The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-04-13

Thesan Domingo Message.
President Grants Course VIM
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nc PeopIe's WIll his LaW.
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WASHINGTON April5.
The following is the President,
Message transmitting the report o.
the San Domingo Commissioners :.
40 tEs Senate and House Of Rep.
resentati0es
81 have the honor to submit
herewith to the two houses of Con.
gress, the report of the Commission
ers appointed in pursuance Of a
Joint resolution approved January
l12, 1871. 1t will be observed that
this report more than sustains ell
1 have heretofore said in regard to
1.-THE productiveness and healthinesE
lof the Republic of San Domingo
the unanimity of the people for an
nexation to the United States, and
their peaeeable character. 1t is
due to the public, as it certainly is
to myself, that I should here give
all the circumstances which first led
to the negotiation of the treaty for
annexation of the RspRblie Of San
Domingo to the United States.
"When 1 accepted the arduous
and responsible position which I
now hold, did not dream of insti,
tuting any steps for the acquisition
of insular possessions. I believed,
however, that our institutions were
broad enough to extend over the
entire continent as rapidly as other
people might desire to bring them.
selves under our protection. I be-
lIieYed, further, that we should not
permit any Independent Govern
ment within the limits of North
America to pass from condition of
independence to one of ownership
or protection under a European
power. Soon after my Inaugural
ton as President, 1 was waited up
on by an agent of President Baez,
with a proposition to annex the Re.
public of San Domingo to the Unit
ed States. This gentlemen repre-
Isented the capacity Of the island,
the desire of the people, and their
character and habits, about as they
have been boen described by the
Commissioners, whose report aC-
companies this message. He stated
further, that, being weak in mum.
bers, powers, and purse, they were
not capable Of developing their
great resources; that the people had
no incentive to industry, on account
of the lack Of protection for their
.accumuIations, and if not protected
by the United States, with the insti-
tutions which they loved above
those of any other nation, they
would be compelled to seek protec-
ton elsewhere. To these state
monts made no reply, and gave
no Indication of what I thought of
the proposition. In the course of
time l was waited upon by a second
gentleman from San Domingo, who
made the same representations, and
who was received in like manner.
In view of the facts which had been
laid before me, aud with an earnest
desire to maintain the Monroe
Doctrine, I believed that 1 would
be derelict in my duty if l did not
take measures to ascertain the SEN
timents Of the Government and in
babitants of the Republic Of San
Domingo in regard to annexations
and communicate the information
to the people of the United States.
Under attending circumstances, 1
felt that if 1 turned a deaf ear to
this appeal 1 might in future be
Justly charged with q fragrant neg
leet of the public interests, and ut
ter disregard of the welfare of a
down trodden race, praying for the
blessings of a free and strong Gov
ernment, and for protection in the
enjoyment ofthe fruits of their own
industry. Those opponents of an.
nexation who have heretofore pro-
fessed to be pre-eminently the
friends of tho rights of men, I be-
lieved would be my most violent
assailants if 1 neglected SO clear a
duty.
"Aecordingly, after having ap-
pointed a Commissioner to visit the
island, who declined on account of
sickness, selected a second gentle
man, in whose capacity, judgment
and integrity had and have yet
the most unbounded confidence
He visited San Domingo not to Sc
cure or foster annexation, but, un-
preiudioed and unbiased, to learn
the facts about the government,
people and resources of that Repub-
lie. He went certainly as we'll pre-.
pared to make an unfavorable re-
port as favorable one, if facts
warranted it. His report corrobo-
rated the views Of previous Com
missioners, and upon its receipt / felt
that a sense Of duty and due regard
for our great national interests re.
quired me to negotiate treaty for
the acquisition Of the Republic Of
San Domingo. AS soon as it be.
came publicly known that such
treaty had been negotiated, the at
tentiOn of the country was occupied
with allegations calculated to pref
udice the merits Of the case, and
with those whose duty had connect
ed them with it. Amidst the pub.
lie excitement thus created, the
treaty failed to receive the requisite
twO-thirds vote in the Senate, and