Smyrna times., 1871-04-12
MiSce//u IL e D IL s .
Report of the San Domingo Commission. G

The report of the Committee Of Inquiry into
the Condition of the Dominican Republic, was
submitted to the President on "Wednesday, 9TH |
inst, and by him transmitted to Congress.
1t opens with the statement that the Com
missioners traversed the Republic from end to
end, in several directions either by their agents
or in person, spent several weeks at the capital
in conference with the President and chief
Government officers, examining official records, |
and as at all other places, Ill constant inter |
course with the people and taking testimony
of witnesses. They also visited the vicinity of
the western border, where disturbances were
| reported, and remained week at the capital
of Hayti, where supplementary Investigations
were made.
The report gives a full account of the form
of Government and refers to the revolutions
preceding the administration of BaeZ. The
Commissioners found the Baez government in
full and peaceabe possession of all parts of the
Republic, except on the Haytien border, which
is disturbed by insurrectionary leaders, aided
by Haytien intriguers Whatever defects there
might have been in the original title of Baez
to the Office, it was confirmed by the National
Convention and ratified by the people.
The instructions which still exist are headed
by Cabral and Leuperon. The former of these
, is universally conceded TO be the more import
ant, but neither has distinct flag or regular
organized army neither is the exponent OF u
clearly defined policy.
a To the surprise of the Commission, almost
all parts Of the country, even the remotest the
people were found to be familiar with the
, question of annexation to the United States,
:, and to have discussed it among themselves
with Intelligence. All classes in all parts of the
Republic we're consulted and everywhere there
was a general agreement in the declaration
that their peace and prosperity is in annexa.
ton to and becoming part of the people of the
United States. This is pa. TALLY due to the
presence in various parts of the country o.
small colonies of cOlored people, formerly from
the United States.
The exceedingly small proportion who op
posed annexation could only be found by dill
gent search. They are chiefly traders or agent
OF foreign houses, whose business would suife
ne by the change. The rumors that there ar
parties in various sections of the country read
to resort to desperate measures against annexa
ton, seem to be disproved by the fact that tn
ow Commissioners were free from the shadow
moestatlon during their so,ourn, althoug
they had at no time anything in the shape
nd a guard. The condition of the people, th
ut. physical, mental and moral condition Of tn
9TH Inhabitants OF SantO Domingo was found to
6s' much more advanced than had been anticlp;
Ter ted.
The population is generally Of mixed blOOt
The great majority, especially along the cOas
yCt are UcllileT pure DldCk not pure WUlIO TIT
en, are mixed in every conceivable degree.
" anu some parts of the interior considerable nur
ard bers of the white race are to be found, al
lon generally in the mixed race the white blO
predominates The cultivated and educat
compare we'll with the same classes in 9th
DO. countries, and the uneducated appear equal
the same class in any country with which
}. are acquainted They seem to be practica
. destitute of prejudice of class, race or color.
The iudIRIul officers stated that hIUh
such as murder, arson, burglary and the lii
are nearly unknown among them. They
all Roman Catholics except the American ell
grants sent out in 1874 and succeeding yea
who, with their descendants, now form a nu
. Der OF settlements, and amount to seve
= thousand persons These are mostly Metht
nj oil lists and Baptists. They live among the Ca
", olics in peace aud harmony. No intoleraI
-, or religious persecution can be discover
" among them. The people arc generally DO
living in cheap and humble dwellings, In
cOuatry almost every family possesses all
land they desire to cultivate. The reason Il
unanimously assign for not cultivating NOR
that amid constantly recurring revolutions
Is very uncertain who may reap the crop.
very sides, there is no market here for surI
X be produce.
II 70 The Commissioners, after careful comp
. son Of data, estimate that the actual pop
ton of the Island does not exceed l5O, 900.
Inc RESOURCES OF Lne country are vast
. various and its products may be iucrea
with scarcely any other limit than the la
expended upon them. There is evidenc
me- mineral wealth in various parts of the isla
The geologists of the expedition report
nI In existence of the ores of iron, of copper an
gold, with deposits Of Ignite, rock-salt
petroleum. Iron ore is abundant, easy of
LETE cess, and will, doubtless, in time be n
van.a available for the cheap production of pig
1O''O" The copper of fair degree Of richr
Cn and the beds have been opened to a 81
c@ extent.
The reported coal of Vanova peninsula
. in the neighborhood of Puerto Plata,
examined, and found to be quite of little v
T, as fuel compared with Pennsylvania or
phia. lish coal. The gold region, is extensive,
though worked ancently, is at present
ia. little known, and invites patient explor'
ents. by practical miners The salt deposits il
mountains near Neyba are believed to b