Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-06

| the public excitement thus created, the treaty
failed to receive the requisite twOthirds 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, in
| some degree, influenced by such unfounded al
| legations, could not be known by the people,
! because the debates of the senate in secret ses-
sion are not published, Under these circum-
stances, | 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 com
mission was, therefore, constituted under au'
thority of congress, consisting of gentlemen Sc
lected with special reference to their high char
acter and capacity for the laborious work en-
trusted to them, who were instructed to visit the
| spot and report upon the facts. Other eminent
| citizens were requested TO accompany the com
mission, in order that the people might have the
| benefit of their views; students OF science and
correspondents Of the press, without regard to
political opinions, were invited to join the eXpe-
| dition, and their numbers were limited only by
the capacity Of the vessel.
The mere rejection by the senate of the treaty
negotiated by the president only indicates differ
ence Of opinion of the government, without touch
ing the character or wounding the pride of either.
| But when such rejection takes place Simultane-
ously with charges, openly made, of corruption
on the part of the president or those employed
| by him, the case is different; indeed in such
|
LEGATION. This has been accomplished by the
report of the commissioners, herewith trans
mitted, and which fully vindicates the purity of
the motives and acrion of those who represented
the United States in the negotiation.
And now my task is finished and with it ends
all personal solicitude upon the subject. My
duty being done, yours begins, and gladly
hand over the whole matter to the Judgment of
the American people, and of their representa-
tlves in congress assembled. The facts will now
| hnl Nhs 1.,as 3 -.
rendered by that tribunal whose convictions so
seldom err, and against whose will have no
policy TO enforce. My opinion remains I'M
changed; indeed, it is confirmed by the report
that the interests of our country and San Do
mingO alike invite the annexation of the repub-
lie. In view of the difference of opinion upon
this subject, suggest that no action be taken at
the present session beyond the printing and
general dissemination of the report Before the
next session of congress, the people will have
considered the subject and formed an intelligent
opinion concerning it, to which opinion, DELHI
erately made up, it will be the duty of every de-
partment of the government to give heed, and
no one will more cheerlully conform to it than
myself 1t is not only the theory of our consti-
tuition that the will of the people constitutionally
expressed is the supreme law, but have ever
believed all men wiser than any one man. and
if the people, upon full presentation of facts
shall decide that the annexation of the republic
is not desirable, every department of the gov
eminent ought to acquiesce in that decision.
In again submitting to congress a subject
upon which public sentiment has been divided
and which is made the occasion of acrimonious
debate in congress, as well as unjust aspersiOnS
elsewhere, may, | trust, be INDUCED in single
remark: No man can hope to perform duties
so delicate and responsible as pertain to the
presidential office without sometimes mourning
the hostility of those who deem their opinions
and wishes treatedwith insufficient consideration
and he who undertakes to conduct the affairs OF
a great government as faithful public servant
if sustained by the approval of his own con.
science, may rely with confidence upon the can
dor and intelligence of free people whose best
interest he has Striven to subserve, and car
bear with patience the censure of disappointed
men. o. S. GRANT
Executive Mansion, April 5, 1871.
The commissioners preface their report by :
recital of the resolution of congress under which
they were appointed and, after a brief nara
i've OF the events of the expedition, give con
else statement of the political state and cOndi
ton and form of government of San Domingo
The government is, in theory, a constitutions
republic, the president being elected for si2
years, and the Judiciary of the supreme court il
chosen for five years by the senate, from nomi
nations by electoral colleges. Each parish has
also its alcalde, corresponding to our justice Of
the peace, holding Office virtually during good
! behavior, and not one found whose charac
ter did not inspire respect. The penal code O.
the island for civil offences is, necessarily mucl
more severe than in our country, as San Do
mingo has long been infested by Jealous, aspir
ing and ambitious leaders, whose importance de
ponds upon commoticn.
President Baez has the respect of a great ma.
Jorty of the Dominican people, for his admins
tratiye abilities, and the strong attachment OF
many leading men, who regard him as the only
statesman among them, who can hold the nation
| against domestic factions and foreign foes
baez was first elected president in 1S4S, and his
| first administration appears 10 be the only one
in the annals of the Dominican republic which
has lasted the constitutional period. In 1858
he was succeeded by Santana, and anarchy soon
ensued, continuing till 1861, when the island was
brought under the power of Spain. After the
expulsion of the Spaniards, anarchy again fol.
lowed, Baez being several times called from
abroad to save the country by provisional au.
thority. Baez has now entered upon the third
year of his present administration, and there is
ample testimony that, under him, the republic
has enjoyed as much liberty and more tran
guilty than any of his predecessors dared to al
low. Baez appears also legally and cOnstitu.
tonally entitled to the office which he now holds
Existing instructions, headed by Cabral and
Luperon, are opponents of no clearly defined
policy, and have no hold on public opinion be-
yond the territory which they may temporarily
occupy.
| Cabral, though once popular leader, is in.
competent, lacking administrative ability, and
|
of revolution. Luperon is simply bandit
stained with crime, his main exploits being rob-
berries and piracies. Cahra has only few hun.
dred men operating in the depopulated districts
of San Juan and Neyba, and sustained by troops
and war material from Hayti. The commits
sioners believe that, had both of these leaders
welded only their own forces and resources
they would, long ago, have been put down. Be
side the Haytien aggressions other causes ag-
gravate the difficulties of the Dominican repub-
lR thngA al n1n,.r l.a
tween the north and south sides of the island,
the number of military chiefs heading small
clans in various districts, and the convenience
afforded by the neighboring islands for revolu-
ton and insurTectionary operations.
| All these difficulties the commissioners be-
leve would disappear should the Dominican re.
public be ehectually protected by any connec-
ton with a strong nation. Local self-govern-
ment in the island has been greatly obstructed
by internal difficulties and disturbances; vet
many town councils still preserve an efficient
existence, and are composed of members Of
good character and ability. The Spanish occu.
patton of the island, in 1861, was found to have
been consummated by fraud, and was most un.
satisfactory and oppressive in its results, civil
and religious, threatening danger to the Ma.
sonic fraternity large and influential order in
the island, and the re-establishment of slavery,
either by importation or reduction of the inhab.
itants to bondage. The people revolted and
drove the Spaniards into the stronghOlds on the
coast, where Clle SOtulerS ul6u by the wholesale
of malignant tevers eDgendered by the close and
filthy barracks, devoid of all sanitary appliances
The Spaniards sent, in all, about 35 900
troops, of whom between 5000 and 5000 were lost
by desertion and disease.
The desire for annexation to the United
States, the commissioners state, was found very
widespread and outspoken in all parts of the
island, and based, apparently, on thorough, in
telligent discussion. This desire was also ar
IDENTIFY shared and sustained by all the colonies
of colored people, formerly from the United
States, whose attachment 20 their native land
seems to have deepened with time and distance
The people said they would prefer to continue
independent if it were possible, but if they must
lose nationality, they would rather merge twith
the American Union, with free institutions
friendly people, and common interests. The
principal part OF the opposition which does exist
appears among certain traders III the ports,
some of whom, in case of annexation would
lose control of branches of business of which, in
its present narrow channels, they have a mo-
nOpOly. The commissioners entirely discredit
the reports that annexation would be resisted
| W 1agparntn mi in 81 ;sla,