter which purports to have been addressed, on
the oath day of February last, by the officer
commanding the Tennessee, to Hon. Benjamin
F. Wade, chairman of the commission sent to
Santo Domingo on that vessel, and which was
published in the correspondence of the New
York Tribune on the 18th day of the present
month. AS orders to the commander of
the Tennessee were simply to convey the COM
mission on their expedition to such points as
they might desire, and contain nothing further
than general instructions or directions, natural
ly felt somewhat doubtful of the authenticity of
this letter; but as has been published as au-
thentic, and contains much which is calculated
to miSlead the people and the authorities of
Santo Domingo, as it to the true spirit and eX-
tent of the orders of the executive to the naval
vessels there, and may, perhaps, embarrass, TO
some extent, the officers in command of those
vessels | have thought it right to correct I'M
founded ideas therein contained through you,
commandant of the fleet in those waters.
You will perceive that, in this letter, the
writer assumes, in effect, that if any person con-
nected with the commission is taken prisoner by
the opponents of the Dominican government,
within their hhes, he would be, in reality, a
spy, and might, under the rules of eiviliz d war
fare, be treated as such, because the United
States has, in the opinion of the writer, through
the orders of its executive to the naval vessels
there, chosen to take part in the internal con-
flicts of the Dominican republic. This state
ment is unfounded in fact, and inference, and
has evidently been made hastily, i'll ignorance OF
the real circumstances in the case, IN miSappre-
hension Of their legal effect. The United States
is dealing with the regularly constituted govern
mpnf of the Dominican fpDubIip manner
and for purpose not inconsistent with internal
tional law, and, though the right of revolution
against constituted authority, Tor just and ade-
quate cause, inheres in every people, yet the con-
sttuted government is, until actually over
thrown, the legal representative of the nation in
all its relations TO other people, and the right of
revolution does nor carry with it to the reyolu-
tionists, pending their contest, their right to
TT at the agents of other nations as enemies,
when not in arms against them while they are
acting, as they have an international right 10
act, in accordance with the laws of the existing
government,
Such treatment, without formal notice, is con-
trary to the rules Of civilized warfare and no.
tice, if given, is at the peril of the insurgents,
and justified only when disturbance rises to the
dignity of revolution; but neither the United
States nor its executive has chosen to take part,
or has taken part, in the internal conflicts OF the
Dominican repu Jlic, The situation is this:
The president of the United States has,
ny Iuc IOuStlluilOHJ tHO ilSul W ludkt
treaties, subject to the ratification of the
senate. The congress of the United States,
in 1865, appropriated considerable sum OF
money for the understood purpose of acquiring,
by lease or purchase, part OF the island OF Santo
Domingo, the bay and peninsula of SANTANA,
considered most appropriate for our purpose as
naval stations, and the republic Of Santo Do
mingo ITSELF with IFS favorable position and
natural resources, its fiieqdtF gagepMeat ana
people, seemed, for the purposes Of commerce
and civilization, far the most desirable for us of
those fragments of the continent which lie
across the gateway Of our domestic commerce,
and shut up the ENTRANCE t9 OFF great inland
sea.
To initiate all treaties is the constitutional
right of the president, and thus he had the con-
stjtqtional power to negotiate treaties for the
cession or samaaa and the 3pneXation of the
Dominican republic, If, upon proper Gonsidera-
ton, he thought it right and for the interest of
the country, whose interests are, to this extent,
entrusted 70 his judgment. 1t was his consttu-
tional righti he did negotiate such treaties with
the existing government Of the republic, com
fessedly the government, both de fdct0 and de
j6re These treaties were, Of course, inchaote
and subject tG he confirmed or defeated by the
action of the senate OF the United States aud
the people of the Santo Dominican republic;
but, BIZ sueh treaties and biding such final ac-
ton, the United states acquired an interest in
the thing negotiated, from which it GOULD not be
rightfully disturbed by any other power, and il
was the plain duty of the executive to protect,
if need be- the integrity of this constitutionally
acquired interest SO that the subject Of negotia-
ton might remain intact, until the hna action
of the ratfying powers could be properly had.
This duty was plain, and, in every case of
valuable acquisition, the execution of it will be
expected and approved by the peaBle. 1t was
in the discharge of such duty that, in the early
part of the present century, President Madison
matched the armies of the United States into
and actually took possession of the territory
then known as West Florida, including what is
now the state of Alabama, for which territory
negotiations were then pending, and were after
wards concluded and settled with Spain. This
action was approved by congress and the peo-
pie not as the exercise Of power, but as protect
ing an interest constitutionaily acquired, and
which the executive was bound to maintain in
tact while II remained in use. In the present
case, the president has hitherto only pursued, in
relation to the republic of santO Domingo, this
same recognized policy of our government, and
under the treaty, and by means Of the appro-
piiation by congress for such purpose, we took
possession of the bay and peninsula OF SANTANA.
This possession we still hold, and, while our Tag
flies there, we must protect from every inter
ference the interest which it represents,
In carrying out this recognized policy, the
government Of the United States has not fired
shot nor landed man in hostile attitude on the
island of Santo Domingo, and has neither inter-
fereftin the internal conflicts OF the Dominican
republic nor coerced any other power. II has
simply announced 10 the people generally, and
particularly to such as appeared In o threaten
ing attitude, its determination to protect, until
finally disposed Of, the interest Il had acquired