Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-04-14
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
ERS O.v s.f.v' DO.uE.TGO.

The commissioners preface their report
by recital of the resolution of Congress
under which they were appointed, and, af-
ter brief narrative of the events of the
expedition, give a concise statement of the
political state and condition and form of
government of San Domingo. The gov
ernment is, in theory, constitutional re-
public, the president being elected for six
years by the provinces, and the judiciary
OF the supreme court being chosen for FIVE
year by the Senate from nominations by
electoral colleges. Each parish has also its
alcade, corresponding to our justice of tho
peace, holding Office virtually during good
beha7ior, and not one has been found
whose character did not inspire respect.
Tho penal code of the island for civil of
lenses is necessarily much more severe
than In our country, as San Domingo has
long been infested by jealous. aspiring and
ambitious leaders, whose importance de-
pends upon commotion.
\, The desire for annexation to the United
7 States the commissioners state that they
found very wide spread and outspoken in
all parts of the island, and based apparent
ly on thorough and intelligent discussion.
Tbis dos;ro 10 olso o.1o,,i,. - '..'.
t,ined nv all tbo colorios or oo1orod ,,oo,I,
formerly from the United States, whose at
tachment to their native land seems to have
deepened with time and distance. The peo-
ple said that tbov vopld ,rocor 70 ,o,,,i,,,o.
indenendent if II v,oro nossitIo. h,, ir
they mu st lose their nationality, they would
rather merpe II in the Ar,or;oor trrio,
with its free institutions rriepdl,, roo,,Io
and common intorosts Tho r,;ro;raI .,a.,
of the opposition which doos oxist onna,,.s
among corto;r ,rodors l., ,I,o - -
of whom in coso of orroxo,;o,i I'LL -
control of tho bueiross oc ,,,l,;ot i, a.
nresant Narrow cborro,s ,t,o,. Io,,o ,,,,
nonolv Tho coru,iee;onors on,iroI,, 1,,
oredit tho ronorts ,,o. o,,o,.,o,, .,,.,
be res;sted b,, dosnoro,o ,,,oo.,,ro,, T., .,,,,
nor, NJ tbo ;sIo,d "a oi,o =, ,o..-.,. .,'.;,
own o~nor;o,,oo o,,,I IT. ,.,,,.,.7... 80.
hor,,, or o,.o,,, Ii, I'll. A.
evidenco of tho corroctnoss ~ ,,oir noo,'
sion ''' " '''''' N'''' ~
Tho noonlo y, So,, por,i,,,,, nan. ,,,i..,,
blood bonoet ton,noro,o inoeora;,.o do,
tituto or nroind,oo cloes or oo1or ,a,,,,o,.-
ism beggorv and bigh crimos boirn nroo-
ticallv lunlnown. Amonp tbe nonnlor
vices is n pettv gambling. extensivelv in
du,god In bv tho Snorish ror,;o,, ~ ,,o
popnlation. All are Roman Catbolics ox.
cent the American emicrants who arc
Metbodists and Bantists No intolerance
or religious persecutions can he discovered
The peonle generallv own tbe land which
thew cultivate. thoupb agricnltural onoro-
tions are limited by a lack of n market and
the frequent political disturbances ol-
though the Dominican is not averse to
work when sure of n reasonable reward.
Labor is now in abundant supplv at $40
or less per month. There are few schools
and the people generally are uneducated.
though the commissioners believe that on
portunities for education would be eagerly
improved, the Dominicians being possess-
ed of proverbial shrewdness and much ma
tive ability. ONLY one small and poorlv
equipped printing Office exists in the re-
public. The general political capacity of
the people is regarded favorablv. there hay-
ing been for wears neither slavery nor coste
spirit to depriye them of manliness. The
courage and devotion wasted in insurrec-
tion abundantly prove their capacity for
self-povernment and regular political ac-
tion. The commissioners estimate the act
ual manhattan of the republic at $50 600.
more than nineteen twentieths being ma
five Dominicians. White blood nrenonder-
,tos 1or,,o1,, ,hor,oiorit,, hoir, nucb roor-
or ,,l,i,o ,i,or llool,
,'.11 ii iii, -
"oI' N0rP'- ""u So w." Wv Fy,,,'. ~,
% ~" ''' '''" P0''
'"'' "'0
WI' uo"D',ess oo i'.'uo "'"'''n,o , 'o' '"'
o"e"P P'ouu'''on U, pig iioi' "o ''pPo,
ores are vi lair uegree oI richhesS ana
Deus nave oeoh opened 10 siiSh' eA'en''
i"e iepoi'eu ooai Vi 'ne '"'il"i'H pe'iiiSu'
:" anu "' "'s"poinoou vi uei'o lat" was
'o"''' u pe Hsnite ol iIt''o value as iue'
"s scoinPareu WIN rehhsylVahla OF Ehgisn
coal Inc goiu region Is extensive ana
thousn "orNeo "ncienlly' Is at present pu
i''ie Nno"h' inc SAT- uePoSils III th'
'ho"''.''s near Neypo are reported 10 DC
oNue"S''e anu N".""pie'
i"o'e ''e 'Ne o'"sseS Vi i'hus III san DO
"'"so- n'o"''a'n SLOPES anu Vaiieys' UNI
iorn,S i''N anu productive; the extensive
P'"iiio iesio" Vi 'ie liaiios' admirable
pasture ianu 'he roilihs pialh OF vega
generaiiy wooded ana the hnest agricultur
al ianu Oh the island dry lands, where
ram Is partiaiiy or wholly wanting, whicl
eau DC 'iiauo ier'iie Dy artilicial irrigation
ana leu ciay u1lDereu lands, lying al
along tne coast Hardly any portion o.
.ne isi"iu Is 'o' 'apapleo' cultivation ana
.uNou 10 q "noi.' 1t IS o"e Vi 'he most ler
'iio ies.o"9 4. y" ''ie ia'o Vi 'he uarlh' In'
"s' iou,.u'"i p'ouu'ts i"oiuue All 'he 'ropl
e"l A' 'lu,'e anu Nose'"DioS' e, as "e'i "s com
I n'o,u,"I ''"l'e S"sr I""e siowS in,,
p'V' o '-0 ~" anu S'o'',
h"'" Si0"'S' 'i"H Al III" iSianN vi '""i"i