Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-12
A Message,

Commissioners appointed IN pursuauSC Va -
Joint resolution approved January - 1G' / /
II will be observed that this report more than
contains all have heretofore said IN regard
10 the rroductiveness and healthtulness OF
the Republic of San Domingo, OF the una
nimity of the people for annexation 20 the
United States, and their peaceable character
Ii is due to the public, as certainly as 70 my
self; that should here give all the clreulh-
stances which first led to the negotiation OF
a treaty for the annexation of the Republic
of San Domingo to the United States, " men
I accepted the arduous and responsive pOst
ton now hold, | did not dream OF lnstitut-
ing any steps tor the acquisition oI Insuia-
nossessions' | believed, however, that our
institutions were broad enough TO extend
over the entire continent. as rapidly as other
peoples might desire to bring Themselves IN
der our protection. [ believed further, that
we should not permit any independent gov
eminent within the limits of North America
To mass from a condition of independence to
one of ownership or protection under EurO-
pean powers.
Soon after my Inauguration as president
[ was waited upon by an agent OF President
Baez. with proposition to annex the I.ePuo
lie of San Domingo to the United States
This gentleman represented the capacity oil
the Island, and the people, and their charac-
ter and habits, about as they have been dS-
scribed hv the commits oneTs whose report
accompanies this message. lie stated Iur-
tber. that beisr weak in numbers and purse,
they were not capable Of developing their
great resources, that the people had no IN
centiye to industry on account OF the laek u
protection for their Accommodations, ana that
if not accepted by the United States with the
institutions which they loved above those oil
any other nation, they would be compelled
I al. hp- lD these state
ments / made no reply and gave no lndlca-
tions of what | thought of the proposition
In the course of time | was waited upon by
a second gentleman from san Domingo, who
made the same representation. and who was
received in like manner. In view OF the
/ facts which were laid before me, and with an
/ earnest desire 10 maintain the Monroe doc
/ trine, | believed that should be derIleet IN
nv duty if did not take measures to ascer-
/ tain tie exact wish OF the government ana
/ inhabitants of the republic of San Domingo
/ in REGARD TO annexation and communicate
the information to the people Of the nlted
States Under the attending circumstances,
I [ felt that if | turned a deaf ear to tins
|appeal ] might in future be Justly charged
with a fragrant neglect OF the pubhc inter
csts. and an utter disregard OF the welfare
/ of IA down trodden race, praying Tor the
( blessing of 3 free and strong government,
aud for protection IN the enjoyment oi the
/ fruits OF their own industry These oppo-
nents of annexation who heretofore have
proicssed to be pre-eminently the friends OF
the rights of man. | believed would he my
most violent assailants il | neglected so clear
a duty. Accordingly, after having appointed
a commissioner to visit the Island, who de-
Clined on account OF sickness | selected a
second gentleman. IN whose capacity, JudS-
ment aud integrity had, and have yet the
most unboundcd confidence. He visited San
Domingo. not to secure OF hasten annexation
but to learn all the facts about the govern
ment, people and resources OF that republIc.
lie went certainly as well prepared 70 make
an uniayorable report favorable one, II
the facts warranted It, His report fully cor
roborated the views of previous commission
ers and upon its receipt | felt that sense o
duty and a due regard tor our great national
interests, required me to negotiate treaty
for the acquisition of the republic OF San
Domingo, As soon as il had become publicly
known that such treaty had been negotIat-
ed, the attention of the country was occupied
with allegations calculated 10 prejudice the
: merits OF the case, and with those whose
duty had connected them with 1t. Amidst
the public excitement thus created, the treaty
failed To receive the requisite two-third vote
of the Senate, and was rejected. BUT wheth-
er the action OF that body was baeed wholly
upon the merits of the treaty, or might not
have been in some degree influenced by suct
untounded allegations, could not be known
by the people, because the debates of th'
Senate in secret session were not published
nder these circumstances deemed 1t dut
to the Office which | held, and due To tn,
character OF the agents who Il ad been charged
with the investigation, that such proceeding
should be had as would enable the people t,
know the truth. \ commission was there
fore constituted, under the authority o
Congress, consisting of gentlemen selected
with special reference to their high characte
t and capacity for the laborous work entrust
cd to them, who were instructed TO visit tn,
spot and report upon the facts. Other emf
, nent citizens were requested to accompan,
the commission in order that the peopl
might have the benefit OF their views. Stu
dents of science and cores pondents OF tn
press. without regard to political opinions
were invited to join the expedition, and theI
e number was limited only by the capacity O
the vessel.
. The mere rejection by the Senate of
treaty negotiated by the President only indi
! Gates the difference of opinion of the govern
2 ment without touching the character o
I wounding the pride OF either but whe
such a rejection takes place Simultaneous
/ with charges openly made of corruption OIL
ID
by him, the case is different. Indeed In sue
a case the honor of the nation demands a
; investigation. This has been accomplishe
I by the report of the commissioners, herewith
q transmitted, and which fully indicates tn
I purity of the motives and the action of thos
t who represented the United States in tn
negotiation. And now my task is finished
d and with 1t ends all personal sOlicitude upo
/ the subject. My duty being done, your
a begins, and l gladly hand over the Who'll
c matter to the Judgment of the America
e people and OF their representatives in Cor
gress assembled. The facts will now /
n spread before the country, and a decision b
J., reached by that tribunal, whose conviction
e SO seldom err, and against whose will hay
h no policy to enforce. My opinion remain
n unchanged, indeed it is confirmed by the T,
port that the interests of our country an
n San Domingo alike invite the annexation
the Republic. In view of the difference {
T opinion upon this subject, no action will I
}, taken at the present session beyond printing
G and general dissemination of the repor
Before the next session of Congress the pc,
$ pie will have considered the subject an
? formed an intelligent opinion concerning /
) to which opinion, deliberately made up,
E will be the duty of every department of til
e government to give heed, and no one wi
. more cheerfully conform to it than mysel
d II is not only the theory of our constitutio
: that the will of the people, constitu tionaIl
: expressed, Is the supreme law, but | hay
ever believed that all men were wiser tina