South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-04-14
SAN DOMINGO

/ r. '1sfi Z SAN DOMINGO, g q 10. q
The Report Of the Gommissionerssu Sub
+ mitted TO Congress-Message OF
the President Accompany
e" Ing the Document.
laiu nfos5 aE1ad----. .ke1c5TiD = ITe1
ho1ssieIsrH sTni57T T5ub.aO -tg 2.
l. ---.t..-- .. -. WASHINGTON, April s..
The following Is the Presidents message trans.
sioners to the Senate and House Of Representa-
ls.rls, ~rf MESSAGE. rr --ff-r-.
| TO Us SeHdts and R6sse jof Representatives..
have the honor to submit herewith TO the two
houses Of Congress the report Of the Commis-
siouers tpp0inted in pursuance of the joint reso-
luton approved dan Il, 1s7is II viii be observed
that this report more than sustains all that have
hsretofore said In regard TO the productiveness
and hsalthfalness Of the Republic Of San Domin-
go, the unanimity Of the people for annexation TO
the United States, and their peaceable Character
y = due 10 the public, a. u certainly is to my
seIL tnst should here give al the Circumstances
| for the annexation of the Republic Of San Do
mingo TO the United States. when accepted the
srduogs and resPonsibls position 4 now hold,
did not dream OF instituting any steps for the ac-
| quisitton of insular possessions believed. how
ever. that our institutions were broad enough TO
extsf:d over the entire continent as rapidly a.
other peoples might desire to bring themselves
under our protection. / believed further, that we
should not permit any independent government
"
condition OF Independence to one OF ownership or
protection under an European power. Soon after
my Inauguration as President, was waited upon
BY an sgent Of President Baez with proposition
to annex the Republic o. San Domingo to the
United States This gentleman represented the
capacity OF the island. the dssfre Of the people,
and their character and habits about as they have
beef described by the Commissioners, whose re-
port Accompanies this message. Hestated further,
that being weak n numbers a5 and poor in purse,
resources, tina. the people had no incentive 10 in
dusty on account of the lack of protection for
their accuniniations, and that, II not accepted by
the United States, whose Institutions they loved
Sbovc those OF any Other hatiOn, they would be
coupelled 70 seek protection elsewhere. To these
statements ads no reply and gdrs no iR6sa nd ca
course Of time was waited ON By second gentle
man from San Domingo, who made the same
Representations, and was received in lie manner.
In vieW or tbe facts which had been laid before
me- and with IN earnest desire to maintain the
lfroroe doctrine, believed that would be der
elfct IN my dnty If did net take measures TO
ascertain The exact wish Of the government and
Inhabitants OF tbs Republic of San Domingo In
regard to annexation, End to coInniunic ate the IN
formation TO the people Of ths United States Un-
der The attending circumstances, / felt II turLed
deaf ear TO this 4ppeal that might IN future be
Justly charged with fiagrsnt peglect Of the public
Interest and in utter disregard o. tho welfare OF
down-trodden race praying for the blessing Of
ftke and strong government and for protetton in
the mt % the fruits Of their own industry.
Those opp0neins to enHexation who have hereto
fore professedt to be IRE sLIlnently the friends OF
the rights OF man believed wdDla be my most
violent ASSISTANTS if neglected so elesf duty.
sioner to visit the issr6 who declined on account
of sickness, selected second gentleman, in
whose capacity, Judgment, and integrity had;
snd have yet, unbounded confidence. He Visited
San Domingo. not TO secure or hasten annexation,
but to learn the facts about the gov
ernment, people. and tesonrces Of that republic.
He went, certainly as well pared to make an IN
favorable report as a favorable one n the facts
wSrtentsa Il. His report fully corrobotEtsd the
views Of t5s ous d ana 6as upon paq5 s
for our great national interests te9uired me to ne
gotiate treaty for the acquisition offhs Republic
pr san Domingo. As soon az II became pas5aeLy .Ly
attention of this 65uhtry was occupied with allie
cations calculated to preJ4dioe the merits Of the
eass aud Of those whose drty nsa eonneetso tnem a
created. the treaty failed TO receive the rsgusite
two-thfrds vote OF the Se-ste; and was rejected;
but whether the action OF that sedy was based
wholly upon the merits of the treaty, or n1sht not
have been IN some degree Influenced by such IN
founded allegations. could not be known oy the
people, becaHss the debates OF the Senate m secret
Under these circumstatiess; deemed Il due to
the office which hold and due TO the character
OF the agents who had been charged vith the IN,
Yestigation. that such proceedings should ts bad
as would enable people TO know the truth. A
Commission was therefore constituted, under the
authority OF Congress, consisting Of gentlemen se
lected in special reference 10 their high character
and capacity for the laborious work entrusted to
them who were Instructed to visit the spot and
report upon the facts. Other eminent citizens
were requested to accompany the Comp sion, In
order that the people might have the benefit OF
their views Students Of science and correspond
ents Of the press without regard to political opn
ions, were invited to 1oin the expedition and their
numbers were only limited by the capacity Of the
vessel. fs-'J fl : t7l-
The mere rejection BY the Senate Of treaty ne
gotiated by the President only indicates differ
ence Of opinion In the different branches of the
government, without touching the character or
wounding the pride OF either. But when such
rejection takes place simultaneously with charges
openly made Of corruption on the part of the Pres
ident, or those employed BY him, the Is differ
ent Indeed, in such case the honor Of the nation
plished BY the reportof commissioners herewith
transmitted, which fully vindcates the purity OF
the motives aud actions of those who represented
the United States in the negotiation - |
And now my task is finished, and with 1t ends
all my personal solicitude upon the subject. Ny !
duty being done, yours begins; and gladly hand
the American people and their representa- |
tiyes in Congress assembled. The facts |
will now be spread before the country, |
and decision rendered by that tribunal whose
convictions so seldom err, and against whose will
have no policy to enforce. My opinion is !
that the interests Of our country and San Do |
mingo alike invite the annexation of the repub- |
lie. In view of the difference Of opinion upon |
this subject suggest that no action be taken dur-
ing the present session beyond the printing and |
general dissemination Of the report. Before the |
next session Of Congress the people will have |
considered the subject and formed an intelligent
opinion concerning IL 70 which opinion deliber- |
atey made up, it will be the duty Of every depart
ment of the government to give heed, and no one |
will more cheerfully conform than myself II is |
not only the theory OF our constitution that the
will OF the people consttutionally expressed is |
the supreme law, but have ever believed that all
men collectively are wiser than any one man and
If the people, upon full representation OF the |
facts shall decide that annexation s not desirable
every department of the government ought to ac-
wt,-, g., 80 ID fnw1
In again submitting TO Congress the subject upon
which the public sentiment has been divided, and
which has been made the occasion Of acrimonious
elsewhere, may, trust, be INDUCED IN 8 single
remark: No man can hope to perform duties so
delicate and responsible pertain TO the Presiden
tial Office without sometimes ineurring the hostil
ity of those who deem their opinions and wishes
treated with insufficient consideration, and he who
undertakes to conduct the affairs Of q great gov
eminent as faithful public servant, il sustained
by the approval of his own conscience, may rely
with confidence upon tho candor and intelligence
of free people whose best interests he has strfven
TO subserve, and can bear with patience the censure
of disappointed men. U. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 5, 1871.
'As THE REPORT.
The following is the report OF the Commission
ers: ~ ~ go &, a---.a a-r-.- q. !
which the commission Of inquiry was ap-
In accordance with the resolution, the Commis,
el0ners proceeded 10 the lelanQ Oh San OOmlng0.
They trayersed the Dominican Republic from end
to end in several directions either by their agents
or in person. one commissioner crossing it from
south to north and another nom east TO west They
spent several weeks at the capital in daily confer
ence with the President and chief officers of the
government, in examining the official records,
and as at all other places, in constant intercourse
with the people. and taking the testimony of wit
nesses. They visited the vicinity of the western
border of the country, where it was reported there
were disturbances and remained week at the |
capital of the peighboriDg Republic of Hayd,
where some supplementary Investigations were |
made as 10 the political state and condition, and
form Of government. -s -rr- r-
THE GOVERNMENT.
The present government Of the Dominican Re-
public is, in theory, a constitutional republic. |
According TO its constitution, the government is
divided into three branches-the Executive, Leg
islatiye and Judicial. The first consists Of Pres
ident and Viee-President elected BY an electora
college for q term of six years. with difference
OF three ears in the times OF their election. Both
President and ice-President are ineligible to the
Presidency during the following term :. -
The President appoints Council Of State, con-
sisting Of the Ministers Of Public Instruction, In
terror, Police and Agrculturei Public Works, \
Commerce. War, and Marine. On one OF these
four ministers the duties Of the Minister Of For
egn Relations devolye, at the viii Of the Presi-
dent. The Legislative branch Of the government