Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-04-12
THE PRESIDENTS SAN DOMINGO
Message.
The Report of the commissioners.
wAsHTNaTox, April S. ISL.

S~entdhUes.
1 have the honor to submit here
with to the two Houses Of Congress
the report Of the Commissioner an
painted iD pursuance of the Joint res
approved January 18th. 1871.
II will be observed this report more
than sustains all that 1 have hereto
fore said in regard TO the productive
and healthiulness Of San DOmin-
go, the unanimIty OF the people for
10 the United States, and
their peaceable character. IL is due
20 the public and myself that / should
here give all the circumstances which
first led to the negotiation OF the
for the annexation of the Re
public Of San Domingo TO the United
States. When | accepted the arduOus
and responsible position which Inow
hold, 1 did not dream of instituting
any steps for the acquisition of insular
possessions. I believed, however,
that our institutions were broad
enough TO extend overt the entire con-
tinent rs rapidly as other people
might desire TO bring themselves I'M
der our protection. / believed furth-
er, that we should not permit any in
dependent government within the
limits Of North America to pass from
a condition Of independence to n Of
ownership or protection made on
European power. Soon after my In
auguratiOn as President 1 was waited
upon by an agent of President Baez,
with q proposition to annex the Re
public Of San Domingo to the United
States. This gentleman represented
the capacity Of the island the desire
Of the people and their character and
habits about as they have been de-
scribed by the Commissioners. He
stated further, that being weak in
numbers and poor in purse, they
were not capable Of developing their
great resources that the people had
not the incentive to industry on &C.
count of the lack Of protection for
their accumulations, and that If not
accepted by the United States, with
institutions which they loved above
those Of any other nation, they would
be compelled to seek protection else
where.
To these statements I made no re-
ply and gave no indication of what
l thought Of the proposition. In the
course Of time / was waited upon by
q secOnd gentleman FROM San DOmin-
go, who made the same representa-
ton, and who was received in like
manner. In view of the facts which
bad been laid before me, and with an
earnest desire 70 maintain the Mon
roe doctrine, - 1 believed that l would
be derelict In my duty If / did not
take measures TO ascertain the exact
wishes Of the Government and inhab-
itants Of the Republic of San DOmin
90 in regard TO annexation, and COM
municate them to the people OF the
United States. Under attending cir
cnmstances, I felt that II l TUNED q
deaf ear to this appeal I might, in
future, be justly charged with a fla
grant neglect of the public interest
and utter disregard Of the welfare Of Il
down-trOdden race praying for the
blessings Of free and strong Govern
ment, and for protection in the enjoy
ment of the fruits of their own indus
try.
Accordingly, after having appoint
ed a Commissioner to visit the island,
I selected = gentleman In whose
capacity, judgment and integrity /
had, and have yet, the most unbound
ed confidence. he visited the Island
Of San Domingo, not to secur or
hasten annexation, but unbiased to
learn the facts about the government
the people and the resources of thai
people, he went as well prepared a.
make an uufavOrable report as 3
favorable one. If the facts warranted
it. His report fully eorrobOrated the
views Of the previous Commissioners,
and upon its receipt I felt that a sense
Of duty and due regard for our great
National interests required me To
negotiate a treaty for the acquisition
of the Republic of San Domingo. A.
soon as It became publicly known
that such a treaty had Teen negOtist-
ed, the attention of the country wa
occupied with allegations calculated
to prejudice the merits Of the case, and
with those whose duty had connected
them with it. Amidst public excite
ment thus created the treaty failed to
receive the required two-thirds vote
Of the Senate, and was rejected, but
whether the action of that body wa
based wholly upon the merits Of the
treaty, Or might not have been in
some degree Influenced by such IN
founded allegations, could not be
known by the people, because the de-
bates Of the Senate In secret session
are not published.
Then 8 Commission was constituted
under authority of Congress consist
ing of gentlemen selected with special
reference TO their high character and
capacity for the work entrusted tn
them, who were instructed to visit
the spot and report upon the facts.
Other eminent citizens were request
ed TO accompany the Commission IN
order that the people might have the
benefit Of their views. Students of
science and correspondents Of the
press, without regard TO political
opinion, were invited 10 join the x
petition, and the number was limit
ed only by the capacity of the YES
sci.
The mere rejection by the Senate of
the treaty negotiated by the Pres
ident, only indicates a difference Of
opinion, without touching the char
aeter or wounding the pride of either;
but when such rejection takes place
AAA4AA4nE0AE Will AAAGAk2 OD@AAAM I
made Of corruption on the part Of the
President or those employed by him,
the case Is different. Indeed, in such
a case, the honor Of the nation de-
investigation. This has been
accomplished by the report of the
Commissioner herewith transmitted,
which fully vindicates the purity Of
the motives and action of those who
represented the United States, in the
negotiation and nov my task is fin
and with it ends all personal
sOlicitude upon the subject.
My duty being done, yours begins.
The facts will now be spread before
the country, and q decision rendered
by that tribunal whose convictions so
seldom err, and against whose will l
have no policy 70 enforce. My opin-
lon remains unchanged; indeed, It is
confirmed By the report, that the in
terests of U country and San Do
alike invite annexation of the
In view of differences Of
upon this subject, / suggest
hat no action be taken at the present
beyond the printing and gen.
raj distribution Of the report, before
he next session Of Congress. The
will then have considered the
and formed an opinion con-
II. It Is not only the theory
II our Constitution that the will Of
he people, cOnstitutionally expressed,
S the supreme law. but I have ever
that all men are wiser than
ny one man, and if the people, upon