New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-06
Important News From Mexico

DETAILS OF THE REPORT
Important News From Mexico
JUAREZ REELECTION CONCEDED
WASHINGTON.
The Presiiene,s San Deuainge nlessage-
Repers sfshe Cs11issaesers-Weather
Report Ks-Klax BIN Discussed =
sharp Csntrevsrsy Besweea Butler ard
Swami.
WAsHMGron, April 5.-The President
sent the following message to Congress to-
day:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives,:
Ihave the honor to submit herewith to
the two houses Of Congress, tho report Of
the commissioners appointed in pursuance
Of joint resolution approved january IL,
It win be observed that this report more
than sustains all that / have Heretofore
said in regard to tho productiveness and
healthfulness of the republic of San Do
mingo, Of the unanimity Of the people for
annexation to the United States, and Of
their peaceable character.
1t is due to the public, - it certainly is to
myself, that should here give all the cir
cnmstances which first led to the negotia-
tions of treaty for the annexation Of the
republic of San Domingo to the United
States.
When l accepted the arduous and re-
spOnsible position which now hold, did
not dream Of instituting any steps for the
acquisition of insular possessions. be
ieved, however, that our institutions were
broad enough to extend over the entire con-
sire to bring themselves under our protec-
tiUn. l believed, further, that We should
not permit any independent government
within the limits Of North America to pass
from . condition of Independence to one of
Ownership or protection under an European
power.
Soon after my inauguration as President,
l was waited upon by an agent Of President
Baez with proposition to annex the re-
public of San Domingo to the United states:
This gentleman Represented the capacity Of
the island, the desires Of the people and
their character and habits about as they
have been described by the commissioners
whose report accompanies this message.
He stated further, that being weak in nulur
bers and poor in purse, they were not capa-
BILE Of developing their great resources, that
the people had no incentive to industry on
account of lack of protection tor their
accunulations, and that if not accepted by
the United States, whose institutions they
loved above those Of any other nation, they
would be compelled to seek protection else
where. To these statements made no
reply and gave NO indications of what l
thought of the proposition. In the course
of time l was waited upon by . second
gentleman from San Domingo, who made
the same representations, and who was
received in like manner. In view of the
facts which had been laid before me, and
with an earnest desire to maintain the
derelict in my duty if l did not take
measures to ascertain the exact wish of
the government and inhabitants of the re
public of San Domingo in regard to 0annexa-
tion, and communicate the information to the
people Of the United States. Under the at
tending circumstances felt that if l turned
q deaf ear to this appeal, l might in the
future be justly charged with q fragrant
neglect of the public interests and an utter
Disregard Of the welfare and happiness
of 3 down.trodden race, praying for
ernment, and for protection in the enjoy
ment of their own industry. Those Opp0-
nents of annexation who have heretofore
professed to be pre-eminently the friends of
the rights of man, believed would be my
most violent assailants if neglected so
clear duty. Accordingly, after having
appointed commissioner to visit the island,
who declined ON account of sickness, l
selected q second gentleman, in whose ca
pacity. Judgment and integrity had, and
have vet, the most unbOunded confidence.
He visited San Domingo, not to secure or
hasten annexation, but, unprejudiced and
unbiased, to learn all the facts about the
government, the people and the resources of
that republic. He went certainly - well
prepared to make an unfavOrable report as
q favorable one, if the facts warranted it.
His report fully corroborated the views Of
previous commissioners, and upon its re-
ceipt felt that q sense Of duty and due
regard for our great national interests re.
quired me to negotiate treaty for the ac-
QUESTION of the republic of San Domingo.
As soon as it became publicly known that
such treaty had been negotiated, the
aettntiOn of the country was occupied with
allegations calculated to prejudice the
merits of the case, and with aspersions
upon those whose duty had connected them
with it. Amid the public excitement this
created the treaty failed to receive the
requisite 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 un-
founded allegations, could not be known
by the people, because the debates of
the Senate in secret session are. not
published. Under these circumstances
l deemed it due to the office which
hold, and due to the character Of the
agents who had been charged with the
investigation that such proceedings should
be had as would enable the people TO know
the truth. A commission was therefore
constituted, under authority OF Congress,
consisting of gentlemen selected witn spo,
cial reference to their high character ana
capacity for the laborious work lntrustod
to them, who were instructed to VISIT the
spot and report upon the facts. Other
eminent citizens were requested to accom-
panv he commission in order that the po0-
rle mieht have the benefit Of their views.
Ntndents of science and correspondents
of an nrcss, without regard to political
on;nions. were invited to Join tho expedi-
tion. and their numbers were -hlnited only
hv thc capacity Of The vessel. TIE nero
reiection by the SeAate of . trsAsy nego-
tistod by the President only indicates .
diAerencc Of opini6n betwoen two eo-ordi-
nate depaxtDeatD g ~ geveGnneat With
Ell tsuehing ~ ahnxas1ef q woan1ing ths
pgiAo - et6Aes. - vhan sneh seSStisa
49, r11ees nfnu 10y vi1Al GaEno