White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-04-20

psnyt0E Tue report OF the Dan Domingo
Commissioners came so bsily by tels-
graph that we have waited for full copy
before Publishing it. I, ia manly. and
win do Gen. Grant much good with the
people. He leaves the matter with the
people snd. Republicans can differ without
an attempt being msds to read one out
Of the party.
To the Senate and House of Represes
tqtises:
I have tie honor to snbmit herswitb
to the two honses OF Congress the report
Of the Comm issioners appointed in pur-
.a.oee "f.,hs joint resoln,i"a approved
Jan. 1871 It will be observed that this
report mere than sustains all that have
heretofore said in regard to the productive.
ness and hestbiuloess Of the Republic OF
San Domingo. the unsnimisy Of the
people Tor annexation to the United States.
and their pescesble character 1t ia dne
TO the public. as it certainly is to myself,
that / sheuM here give sll tho circum-
stances which first led to the negotiation
Of the treaty for the annexation of the R.
public Of San Domingo to the United
States. When | accepted the srduous
and responsible position which l now
hold did not dream of institnting any
steps for the acquisition Of insular pos
sessions. believed. however. that our
institutions we're broad enough to extend
over the entire continent as rapidly ss
other people might desire to bring them
selves under our protection. l believed.
further. that we should not permit any
independent government within the limit
Of North America to pass from condi-
ton of Independence to one Of ownership
or protection under on European power.
Soon after my Inauguration as President.
l was waited upon by en agent of Pres
iden, Baez. with proposition to annex
the Republic of San Domingo to the
United States. This gentleman represen.
ted the capacity of the island, desire ol
the people. and their character and habits.
about ss they have bean described BY the
Commissioners whose report accompanies
this message. He stated further that being
weak in numbers and poor in purse. they
were not capsule ofdevelopiug their grea,
resources: that the people had no incen.
tive to industry. ON account Of lack oI
protection for their sccumulations. and
that If not accepted by the United States,
with institutions which they loved above
those Of any other nation. they wonld be
compelled to seek protection elsewhere
| To these statements l made no reply. and
gave no indications Of what | thought o
the proposition. In the course Of time
I was waited on by . second gsntiemau
from San Domingo. who made the same
representations, and was received in like
manner. In view OF the facts which have
been laid before me. and with an earnest
desire to maintain the Monroe doctrine,
believed that would be direlict in my
duty il / did not take measures to ascer
tain the exsct wish of the government
and inhabitants Of the Republic of San
Domingo in regard to annexation. and
communicate tetheinforma alton to the people
Of the United States. Under ths atteu
ding circumstances. / felt that il | turned
deaf ear to this appeal l might in In
ture be charged with f,grsnt neglect
Of public interest. aud utter disregard oI
the welfare of d0wn-trodden racs pray.
ing for the blessings Of free and strong
government. and for protection in the en-.
joym ment Of the fruits Of their own indus
try. Those opponents to annexation
who have heretofore professed to be pre-
eminently friends Of the rights of men.
believed would be my most violent ssssil.
ants il neglected so clear duty. Ac-
cordingly. alter having appointed COM
missioner to visit the island. who declined
On account Of sickness. selected q second
gentleman. in whose capacity. judgmen',
and integrity l had. and have yet. IN.
bounded confidence He visited San
Domingo. not to secure or hasten annex
alton, but unparalleled. to learn the facts
about the government. people and resour-
ces of that republic. lie went certainly
Is well prepared to make an unfavorsble
one. if the facts warranted it. His repor,
fully corroborsted the views Of previous
Commissioners. and. upon his report.
felt that q sense Of duty and due regard
to our great national interests required
me to negotiate treaty for the acquisition
of the Republic of San Domingo. Az
soon as it becsme publicly known tbs,
such 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 it
Amidst the public excitement thus created.
the treaty failed to receive the requisite
two-thuds vote in 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 iu
some degree influenced BY such unfoun-
ded allegations. could not be known BY
the people. becsnse the debates Of the
Senate in secret session are not published
l deemed it due to the Office which hold,
and due to the character Of the agents
who had been charged with the investi
cation. that such proceedings should be
had as would enable the people to know
the truth. A commission WAS therefore
constituted un.er the authority Of Con.
gress. consisting Of gentlemen selected in
special reference to their high character
and capacity for laborious work entrusted
TO them. who were instructed 10 visit TIN
spot end report upon the facts. Other
eminent citizens were requested to accom-
pany the commission. in order that the
people might have the benefit Of their
views. Students OF science. and correspon-
dents Of the press. without regard to po.
liticrl opinions, were invi'ed to join the
expedition. and their numbers were lin.
tied BY the capacity OF the vessel. The