The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-06
THE SAN DOMINGO REPORT.
The Presidents Message
al' of TransmittaI.
WAsn1NaToN, April Q.

as '-f.E-I a'. 80 :. .''N 90
cfsi HHs' WASHINGTON, April5.
The following Is the Presidents message
transmitting the report OF the San Do
mingo Commission to the Senate and
House: -t-8 -Esg
Ihaye the honor to submit herewith to
the two houses Of Congress the report Of
the Commissioners appointed In pursu
anCe Of joint resolution approved jan
uary 12, 1871: ..--...
Il will be observed that this report
more than suStains all that Ihave hereto
fore said in regard to the productiVeness
and healthlulness Of the republic Of San
Domingo; the nnanimity Of the people for
annexation to the United States; and their
peaceable. character. It Is due the pub
lie and myself that Tshould here give all
the circumstances which first led to the
negotiation oI the treaty for the annexation
OF the republic of San Domingo to the
United States. .,&glf " SS+i--
When / accepted the arduous and re-
sponsible position which ! now hold, l
did not dream of instituting any steps for
the acquisition of an insular possession.
1 believed, however, that our Institutions
were broad enough to extend over the
entire continent as rapidly as other peo-
Piles might desire to bring themselves un-
der our protection. believed further
that we should not permit any independ.
ent government within the limit Of North
America 10 pass from condition Of inde.
pendence TO one of ownership or protec-
ton, under m European power. Soon
after my Inauguration as President ] was
waited upon by an agent Of President
Baez, with q proposition to annex the ro.
public Of San Domingo TO the United
States. This gentleman represented the,
capacity Of the island, desire Of the peo.
pie, and their habits, as they have been
described by the Commissioners. He
stated further, thatbeing weak In numbers
and poor in purse, they were not capable Of
developing their great resources; that the
people had no incentive to industry on &C.
count OF the lack Of protection for their
communications and that If not accept
ed blythe United States, with It's institu.
tions which they could enjoy above those
Of any other nation, they would be COM
PEELED 10 seek protection elsewhere.
To these statements made 0 reply,
and gave no indication Of what I thought
Of the proposition. In course Of time l
was waited upon bya second gentleman
from San Domingo; who made the same
representation, and who was received In
like manner. In view Of the facts which
had been laid before me, and with an
earnest desire 10 maintain the Monroe doc.
trine, l believed that ! would be direlect
in my duty 1t did not take measures to
ascertain the exact wish Of the Govern.
ment and inhabitants Of San Domingo in
regard to annexation, and communicate
the same to the people Of the United
States. Under the attending circum.
stances, l felt that II l turned deaf cor
to this appeal, l might in the future be
Justly charged with fagrant neglect Of
public interest and utter disregard for the
welfare of a down.trodden race praying
for the blessings Of free and strong gov
ernment, and for protection In the enjoy.
ment OF tho fruits Of their own industry.
Accordingly, having appointed a ComrniS.
sioner to visit the Island, / selected
gentleman in whose capacity, judgment
and integrity, l had and have yet most
unbounded confidence. He visited San
Domingo, not 10 secure or hasten annexa.
tion, but unbiased to learn the facts about
the government. people, and resources Of
that country. lie went as well prepared
to make an unGayorable report as . iayora.
bic one II facts warranted Il. His report
has fully Corroborated the views of the
previous Commissioners, and upon its re.
ceipt, l felt that sense Of duty and due
regard for our great national interests, re.
uuired me to negotiate q treaty for the
acquisition OF the Republic Of San Domin.
90. AS soon as 1t tbecame publicly known
that snch treaty had been negotiated, the
attention Of the country was occupied
with allegations calculated to prejudice
the merits of the case, and with those
whose duty had connected them with 1t.
Amidst the public excitement thus crea.
ted, the treaty failed to receive the reQui.
site two.thirds vote Of the Senate, and
was rejected, but whether the action Of
that body was based wholly upon the
merits Of the treaty, or might not have
been in some degree influenced by such
untounded allegations, could not be known
by the people, because the debates OF
the Senate in secret session, were not
published. Then o Commission was
Constituted under the authority of Con-
gress, consisting of gentlemen selected
with special reference to their high charac.
ter and capacity for the work entrusted
to them, who were instructed to visit the
spot and report upon the facts. Other
eminent citizens were requested to &C.
company the Commission in order that
the people might have the benefit Of their
views. Students Of science and cores
pondents Of the press, without regard to
political opinion, were invited to Join the
expedition, and the numbers were limited
only blythe capacity Of the vessel. The
mere rejection by the Senate Of treaty
negotiated by the President only indicates
tue difference OF opinion Of the Govern
ment, without touching the character or
wounding the pride of either. But when
such rejection takes place simultaneously
with tho charges openly made OF corrup-
ton on the part Of the President or those
employed by him the case Is different.
Indeed in such case the honor OF the ma
ton demands an investigation. This has
been accomplished by the report Of the
Commission herewith transmitted, which
fully vindlcates the purity Of the motives
and the action OF those who represented
the United States in the negotiation. And
now my task is finished and with It ends
all personal sollcitude upon the subject
My duty being done yours begins. The
facts win now be spread before tho coun-
Try, and a decision rendered by that tribu.