Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-13
Report of the San Domingo Com.
mission.

The following is the report of the Com
missioners of Inquiry. The San Domingo
Commissioners appointed pursuant to a
resolution of Congress, approved January
18th. 1871, to inquire into the condition of
the Dominion Republic, have the honor
to submit the following report answering
in a summary way successive acquisitions
propounded in the resolution referred to-,
accompanying it with testimony and
documents; and to refer to the scientific
reports for more full report on special
subjects of inquiry. The Commissioners
proceeded to the Island of San Domingo
forthwith, and began their inquiries.
They were assisted in their research by a
corps of scientific observers They tra-
versed the Dominican Republic from end
to end, in several directions, by their
agents or in person. One of the Commits
sioners crossing from south to north, and
another from east to west. They spent
several weeks at the Capital in daily con-
ference with the President and chief of
fcers of the government in examining
official records, and as at all other places
in constant intercourse with the people,
and taking the testimony of the witnesses.
TheE.visited the vicinity of the western
border country, where it was reported
that there were disturbances, and re-
mained week at the Capital of the
neighboring Republic of Hayti, where
some supplementary investigations were
made.
They were delayed a few days by the
necessit ofy ooaling the ship at Kingston,
and some opportunity was offered to ex-
anime the questions of white labor, the
manner of agriculture, the general ad
ministration of the West Indies and the
and the condition of the free colored men.
Returning to the United States by way
of Key West, they landed at Charleston
March 26th, having been absent seventy
days. A full report of the political con-
dition and form of the government is then
given. The present government of the
Dominican Republic is in theory con-
stitutional Republic.
| The Commissioners found the Domini-
can government organized and in com
plete operation in all its departments, ex-
ercising their every function of Legislative
government, with Gen. Baez as Chief
Magistrate, in the full and peaceful pos
session of all parts of the Republic, ex
ceptng the Haytien border, which is dis
turbed by insurrection, which is headed
by Haytiens and political intrigues, and
emmissaries who have congregated at va
rious points of the neighboring islands.
| They are encited to be extraordinarily ac
tive at this time by the fear of annexa-
tion to the United States. From all the
Commissioners could ascertain President
Baez has the respect of large majority
of the Dominican people, for his admins
| trative ability, and the strong attestation
of many of the prominent men, who re-
gard him as lhe only statesman among
the whole set to settle with internal in
surrection and foreign policy.
| B4ez enjoys the respect of great major
| ity of his people and has entered upon the
third year of his present administration.
| There is ample testimony to the fact that
under all the difficulties that have heset
him the Republic has enjoyed as much
| liberty ss any of his predecessors dared
allow, and more tranquility han they
knew how to give. Nor do the Commis'
sioners find that there Is any such opposi
tion to the present administration of that
Republic by any one who has any claims
TO the chief majistracy, and that the pre-
sent incumbent, whatever technical de-
| fects there may have been Instituted
against him to the Office, it was confirmed
by the national convention and ratified
| by the present support of the people.
! The frequency of civil commotion during
long period and the consequent insecur-
| ity of property have paralized industry,
discouraged accumulation and 50 imp
erished the country that for the last two
years the financial resources of the gov
ernment, as its officers informed us, have
been inadequate to pay it's expenses.
Mean while it has been constantly har-
rassed with incursions and attempts at
revolution, and only the ability of the ad-
ministration and large share of the con-
fdence reposed in it by a strong majority
of the people could have maintained it's
existence through so many difficulties.
The ineurrectlons which still exist are
headed by Cabral and Luperon, the for
mer of those is universally conceded to
be the more important, but neither has
distinct flag, or a regularly organized
army Neither is the exponent of
clearly defined policy. Both seem ami
mated by interest, attachments and re-
sentiments purely personal. Their op-
position has assumed the character of an
amazing guerrilla warfare, involving
heavy expenditure on the part of the
government at the capital, but possessing
no power which gives it hold on public
opinion beyond the territory it may tenn
porarily occupy. As to their leaders, the
Commission obtained in all parts of the
country substantially the same informa-
ton, viz that Gen. Cabral once bad the
elements of personal popularity, and that
| in times past he earned the respect OF
many by public services, but that in an
administrative capacity he has proved in
competent, and has lost the confidence of
the country. He occupies three or four
mountain villages, and with a small force
has been able to disturb a considerable
district for long time, though he has
| few Dominican followers. That he does
uot claim to represent the principles OF
constitutional or legal authority and
order, is shown by the fact that in his
proclamation and in his communication
with the Commission he styles himself
chief of the Revolution. AS to superior
testimony, both in Cibao and on the coast.
it is that he is simply a bandit, stained
with crime. He has not, as far as could
be learned, distinguished himself in any
regular manner, his main exploits being
in sundry robberies and piratical opera
| tions on the coast.
IL IL also cadTgeu ny tue LTosioeht VI
the Dominican Government that he has
received supplies through Hayti, and
that the Haytien soldiers and arms have
been at his disposal. The commissioners
obtained evidence of this fact from many
sources. The commissioners believe, that
had these leaders yielded only their own
forces and resources, they would long ago
have been put down. Their whole i'm
| portance is derived from help of foreign
intrigues, and from the fact that, behind
them stands the Haytien nation. which
has nearly three times tbs population and
revenue of the Dominican Republic, which
has never relented in its aggressive policy
and at whose head is President, elevated
by bloody insurrection, involving the
murder of his predecessor. The causes
of disturbance are then Immediately re-
lated-and the Commissioners state that