New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-09

ted 81 - st1ength q ~
n ~ teyond rs province ~ ~ eo0mlD
! Nonere. uisder rea6tatio2 Ct C0n8Fess: H.
recommend that.sueh . eelHe - adeReed
Of abstained from. Thy clmlly seate =
their belief, founded upoa ~ the observe
ti0ns they ceuld mako and Of the facts trey
could. could 1sssn, thss -: = fss ss'y Isy =
cured; and that X il ~ iudGe4 beet not 20
adopt that coarse, ev6a4 Ske present shadow
Of independence win be ta46n sway;
The Dominican terfitoty y ono Of the faaf-
eat and richest ON earth. Unless some ss1le
means a. above mentioned 10 reeorted =,
some strong nation will seize xnd hold It p
colonial subsection.
The commissioners fotmd the number Of
German subjects in important business
operations and agencies ON the north s,de
foreign power, and their influence i extend
ing steadily mp. into the great central DIS
me commercial relations Of the Domini-
can mart of the island present ono lndlca-
ton not to be passed without mention. The
NEST important commerce Of the island BY
far, the tobacco trade, il carried on mainly
by Germans, and 10 with the principal sea-
ports Of the new German empire. To such
itself that this trade 10 rapidly becoming .
The influence which San Domingo, under
a stable government, would exercise upon
the institution of slavery has not escaped
attention. Geographically it lies between
the two last strongholds Of slavery in North
America, Cuba on the west and Porto Rico
ON the east.
In the present impotency Of the govern
ment it exercises little influence, but the IN
habitants are earnestly opposed to slavery,
and under more favorable circumstances
their moral influence would be felt in the
neighbOring islands. It would be all on the
side of freedom, nor would that influence
be merely moral. Commercial influences
would work in the same direction.
San Domingo incapable Of supporting(mil-
lions of people. Land is cheap. In fertility
it certainly equals, and probably sarpssses
the 'neighboring isles, and it = even boeeer
suited to the production Uf sugar and cOffee.
1t could supply the whole market of the
United States with these great West India
During the year above mentioned seven
teen per cent Of all the imports ofthe United
States were the productions Of the slave
labor.
This trade is the main support which the
slave system has now. With liberty, order.
free labor and the immigration which would
be attracted by these with vast advantage
in the East India trade. arising from the
fact that any duties laid By the United
States ON West India productions for rev.
enue, would be . Discriminating against
slave products, and would inure - the pro-
lection of Dominican free labor, it Il not too
much to expect that San Domingo might be
. powerful State, which, BY the inevitable
laws Of trade, would make slave labor IN
A. n 4 81 l. kA3 sd
by the spread Of it, ideas render the whole
slave and caste aystem Odious.
The commissioners of course felt deep
interest in the experiment Of s6EgOvern-
nent which the blacks are trying in Hayti.
They stated to the President Of that republic
that they should be glad to be put in the
way Of ascertaising what wero the claims Of
Hayti upon San Domingo, and what were
the views and wishes of the Haytien PEG.
be brought about in the neighboring repub-
lie, but they received NO encouragement to
pursue their inquiries.
They asked verbally and through our
minister in writing for permission to explore
the interior of the island, but this was met
in spirit equivalent to . refusal.
They contented themselves, therefore.
with taking such testimony and gathering
such information upon matters bearing
0AsA4oAosAVAA
could without giving Offense.
In reviewing the whole field Of their in
vestigations, looking to the interests of
both divisions of the island, they are firmly
persuaded that the annexation of Sant0
Domingo to the United States would be
hardly less beneficial to the Haytien than
to the Dominican people.
The benefit would arise first from the ex-
ample which would doubtless be afforded
of we'll regulated, orderly and prosperous
State, the great need of that part OF the
world, and which it has - yet never SEEN,
A second and more direct benefit would
arise from the equitable establishment of .
line between the French-speaking
and Spanish-speaking natives upon that
island, and it's guarantee by strong power.
This would end the exhausting border
warfare, which has been one Of the greatest
curses to Hayti, as well a. to San Domingo,
and would enable both to devote their ener-
yies thenccforward to the education of their
people, and the development Of their re-
sources.
Respectfully submitted,
b. f.. WADE.
lE. ANDREW d. WHITE.
l.. d. HOWE.