Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-04-22


stances be made liable. The above &C.
count contains much that the Dominican
government believes to be partly or
wholly groTndless, snd some which, upon
Inspection, will appear questionable.
Among the pending claims is one of
Presidsat Baez, for the destruction of
propery.. IL is alleged by the claimant
that the Spanish government recognized
this claim as valid, and ordered an ex-
animation to fix the amount, but the
Commission cannot understand how this
claim could be voted against the Domin-
lean government. A question has been
raised in our country whether the gov
ernment and peosla Of the Dominican
Republic, having once been under the
rule of the Havtiens, might not be liable |
for portion of the indemnity exacted |
from France from Hayti for the estates
of French families, which had been con-
Iiscated by the Haytiens during therevo
tion of 179S.
The Commission made inquiries oil the
subject of the Dominican government
and also in, Hayti, and they could not
learn that the lIaytien government had
ever maao this claim upon tie Domini.
can government, and they think that il it
was made, it would be wholly without
foundation. The Commissioners were
informed by the Dominican authorities
that the present administration of the
government has not had diplomatic repre-
sentaiiTes or made treaties or engage.
nlents with any other governments ex-
cept the United States. An enumeration
nf do Il a.
history of the Republic with France,
Great BSitaiu, and other powers will be
found in Executive Document" y of
the Forty-first Congress, second scssion.
They are mostly treaties of navigation
and commerce, and contain no unusual
provision requiring notice here,
The extent of undisputed Dominican
territory is 22,2l2 square miles, a portion
of which has been formerly involved in
the dispute with lLayti, being about 1000
square miles.
The Commissioners were not unmind-
fnl ct the various runlOrs which had been
circulated on divers occasions, that con-
cessions or grants Of laud were made TO
officials OF the government OF the United
States, when- the treaty Oh annexation
was negotiated in 1860. No pairs were
spared 10 ascertain the exact truth on
this subject. In addition to an examina-
ton of all grants from the government
TO the Republic, the Commission still fur
tLer carried their researches to all muni-
opal grants by the town of Samana,
where Tumor has located the supposed
grants. The officers of the municipality
and records were carefully examined.
Enquiry was made Of the authorities of
the city of San Domingo. After this in
Vestlgation the Commission can declare
without hesitation, that there was no par
ticle Of evidence, or color Of evidence tor
these charges.
The Domiuicans repeat. their willing
ness to be annexed on the terms of the
treaty of 1869, asking in addition, the
payment Of the sent for Sanana Bay, du-
ring the two years that negotiations have
been pending. They are also willing to
appropriate one-fitth of the public lands,
t6r schools, providing the United States
will appropriate 100000 tor the estab-
hshment of an Agricultural and Scientt.
ic College. .....
In relation to the Dominican rndepen-
dence, the Commissioners say there is
but one chance for the Republic ever to
receive its independence to hccome ni-
ter n proper period Of prohibition, one
of our union of states, the freedom or
substantial independence Of each being
guaranteed by the strength of all. 1t is
beyond the province Of the Commission
ers,. under the resolution of Congress, to
Recommend that such course be adopt
sd or abstained from. They simply
state, as their belief, founded upon all
the observations they could make, and of
ihe facts they could learn, that this is
the only way in which Dominican indie
pendence can be secured, and that it it
be Judged best not to adopt the course,
even. the present shadow Of independence
will he taken away. The Dominican
territory is one of the fairest and richest
on earth. Unless some such means as
the above. mendicned are resorted to, 1T
is to be exhausted and helpless, until
some strong nation shall seize it aad hold
it IN colonial subjection.
Tbe commercial relations of the DCm-
inician part OF tho island, present one
Indication not TO be passed without men
ton. The.mOst important commerce on
the island, Dy lar,. the touacco- trade, 81
carried on mainly by Germans, and is
with the principal seaport Of the new
German Empire. TO Suoh. an extent has
this tendency developed itself that this
trade is rapidly becoming n German mo.
aonoly. The Commissioners found. the
aumbep of German subjects in important
business operations and agencies on the
north side of the island, TO exceed those
Of any other foreign power, and their
influence IL extending steadily mp into
the. great central districts. The inhuence
which Santo Domingo, under stable
government would exercise upon the in-
stitution,o of slavery, has not escaped no.
tice. Geographically it lies between the
two last stronghoids, of slavery in North
America, Cuba on the west, and Porto
Rico on the east. In the present impo
tenoy of its government it exercises lit
tie influence, but the inhabitants are
earnestly opposed to slavery, and under
more favorable circumstances their moral
influence would be felt in the neighbor
ing islands. II would be all on tho side
a IA