Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-04-13
The Presidents Sam Domingo Message.

The following is the Presidents mes
sage transmitting the report of the San
Domingo Commissioners to the Senate
and House of Representatives:
1 have the honor to submit herewith to
the two Houses of Congress the report of the
the joint resolution approved Jan. IL, 1871.
It will be observed that this report more
than s~ustains all that 1 have heretofore said
in regard to the productiveness and health
fulness of the Republic of San Domingo, the
unanimity of the people for annexation to
the United States, and their peaceable char
acter.
1t is due to the public, as it certainly is to
myself, that 1 should here give all the cir
cumstances which first led to the negotia-
tions of the treaty for the annexation of the
Republic of San Domingo to the United
States. When 1 accepted the arduous and
responsible position I now hold, 1 did not
dream of instituting any steps for the ac-
QUESTION of insular possessions. l believed,
however, that our institutions were broad
enough to extend over the entire continent
as rapidly as other peoples might desire to
bring themselves under our protection. I
believed further, that we should not permit
any independent Government within the
limit of North America to pass from a con-
dition of independence to one of ownership
or protect6n under n European power. Soon
after my inauguration as President, l was
waited upon by an agent of President
Baez with a proposition to annex the Repub-
lie of San Domingo to the United States.
This gentleman represented the capacity of
the island, the desire of the people and their
character and habits about as they have been
described by the Commissioners, whose re-
port accompanies this message. he stated
further, that being weak in numbers and
poor in purse, they were not capable of de-
veloping their great resources that the
people had no incentive to industry on &C
count of the lack of protection for their
accumulations, and that if not accepted by
the United States, whose institutions they
loved above those of any other nation, they
would be compelled to seek protection else
where. To these mt I made no
reply, and gave no indications of what l
thought of the proposition. In the course of
time / was waited on by a second gentleman
from San Domingo, who made the same
representations and was received in like
manner. In view of the facts which had
been laid before me, and with an earnest de-
sire to maintain the Monroe doctrine, 1 be-
lieved that 1 would be derelict in my duty if
I<did not take measures to ascertain the
exact wish of the Government and lnhablt-
ants of. the Republic of San Domingo in
regard TO annexation, and to communicate
the information to the people of the United
States. Under the attending circumstances,
1 felt if I turned a deaf ear to this appeal
that 1 might in future be justly charged with
a fragrant neglect of the public interest and
an utter disregard of the welfare OF a down
trodden race praying for the blessing of a
free and strong Government, and for protec-
ton in the enjoyment of the fruits of their
own industry. Those opponents of annexa-
ton who have heretofore protested to be pre-
eminently the friends of the right OF man l
believed would be my most violent assailants
if l neglected so clear a duty. Accordingly,
after having appointed a Commissioner to
visit the island, who declined on account of
sickness, 1 selected a second gentleman, in
whose capacity, judgment and integrity l
had, and have yet, unbounded confidence.
He visited San Domingo, not to secure or
hasten annexation, but unprecedented, to
learn the facts about the Government, people
and resources of that Republic he went
certainly as we'll prepared to make an I'M
favorable report as a favorable one If the
facts warranted it. This report fully cor
roborated the views of the previous Commits
sioners, and upon its report 1 felt that a sense
of duty and a due regard for our great ma
tional interests required me to negotiate a
treaty for the acquisition of the Republic of
San Domingo. As soon as it became pub
licly known that such a treaty had been
negotiated, the attention of the country was
occupied with allegations calculated to pre-
judice the merits of the case, and with those
whose duty had connected them with it.
Amidst the public excitement thus created,
the treaty failed to receive the requisite two
thirds vote of the Senate, and was rejected ;
but whether the action of hat body was
based wholly upon the merits of the treaty,
or might not have been in some degree in
huenced by such unfounded allegations,
could not be known by the people, because
the debates of the Senate in secret session
are not published,
Under these circumstances / deemed itdue
to the Office which I hold, and due to the
character of the agents who had been charged
with the investigation, that such proceed
ings should be had as would enable people to
know the truth. A commission was there
fore constituted, undo the authority OF Con-
gress, consisting of gentlemen selected in
special reference to their high character and
>~A-.Nv - fhA 1ahA-a@r,. ruArl- anf rrrC 70
them, who were instructed to visit the spot
and report upon the facts. Other eminent
citizens were requested to the
Commits sion in order that the people might
have the benefit of their views. Students of
science and correspondents of the press,
without regard to political opinions, were in
vited to join the expedition, and their num-
bers were only limited by the capacity of the
vessel.
The mere rejection by the Senate Of a
treaty negotiated by the President, only in
dictates a difference of opinion in the differ
emit branches of the Government without
touching the character OF. wounding the
pride of either. But when, such a rejection
takes place simultaneously with charges
openly made of corruption. on. the part of the
President or those employed by him, the
case is different. Indeed In such case the
honor of the nation demands an investiga-
ton. This has been accomplished by the
report of the Commissioners herewith trans
mitted, which fully vindicates the purity of
the motives and action of those who repre-
scented the United States in the negotiation.
And now my task is finished, and with it
ends all my personal solicitude on the sub
ject. My duty being done, yours begins
and 1 gladly hand over the whole matter to
the judgment of the American people and
their representatives in Congress assembled.
The facts will now be spread before the
country, and a decision rendered by that
tribunal whose convictions so seldom err,
and against whose will 1 have no policy to
enforce. My opinion is unchanged; indeed,
it is confirmed by the report that the inter
ests of our country and San Domingo alike
invite the annexation of the Republic. In
view of the difference in opinion upon this
subject, 1 suggest that no action be taken
during the present session beyond the print
ing and general dissemination of the report.
Before the next session of Congress the peo-
pie will have considered the subject, and
formed an intelligent opinion concerning it,
to which opinion, deliberately made up, it
will be the duty of every department of the
Government to give heed, and no one will
more cheerfully conform than myself. 1t is
not only the theory of our Constitution that
the will of the people constitutionally ex-
pressed is the supreme law, but I have ever
believeg that all men are wiser than one
man and if the people upon a. full represen-
tation of the facts shall decide that annexa-
ton is not desirable, every department of
the Government ought to acquiesce in that
decision.