The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-10
SAN DOMINGO COMMISSION.
Report ofthe Commissioners to the
President -Ihe Character Of the
Island, its People,. Resources,
Productions, Climate, Govern
ment, strifss, ana Prospects un-
der Annexation.
TConcludad.l

Is we'll IS that which it regards as unfound-
3D. or overstated by the claimants. through
but the inquiry it was urged upon the DO.
minican authorities that every claim known |
TO exist, of whStever character, should be
exhibited TO the Commission, whose object /
WAS not TO determine the precise amount
that was Justly due and binding, but to get at
the bottom aud fiud the utmost limit OF their |
setting forth everything for which |
the Government could, under the .circum-
stances, be made liable. The above account
contains much that the Dominican Govern
ment believes to be partly or wholly ground
less, and some which, upon inspection, will
appear questionable. Among pending
claims is one of President Baez, for the
destruction of property. 1t is alleged by
the claimant that the Spanish Government
recognized this claim as valid. and ordered
an examination to FIX the amount But the
Commission cannot understand how this
claim could be voted against the Dominican
Government. The question has been raised
IN our country whether the Government and
people of the Dominican Republic, having
onoe been under the rule of the Haytiens,
might not be liable for portion of the in
demnity enacted by France frsm Hayti for
estates Of French families which had been
conGscated by the Haytiens during the rev
oluIion of 1871. The Commission made
inquiries on the subject, of the Dominican
Government, and also in Hayti, and they
could not learn that the Hsytien Govern>
ment had ever made this claim upon the
Dominican Republic, and they think that if
made it would be wholly without foundation.
The Com missiopers we're informed BIZ the
Dominican authorities that
THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION
Of the Government has not diplomatic rep
resentRtiVes, or made treaties or engage
ments with any other governments except
the United StAtes. An examination of
treaties made during the previous history of
the Republic with FgNnce, Great Britain
and other powers, will be found in Execu-
tive Document II, Forty .fvst Congress, sec
ond session. They are mostly treaties OF
navigation and commerce, and contain 10
unusual provisions requiring notice here.
The extent OF
UNDIsPUTED DOMINICAN TERRITORY
is %, 2l2 square miles, the portion that had
been formerly involved in dispute with Hay
ii, being 1000 square miles. The Commits,
sioners we're not unmindful of various ru-
mors which had been circulated on divers
occasions that concessions or grants of land
were made to officials of the Government
of the United States, when the treaty of
annexation was negotiated in 1869 No
pains were spared to ascertain the exact
truth Of this subject. In addition to an ex.
animation of al grants from the Govern
ment of the Republic, the Commissioners
s., H. - ~. L
oipAl grants by the town Of SANTANA, where
rumor had located the supposed grants
The officers Of the Municipality and the rec
ords were carefully examined. Inquiry was
also made Of the authorities of the city Of
San Domingo. After this investigation the
Commissioners can declare, without any
hesitation, that there was no particle Of
evidence for these charges. Dominicans
repeatedly expressed their
WILLINGNESS TO BE ANNEXED
on the terms of the treaty of 1869. asking
IN addition payment Of rent for Samaua
Bay during the two years the negotiations
have been pending. They are also willing
TO appropriate one fifth of the public funds
for schools, providing the United States will
appropriate $500, 900 for the establishment
OF agricultural and scientific colleges. In
relation to Dominican independence, the
Commissioners say there is but one chance
for that Republic ever to receive its indie,
pendence-so become, after PERIOD of pro
baton, one of a union of states, the FREQ.
dom and substantial independence of each
being guaranteed BY the strength of all. 1t
is beyond the province of the Com mission
ers, under the resolution of Congress, to
rap a he adn ID
or NbstSined from.
OPINION OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
They simply state ss their belief, founded
upon the observations they could make and
OF the facts they could learn, that this is the
only way in which Dominican Independence
can be secured, and, that if it should be
Judged best not to adopt that course, even
the present shadow Of independence will be
taken away.
THE DOMINICAN TERRITORY
is one Of the farest and richest on earth, and
unless some such means as the above are
resorted to, il is to lie exhausted and help
less until some strong nation shall seize and
hold il In colonial subsection. The com
mercial relations of tine Dom inicAn part of
the island presents one indication not to be
passed oIer without mention.
THE NORTHUMBERLAND COMMERCE
Of the island, by far, is the s,tobacco trade,
which is carried on mainly by Germans with
the principal seaport of the new German
empire. To such an extent has this ten
denoy developed itself, that this trade is
rapidly becoming a German monopoly. The
Commissioners found the number of Ger.
man subjects in important business opera
tions and agencies on the north OF the
island to exceed those of any other foreign
power, and their influence is extending
steadily up into the central districts. The
influence which Ssnto Domingo, under q
stable government, would exercise upon
THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY
has not escaped attention. Geographically,
it lies between the tow last stronghods of
slavery in North Ameaica, Cuba on the
west, and Porto Rico on the coast. In the
present importance of its Government, it
exercises little infence; but the inhabitants
are earnestly opposed to slavery, and under
more favorable circumstances, their moral
influence would be left in the neighboring
islands. 1t would be ell on the side of
freedom. Nor would that influence 10 mere
ly moral.
COMMERCIAL INFLUENCES
would work in the same direction. San
Domingo is capable of supporting millions
Of people. Land is cheap. In fertility it
certainly equals, and probably excels. the
neighboring isles, and it is never better
suited to the production Of sugar and coffee.
1t could supply the whole market of the
United States with these great West India
staples. During the year above mentioned
seventeen per cent Of all the imports of the
United States were the productions Of slave
labor. This trade is the main support of
slavery. With liberty or free labor, and the
immigration which would be attacked by
these, with vast advantage in the West
India trade, arising from the fact that any
duties laid by the United States on West
India productions for revenue would be
discrimination against slave products, and