Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-04-22
San Domingo.
RrPonr oy the COMMISSIONING.


They traversed the Dominican Repub.
lie from end to end in several directions,
either by their agents or in person, one
of the Commissioners crossing it from
south TO north, and the other Fl ON east
to west. They spent several weeks at
the Capital, in daily converse with the
President and chief officers Of the gov
ernment in examining the official records,
and, as at all other places, were in con
slant intercourse with the people and
taking the testimony of witnesses. They
visited the vicinity of the western bor-
der Of the country, where it was report
ed there were disturbances, and remain
ed week in the Capital Of the neighbor-
ing republic of Hayti, where some sup
Elementary Investigations were made.
POLITICAL STATE AND FORM OF GOVERN.
MENT.
The present government of the Do
minican republic is in theory a constitu-
tional republic. According to It's consti-
tuition, the government is divided into
three branches, the executive, legislative
and judicial. The first consists of Pres.
ident and Vice President, elected by an
electoral college for a term of six years,
with difference of three years in their
election. Both the President and Vice
President are ineligible to the Presiden-
cy during the following term. The Pres
ident appoints Council of State, con-
sisting of Minister of Public Instruc-
tion, of the Interior, of Police and of
Agriculture; of Public Works; of Com
merce ; of War and Marine. On one of
these four ministers, the duties of Minis
ter of Foreign Relations devolves, at
the will of the President. The legisla-
tive branch OF the government consists
of Senate, Senado Consulto, elected
by primary assemblies, and has two
members for the city OF San Domingo,
two for Santiago, and one for each of the
other provinces and districts-nine men,
bers in all. These hold office six years,
and may be reelected. Each province
and district has government, and each
parish and military post has command
ant nominated by the executive and re-
sponsible to him. The towns are gov
erned by Guntamiatos or councils,
elected by the primary assemblies for
three years.
The Judiciary consists of Supreme
Court, whose seal is the Capitol, with a
President, four ministers and one Attor-
ney General, who are chosen by the Sen.
ate from nominations made by the Eec
toral College, and who hold Office five
years. In every province and district
there is a court of the first instance, sit
ting in their respective capitals, consist
ing of Judge, Prosecutor and Attorney
General, nominated by the Executive,
and holding Office five years. 1t was
found that this court had, in many parts
OF the republic, fallen into disuse Fl
nallv, each parish or commune has an
Alcade, appointed by the Executive, and
holding office at his pleasure, and cor
responding to our Justice of the Peace.
In this latter case the practice is certain
ly far better than the theory. In all
parts of the republic it was found tina:
tie Alcaders, held office, virtually du
ring good behavior, and not one was
found whose character did not inspire
respect for the country.
The Commissioners found the govern
ment organized and in complete opera
ton in all its departments, exercising
every function of a legitimate govern
ment, with General Buenaventura Baez
as chief magistrate, in full and peaceable
possession of all parts OF the republic
except on the Haytien border, which is
disturbed by insurrectienary leaders, aid
ed by the Haytiens and political intrigu-
ers. These are melted to be extraordina-
ry active at this time, by fear of annex
a,ion to the United States. From all
that the Commissioners could ascertain,
President Baez has the respect Of the
great majorities of the Dominican peo-
pie for his administrative abilities, and
the strong attachment of many leading
men, who regard him as the only states
man among them who can hold the ma
tion against domestic factions and for
eign foes. In the year ls4s, after five
years of anarchy consequent upon the
expulsion of the Haytien power, Gener,
al Baez was regularly elected President
of the Republic. 1t appears that he was
chosen as the man who by his education,
fortune and public services. would be the
most likely to secure general confidence,
and heal the wounds inflicted by civil
and foreign wars.
In one of the delegations of leading
citizens who rendered him the chief mag
istracy, was Gen. CaDral. There is am
pie testimony to the fact, that under
him, despite the difficulties that have be-
set him, the Republic has enjoyed as
much liberty as any of his predecessors
dared to allow, and more tranquility
than they knew how to give.
Nor do the Commissioners find that
there is any opponent to the present ad
ministration of that Republic, who has
now, or ever has had, any claim to the
chief magistracy, by title superior tC
that of the present incumbent. What
ever technical defects there might have
been in his original title to the office, il
was confirmed by the National Conven
tion and ratified by the assent and sup
port of the people. The frequency O
civil connections during longer period
and the consequent insecurity of prop
erty, have paralyzed industry, disoour
j aged accumulation, and so impoverished
the country, that for the last two years
the financial resources of the govern
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