The Portland daily press., 1871-01-17
WASHINGTON,

ne previous question was seconded and the
bill passed without discussion or division. Ad
journed
WASHINGTON.
SAN DoMINGo-DoCUMENTs SENT TO CONGRESS-
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16-President Grant to.
day sent to the Senate message in answer to
Senator Summers recent resolution calling
substantially for all information in the possess
sion of the Department of State relative to
Dominica, its resources and financial coudi-
ton and its relations with the neighborng re-
public of Hayti and with European nations,
together with a history of all negotiations with
he United States looking to the acquisition or
annexation OF any portion of the island. A
long letter from Secretary Fish accompanies
the message Transmitting the documents and
correspondence called for by the resolution.
The first part Of the letter is exclusively his
tOrical and reviews the history of Dominica
from the partition OF the island between
France and Spain in 1777, including the out
lines of events by which the Dominican repub-
lie secured its independence and recognition
by the United States; the fruitless negotiation
tor the bay and shores of SANTANA under
Pierce's administration; the renewed PROPOSE
ton of Dominica made to Mr.. Seward in 1866
to cede to the United States the Jurisdiction of
SANTANA bay Oh condition we advanced to them
loan OF 81, 10000 and supplied them with
a quantity Of heavy artillery; Mr.. Seward
favorable consideration of the offer; the visit
of the Assistant Secretary of State to San Do
miDgO, the mission resulting in ascertaining
that Dominica would concede only the partial
control OF limited territory, entirely inade
quate for our naval necessities, privileges which
need no treaty to obtain in any part of the
civilized world, and the subsequent failure Of
negotiations in consequence. Mr.. Fish states
that full power to negotiate convention for
the requisition of SANTANA was entrusted to
Jas. Somers Smith, U. S. Commercial Agent,
but no progress being made it was revoked
May 8. 1867, and the Cabral government previ-
0usly in power having been overthrown all ne
gotiations terminated abruptly March 8, 1868.
1t would seem this failure was caused by ap-
prehension in some minds less some European
powers should avail itself of an opportunity
which the United States were apparently Jet
ting slip from its grasp On the 1st of June,
1868, the following letter appears to have been
received at the Department, addressed to Hon.
VIM H. Seward, Department of State:
Senate Chamber, May 30th.-Dear Sir-If you
have information with regard to any moveme ct
on the part of the North German confedera-
ton to obtain naval station in the West
Indies should be obliged to you to commune
cate II to me. Faithfully, yours,
(Signed) CHARLES SUMNER.
The answer to this letter is hot found on the
files of the Department. It is to be presumed
however. that efforts in that direction at that
time by European powers were unsuccessful.
The new Government of San Domingo re-
opened negotiations with the United States,
and before the close of Johnsons administra-
ton very favorable Overtures had been made to
our commercial agent by President Baez for
mana.
Mr.. Fish continues :-'After the Inaugural
ton of the present administration the policy
which led several previous administrations to
entertain the negotiations which have been re-
TERED was regarded as two we'll settled by tho
practice of nearly seventy years to be then
questioned. 1t was supposed, in the striking
language of recent speech in the Senate on
the acquisition of Alaska. that our city can
be nothing less than the North American Con-
tinent with its gales on all the surrounding
seas On the I'd of June, 1862 President
Grant appointed Benz. s. Hunt, Of Philadel-
phia, special commissioner to visit San Domin-
go and obtain full Information on all necessary
and important subjects involved in the ques-
ton bearing on the question of annexation.
Mr.: Hunt was, however, taken sick while pre-
pairing for his departure, and Gen. BabcOck
was sent out in his place with substantially
the same instructions"
Mr. Fish makes numerous references to Mr..
Babcock's report previously published, which
was regarded as favorable to annexation, and
states that Gen. Babcock was directed to re-
turn to San Domingo and aid Raymond H.
Perry, commercial agent, in negotiating a
treaty for annexation Of the whole island with
q lease of SANTANA as an alternative PROPOSE
ton. The treaty and convention were there
fore negotiated; the former not receiving the
approval of the Senate, and the latter still
| pending before that body. 1t is evident that
nearly all parties in San Domingo were favor
able to annexation, but there appears to have
been hostility as to the form in which it was to
ne consu mated, growing out of the repudia-
tion py the Baez government of the grant OF
SAT- mines to one Davis Hatch, originally made
| oy the Spaniards when they attempted to re-
assume their dominion duling the rebellion in
( the South, and confirmed by Cabral during the
| few days that he keld power. Most of the
| special inquiries in Mr.. Summers resolution
TO q DO nf ntvsn III
| European nations and of Hayti the feeling of
| the natives on the question OF annexation, &c
| are answered by reference to the accompany
| ing documents and reports, many of which are
prvateor confidential, or have heretofore been
| published. The Secretary says all correspon-
| dence in the archives of the department tend
| to show that should Baez fail in his effort TO
annex Dominica to the United States the pop
| ular disappointment may ind vent in another
| revolution. He has no knowledge of any obi
| CATION which Dominica is under to the neigh
boring republic of Hayti as to debt and liabli
| ty unless such obligations are shown in conf
dence in the papers transmitted.
| INTERNAL REVENUE BUREAU.
| A circular was issued to-day recognizing
| the Internal Revenue Bureau, which will here.
after consist OF four principal divisions OF law,
of correspondence, Of statistics aud m tiers not
otherwise provided for, of accounts, and of dis
titled spirits No information will be furnish
| ed for publication by any officer of the bureau
| unless first approved by the Commissioner.
| when it will be posted on bulletin board kept
for that purpose.
| NAvvL COMBINATIONS.
The Senate this afternoon confirmed Rear
| Admiral RONan Vice Admiral; Commodore
| Thornton A. jenkins Rear Admiral; Captain
Jas. +. M. Mulony, Commodore. The follow
| ing Commanders to be Captains, Edward
Simpson, William G.. Temple, Samuel P. Car
ter; and the following named Lieutenant Com.
manders: Augustus p. Cook, Leroy Cook and
Rush r, Wallace.
NEW BANK CURRENCY.
The House Committee on Banking and Cur
rency will soon report bill giving Secre, airy
Boutwell, authority to print from new plates
national bank currency Of denominations oil
$lo and $40, there being well executed coun.
terteits of the present notes.
| CENsUL MARsHALs.
Assistant United States marshals expecting
increased compensation will be disappointed
| from the fact that such compensation canDot
be made unless Congress provides especially
ior 1t, no funds for that purpose being in the
hands OF the department and no assistant mar
sinai need expect additional pay until Con
| gress designates those entitled to it.
| ANOTHER CoLoRED CONGRESSMAN.
Jefferson F. Long (colJred) was admitted by
the House to-day as a Representative from
| Georgla. he is of darker complexion thar
Raney of South Carolina.
THE NEW PENSION BILL.
Mr.. Edmunds' pension bill reported in thu
senate to-day increases all pensions now grant
ed under general or special laws 20 per cent
Tor i've years from March l, 1871.
|