Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-04-07

To these statements made no reply, and gave
no indication of what Thought of the PROPOSE
ton. 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, and with an earn
est desire to maintain the Monroe doctrine.
believed that would be dereict in my duty IL
did not take measures to ascertain the exact
wish Of the Government and the inhabitants oil
the republic OF San Domingo in regard to annex
alton and commu niCate the information to the
people OF the United States. Under the attending
circumstances, / felt that if turned q deaf ear
to this appe al, 1 might in the future be justiy
charged with fisgrsnt neglect of the pubic IN
tereets and an utter disregard Of the welfare OF
down trcdden race PRAYING for the b eeslngs or
free and strong government, ard for pTotectlon
| in the er ioyment OF the fruits of their own in
dustrv. TheEe opponents of annexation who hare
heretofore pr0feeEed to be pIeeminently the
friends Of the tights of man, believed a uld be
ny rnost vio'eu; assalsrts If elected go clear
a duty Accordingly, after having appointed
Commissioned to Welt the nd, who declined
on acco mt Ct SIC knees, l selected eeccId gen
tleman whose cap city, judgement and in
tegrity, hsd and have yet tbe most unbounded
corfids nee He visited San Domingo not to &C.
cure or hasten annexation, but unprej udiced and
unbiascd. to learn all the facts about the gov"
eminent, the people and the resources OF that re"
public. He went certainly as well prepared 10
make an unfavorable report as favorable one,
if the facts warranted it. His report fully zorro
borated the views Of previous Commissioners,
and upon the receipt felt that sense of duty
and due regard for great nation
al Interest required to negotiate
! a treaty for the acquisition Of the republic of
| e. 1yS1rNr
that such treaty had been projected the atten'
ton Of the country occupied with alega-
tions, calcuI ated to prejudice the merits of the
case, and with aspersions upon those whose du-
ty had connected them with it. Amidst the pub
lie excitement thus created, the treaty failed to
receive the requisite two-thirds vote OF the Sem
ate an was rejected, but whether the action OF
that DO dy was based wholly upon the merits OF
the treaty or might not have been In some lie"
gree Influenced by such unfounded allegation
could not be known by the people. because the
debates Eof the FenAte in secret session are
not published. Under these circumstances
dee med it due TO the Office which hold. and
due to tie char acter of the agents who had been
oh srged with the investigation, that such Pro-
ceedings should be had would enable the peo-
pie to know the truth. A commission was there
fore consttuted under authority of Congress.
reference to their high character and capacity
for the laborious work entrusted to them, who
were instructed to visit the epot and report upon
the facts. Other eminent citizens were request
ed to accompany the Commission in order that
he people might have the benefit OF their views.
st dents of science and correspondents of the
press, without regard to political opinions, were
Invited to DIN the expedition, and their numbers
were United only by the capacity Of the vessel
The mere rejection by the Senate OF o treaty,
negotiated by the President, only indicates q
difference OF opinion between two coordinate de-
partments of the government without touching
the character wounding the pride of eth ST. !
But when such rejection takes place simulta !
neously with charges openly made of corruption /
on the part of the President or of those employ !
ed by him. thu case is different.
Indeed, in such q case the honor of the nation
demands investig alton. This has been &C.
complished by the report of the Commissioners.
herewith transmitted, and which fully vim
dicates the purity of the motives and
action OF those who represent the United States
in the negotiation. And now my task is finish
ed, and with it ends all personal solioitude upon
the subject. My duty being done yours begins,
and / gladly hand over the whole matter to the
judgement of the American people and of their
representatives. in Congress assembled. The
facts will now be spread before tne country and
q decision rendered by that tribunal, whose con-
victions 80 seldom err, aud against whose will
have no policy to enforce. My opinion re-
mains unchanged, indeed, il is confirmed by the
report that the interests of country and of
San Domingo alike invite the annex alton Of that
republic.
In view of the difference of opinion upon this
subject suggest that no action be taken at the
present session beyond the printing and general
of the report. Before the next
session of Congress the people will have consd-
cred the sub jeot and formed an intelligent opin-
ion concerning it, TO which opinion deliberately
made mp, 1t Will be the duty of every Depart
ment of the Government to give heed, AMI no
one will more cheerfully conform to it than
myself
It is rot only the theory Of Constitution
that the will Of the people. constitutiorany e1-
pressed, is the supreme law, but have ever be-
heyed that all men ere 1ieer than any one man,
and il the people, upon full presentation of the
facts, shall decide that the annexation OF tine
republic is not desirable every Department of
the Government ought to acaoieace in that de.
clsion.
In again submitting to Congress subject,
upon which public sentiment haa been divided
and which has been ma de the occasion of acrl.
monIous debates in Congress. as we'll as of un-
just aspersions elsewhere. 1 inay, tEust, be in
dulged in single remark. No man can hope
to perform duties SO delicate and responsible as
pertain to the Presidential Office without some
times mourning the hostility of those who deem
their opinions and wishes treated with INSULT
cient consideration, and he who undertakes to
conduct the affairs of great Government as a
faithful rublic servant, il sustained by the ap-
prevail OF his own conscience, may rely With con-
fidepce upon the candor and intelligence of
free people, whose best interests he has striven
to subserve and can boar with patience the CEN
sure Of disappointed men.
(Sgned) q. 8. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, April 5th, 1871.
OUR RALEIGH LETTER.
On ThurSday-The Business
the SessfOn-Our Members and Their
Attention to Business-COnaeKVati