The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-06
WASHINGTON, April 5.
was submitted to

" ~ LlCatI " SAo
of San Domingo to the Unitedstates. When
accepted the arduous and responsible position
which Inow hold, I did not dream Of institut
ing a14y steps for the acquisition Of insulal
possessions. 1 believed, however, that our In
situations were broad enough to extend over
the eatire, continent as rapidly as other
people might desire to bring themselves under
our protection. ]. believed, further, that we
>ehould not permit any Independent Govern
Mhent, within the limits Of North America, to
pass from a condition of independence to one
Of ownership or protection under an European
power.
Soon after my Inauguration as President,
was waited upon by an agent OF President
Baez, with a proposition to n the Repuo-
lie of San Domingo to the United States. This
gentleman represented the capacity OF the
island, the. desire Of the npeople,. and their
character and habits, about as they have been
described by the commissioners. whose report
accompanies this message. BE stated,
further, that, being weak in numbers, and
poor in purse, they were not capable Of devel-
oping their great resources; that the people
had no incentive to industry on account OF
lack ofsprotection for their accommodations, and
that, ifnot accepted By the United States, with
Institutions which they Loved above those OF
any other nation, they would be compelled to
seek protection elsewhere: To these state
ments / made no reply, and gave no indica-
ton Of whst.I thought: OF these propositions.
In the course of time, I was waited upon by .
second gentleman from San Domingo, ;who
made the same representations, and who was
recssSed in like manner.
in'STiew of the facts which hadbeen laid be-
fore me, and With an earnest desire to MAIN
tain the Monroe Doctrine, /. believed that I
would be derelict in my duty If did not take
measures to ascertain the exact wish Of the
government andinhabitants Of the Republic OF
San Domingo In regard to: annexation, and
communicate the information to:the people OF
the, United States. Under the attending cir.
cumstances I felt that, If ] turned a deaf ear 10
this appeal, I might, in the future, ce Justly
charged with a fragrant neglect of the public
interests, and an utter disregard Of the vel
fare ora down!tredden race, praying for tho
blessings d a free ~ strong government, and
for protection In the. enjoyment Of the Guits 2f
their ownindustry.
The opponents of annexation who hereto
fore protested to be pre-eminently the friends
of the Rights Of Nan, I belisved'would be my
most violent assaflants III neglected 30 oes1
a duty. Accordingly, after having appointed
a commissioner to visit the Island, who de-
clined on account Of sickness, i. selected q sec
ond. gentleman In whose capacity, Judgment
and Integrity I had, and have yet, the most
unbounded confidence. he visited san Do
mlngo, not !. to secure or hasten annexation,
but: congratulated and unbiased, to learn all
the facts about the governments the people
and the resources of that Republic. he went
certainly aawell prepared to make an unfa-
vorable report as a favorable one,h the facts
warranted It, His report fully corro6orated
thesspsews of previous commissioners, and,
uponfts receipt, I felt that p sense Of duty
and a due regard for our great national inter-
ests required me to negotiate altreaty for the.
acquisition Of the Republic Of San Domingo. !
As soon as 1t became publicly known that
suchatrest5h had been negotiated, the attention
Of the country was occupied with allegations
calcniatstto prejudice the merits Of the case,
and with aspersions upon those. whose duty
had connected them with 1t. Amidst the pub
lie excitement thus created, the treaty failedE
to receive the nece ssary two-thirds vote OF the
Senate, and was rejected; but whether the act
ton or that bsdywas based wholly upon the
merits Of the treaty, or might not have been
in some,degree Influenced by such unfounded
allegations, could notbe known by the people,
because therdebates ofGthe Senate, I'm secret
session, are not published.
Under these circnnnstanceaI Gsemed It due
to,the'ofEce which I holt, sadSdue the oharaot
ter IF the agents who ::hadsbeen charged With
the investigation that such proceedings
should bee had as: would enable the people to
know. the truth. A commission vas, there
fore. constituted under authority Of Congress.
consistinge OF gentlemen selected Wit special
reference to their high-character and capacity
for the laborlous work entrustedt to them, who
were instructed to Visit the spot and report
upon the facts. Other eminent. citizens were
requested to accompany the commission IN
order that the people might have the henehtof
thelrSleWs. Studepts Of science ana cores
pondents Of the press, without regard to poll
tical opinions, were invited to join. the expe-
dition, and their nunsbers were limited only by
the capacity of the vessel.
The mere rejection by the Senate of a treaty
negotiated by the President only indicates a
difference of opinion between 1--we coordinate
departments OF the government, without
touching the character or wounding the pride
of either. But when such rejection takes place
simultaneously with charges openly made OF
corruption on the part of the President, orEef
those employed by him, the'case is different.
Indeed, In such case, the honor OF the nation
demands investigation. This has. been accom-
pllshed by the report Of, the commissioners
herewith transmitted, and which fully vindi-
Gates the purity of the motives and action OF
those who represented the United States in the
negotiation; and now my task is finished, and
with it ends all personal solicitude upon the
subject -
My duty being done, yours begins and 1
gludiy hand over the whole matter to the judg-
ment of the American people, and of the rep
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