Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-13
1HsuNE OF rH. INCOME OF rHK GOVERNMENT ron

xOuudge $ZTS,C66 10
entrance fees. observation-disclosures. 146,995 90
lighthouses. ....-.......-.-........ $500 %
anchorage ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1S6 9as TO
Pilotage ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l42,927 GO
L'ghterage 1850 o.
lntetPreteH- OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 6,t42 GO
Hgnamen. Observation-Disclosures. e941 IS
Qarantne .................... 4,SO1 IS
Hecargo municipal .............. iiO,ssS 30
Hecargo for steamer .............. 5SS614 90
water. ........................ A,l0O 20
import dues. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 691,393 81
Export dues. .............-. ......... 7l,4f9 20
VoASt Ices ........ ,t..... .ss......... G5,0l W
The Commissioners believe that the statement
published, as given includes all the Indebtedness
or obligations for which the Dominican Republic
L IN any degree liable as well that which IT CON
unfounded, or overstated by the claimants. =
Throughout the inquiry II was urged upon the Do
minican authorities that every claim known to ex-
st, OF whatever character, should be exhibited to
the Commission, whose object was not to deter
mine the precise amount that was justly due and
binding, but to get at the bottom and lind the ut.
most limit OF their obligations, setting forth every
thing for which the government could, under any
circumstances, be made liable. The above account
contains much that the Dominican Government
some which, upon inspection, wifi appear aue es
tionable. Among pending claims IL one upon
President Baez for destruction OF property. It is
ment recognized the claim as valid, and or.
dered An examination to fix the
amount; but the Commission cannot understand
how this claim could be valid against the Do:
minican Government. question has been raised
In our country whether the government and peo-
pie OF the Dominican Republic, having once been
under the rule of the Haytens, might not be liable
for portion Of the indemnity exacted by France
from Hsyti for the estates of French families
which had been cOnhscated by the Haytiens during
the revolution Of 1871. The Commissioners made
ment also in Hayti, and they could not learn that
the Haytien Government had ever made this claim
upon the Dominican Republic, and they think that
The Commissioners were informed BY the Domini.
can authorities that the present administration Of
the government has not had diplomatic represen-
tatives, or made treaties or engagements with any
other government except the United States. An
examination Of the treaties made during the pre-
uous history Of the republic with France, Great
Britain, and other powers, will be found in Elk.
Doe. II, Forty-hrst Congress, second session.
They are mostly treaties Of navigation and COM
merce, and contain no unusual provision requiring
notice here.
The extent Of undisputed Dominican territory Is
22,aia square miles; the portion which had been
formerly involved in the dispute with Hayti being
! 900 square miles. ts1
THE GRANTS TO AMERICANS.
The Commissioners were not unmindful of the
various rumors which had been circulated on
divers occasions, that concessions or grants OF
land were made to officials Of the Government of
the United States when the treaty of annexation
was negotiated In 1859. No pains were spared to
ascertain the exact truth OF this statement In
addition TO the examination of all grants from the
government Of the republic, the Commissioners
further carried their researches to all municipal
grants BY the town of SANTANA, where rumor had
located the supposed grants The Officers OF the
municipality and the records we're carefully ex-
amined. Inquiries were also made of the author
tiles OF the city of San Domingo. After this in
vestigation the Commissioners can declare, with
out hesitation that there Is no particle OF evidence
for these charges. .e.r5... .
WILLING TO BE ANNEXED a
The Dominicans repeat their willingness to be
annexed on the terms of the treaty OF 1860, ask.
ing, In addition, payment for rent Of SANTANA Bay
during the two years the negotiations have been
pending. They are also willing to appropriate
fifth Of the public funds for schools, providing
establishment of an agricultural and scientific
college In relation 10 Dominican independence,
the Commissioners say there Ii but one chance
dence to become after proper period of pro-
baton, one Of a union of States, the freedom
and substantial dependence of each being guar.
anteed by the strength Of all 1t is beyond the
province OF the Commissioners, under the resolu
ton OF Congress, to recommend that such course
be adopted or abstained from They simply state
as their belief founded upon the observations
they could make and Of the facts they could learn,
that this IL the only way In which Dominican inde-
pendence can be secured and that IL IL should be
judged best not to adopt that course, even the
present shadow OF dependence will be taken
away The Dominican Territory Is one of the
finest and richest on the earth. Unless some such
means as those above mentioned are resorted to,
1t to lie exhausted and helpless until some strong
nation shall seize and hold 1t in colonial sabjec-
ton.
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
The commercial relations of the Dominican part
OF the island present one indication not to be
passed without mention. The most important
commerce of the island by far, the tobacco trade,
Is carried on manly by Germans, and IL with the
principle seaport OF the new German Empire To
such an extent has this tendency developed itself,
that this trade II rapidly becoming a German
monopoly. The Commissioners found the num-
Der OF German subjects in important business
operations and agencies the north of the island
TO exceed those of any other foreign power, and
their Influence IL extending steadily up into the
central districts.
2uf SLAVERY THE QUESTION.
The influence which San Domingo, under stable
government, would exercise upon the institution
Of slavery has not escaped attention. Geograph..
slavery In North America Cuba on the west, and
Porto Rico on the east In the present inpoteBcy
of its government 1t exercises little influence but
the inhabitants are earnestly opposed to slavery very
moral influence would be felt In neghbOring
Islands 1t would be all on the side Of freedom.
Nor would that influence be merely moral Com
mercal influences work In the same direction. San
Domingo 10 capable OF supporting millions Of peo-
pie; land IL cheap; In fertility it certainly equals,
and probably exceeds, the neighboring isles and
and coffee II could supply the whole market of
the United States with these great West India
staples. During the year above mentioned seven
Teen per cent. Vi I'll Tic IHlpOIH Vi TUG CE1Icu
States were the productions OF slave labor This
trade Ii the main support which the slave system
has With liberty or free labor, and the immigra-
ton which would he attracted by these, with vast
advantage In the West India trade arising from
the fact that any duties laid by the United States
on West India production. for revenue
would be discrimination against
slave products, and would inure to the protection
Of Dominican free labor, II Ii not too much TO ex-
pect that San Domingo might be developed into q
powerful State, which, by the inevitable course Of
trade, would make slave labor In the neIghboring
Islands Improbable, and, by the spread Of its
ideas, render the whole slave and caste system
odious. 80 Hs.st .f s
HAYrI.
The Commissioners of course felt q deep inter.
es. IL The experiment of ecif gOyernment which
the blacks are trying in Hayti. They stated to the
President Of the republic that they should be glad
TO be put In the way of ascertaining what were the
claims Of Hayti upon San Domingo; what were the
views and wishes OF the Hsytien people with re-
spect 70 any changes that might be brought about
in the neighboring republic, but they received no
encouragement TO pursue their inquiries. They
asked verbally, and through our Minister In writ
Ing for permission TO explore In the interior OF the
island, but this was met 10 spirit equivalent to
refusal. They contented themselves, therefore,
formation upon matters bearing upon the gues-
tiOn Of annexation ~ thsy could, without giving
odense.
In reviewing the whole field Of their invesuga-
tons looking to the interests OF both divisions OF
the island they are 6rmly persuaded that the an
nexstion OF San Domingo 70 the United states
would be hardly les beneficial to the Haytien
than to the Dominican people. This benefit