Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-04-07
San Domingo.

sS'O,oi pOLbOns, referring 10 the debt,
Ieaues, and health of. the island are not |
fully drawn up. 1t will make about four
columns. All three commissioners will
sign, unless some unexpected disagreement
occurs on the points named. The report
opens with brief outline of the manner
In which the work was done, and the parts
OF the island visited A full account of
the form of government is given, followed
by reference TO long series of revolu.
tions and dissentions of that character,
and this condition of affairs Is given as an
explanation of the more summary meas
ures than could otherwise be tolerated in
constitutional governments. The Domin-
lean Government was found in full opera.
ton, and exercising every legitimate func-
ton of government, and Baez in full and
peacable possession of all parts of the re-
public, except on the Haytien border,
which is disturbed by revolutionary lead.
ers, assisted by Haytiens. Baez enjoys |
the respect of the great majority of the |
population, and has four times accepted |
the position of Chief Magistrate. IL is a
remarkable fact that the President, Cabi. |
net, Legislature, and Judiciary are |
in favor of laying down their power in |
favor of the United States. The constant |
commotion Of several years has CON-
pletely paralyzed the Industrial pur. |
suits, and the resources of the republic |
have so diminished that 1t cannot pay its |
expenses, and the confidence of the people |
could alone have preserved its existence. |
Oabral occupies three or four mountain |
villages, and with a small force has been |
able to disturb a considerable district for (
a long time, though he has few Dominican |
followers. Luperon has lately created
disturbance in the north of the island, but
1t could not be discovered that either of
these leaders had flag or organized gov
ermnent even in form. Incessant troubles
from such leaders led the population to
agree to Spanish occupation, but the
harshness of the rule of Spain, the folly of
many measures adopted, and fear of re-
enslavement led to the driving of the
Spaniards from the island. The popuia.
tion is fixed at 10000. Many of the
richest portions are uninhabited. The
people had generally heard of the ques-
tion of annexation in all parts of the
island. 1t had been discussed everywhere.
There was a nearly unanimous feeling
that peace and tranquility could come only
| from annexation. The greater friendship
for the United States than for other
| powers is due largely to the colonists
which went out to the island years ago.
The people seem to be more unanimous
for annexation than the Commission has
known any people to be upon any great
| political question. An exceedingly small
| portion is opposed to annexation, and these
are chiefly traders, or agents of foreign
houses, whose business would suffer by
the change. The Commission, and all con-
nected with it. travelled in all parts of the
island without guard or weapon, and in
| perfect safety. The physical, mental and
moral conditions were found much better
Nhor -. A..
most wholly of a mixed blood in every
conceivable degree The cultivated and
| educated, such as the officials, compare
we'll with the same class in other cOun-
tries, and the uneducated appear as we'll as
| the same classes, where there is an entire
absence of all prejudice of race or color
They appear respectful and polite kind
and hospitable. High crimes, according
| to the statements of their Judges, are
nearly unknown. All are Roman Catholics,
except the American emigrants sent out
| by the Colonization Society in 1924. They
live among the Catholics in peace and
harmony. The people are poor, and live
in cheap dwellings, but in the country all
have as much land as they desire to cul-
tvate, and they are not averse to work,
when certain of return. There are few
schools, and the great mass of the people
to learn. The resources of the country
are vast and various, and capable of great
increase. Iron ore is abundant, and pos
slbly available for manufacturing Copper
ore is found, but the mines have not been
extensively opened The reported coal of
Samana is only Ignite, and of
little value as fuel. Little is known
of the gold regions. Salt deposits
are extensive and valuable. Con-
siderable space is devoted to setting forth
the richness of the soil and variety of the
tropical productions, and those of the tenn
perate regions found on the uplands. The
island is represented as generally healthy,
but acclimating is necessary. This part of
the report is not finished. Earthquakes
are not frequent; in autumn, hurricanes
are. The public debt statement is to be
compared with later data received by the
Commission, to see if they have been fur
nished with correct figures AS now made
up, the debt is, in round numbers, 81 AGO.
600. Additional pending claims of $204,-
900, including one of $4,000 by President
Baez for personal property destroyed in
the Spanish war, and under the first head
is 100000 for back salaries. The total is
given at 81 ,556 000 The official statement
OF receipts of the government for 1870
show total of $772000, and one of the
items for import dues alone is over $6,000,-
0OO The Commission find no foundation
for the statement that Dominica is bound
to Hayti for an indemnity sum to France.
No treaties of any consequence exist be-
tween Dominica and other powers. The
only settled boundary between Hayti and
San Domingo is the old Spanish and
French line of 1777, when the Haytiens
were driven out of the eastern part of the
island, which then remained disputed ter
ritory to considerable extent east of the
old boundary. This is still in dispute.
Of this the Haytiens have held in
practically constant control the towns
of San Rafael, San Miguel and Los
Carbas The Barrica Valley, east of
these, and the Neyba district, have been
alternately overrrn by both parties. The
claim of Hayti to the boundary of the JEFF.
frard map, which is the meridian through
Alta Vela, is regarded as preposterous.
The extent of territory within the old
boundary of 1777, is found, by new and
careful computation, to be 22,212 square
miles The portion of this referred to as
having been mainly in Haytien occupancy,
is about 10000 square miles, The history
OF grants and concessions given by the
commission is about the same as was
widely published in the North. The re-
port IS very strong in condemnation of
the stories that government officials of the
United States have been privately inter.
ested in them. The Dominican Govern
ment was found willing to agree to the
terms of the treaty once concluded, but
not ratified, and for the only change think
|, 1t fair that, on account of the great and
unexpected expense of the government at.
tending the delay, that the sum paid foI
Samana, and now due, be not deducted in
the final settlement. 1t was also agreed
by Dominica that one-fifth of the public
lands should be set aside for school pur,
poses, provided the United States would
! grant three hundred thousand acres for an
agricultural college.
, The summing up of the report is not yet
completed. Some new matter, under othel
heads, will be added, but the above is q
. synopsis of all yet agreed upon.
The PPasidanf