The New York herald., 1871-01-17
TIE DOMINICAN DoGUM NTs
to the History, Present Status and General
Features Of the Island.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l6, 1871,
The following Is Secretary Fisn's letter accom-.
panying the Presidents message transmitting the
documents and correspondence called for by Senator
Summers resolution
To THE PRESIDENT
The Secretary Of State, to whom was referred the
resolution OF the Senate OF the 4th 1nstant-"rhat
the President OF the United States be requested 60
communicate to the Senate, II in his opinion not
compatible with the public interest, copies Of all
papers and correspondence relating TO the prOposed
annexation OF the Dominican portion OF The island
OF st. Domingo, or the purchase Of any part thereof
Including the irst aud ali subsequent Instructions to
any agent consul OF the United States With the
correspondence OF such agent or consul also any pro-
cOtol Or convention signed by such agent or consult
also account o the debt and liabilities OF the Do
minican government, especially It's obligations TO the
neighbollng republic OF Hayti; also the provisions
so e ar the sae relate oo'nifa, 90 tn
sale or transfer Of the national domain;
minica Is bound or anected: also any communities
UOn from the neighboring republic OF Hayti or from
our Minister there relating to the proposed annexa
ton; also instructions 10 the commander OF our
naval squadron In the waters Of the island since the
commencement Of the late negotiations, with the
reports and correspondence OF such commander,
also any Information tending 10 show what
European Power, II any, proposed to acquire Juris-
diction OF any part OF the island and II so. what
part; also any iniormation with regard TO the posi-
ton or President Bae, under whom the treaty OF
annexation alton, was ,nssotstaa and the ex
power by the presence OF United States
vessels OF war; also any information with regard
report Of The pendency there OF civil war; also any
Information with regarc to any cain Of jurisdiction
by the republic OF Hayti over the territory or Do
minica," has the honor TO report TO the President
The limits OF those parts Oh the island OF 81. Do
mingO which were formerly under the domnlon OF
Span and France respectively were defined with
fitness and precision by the treaty between those
Powers, signed at Paris on the Sd OF june ls7,,
translation of which IS heieunto annexed. This
boundary has been compared with the line shown
by the Official map of the island published by the
Dominican government. and has been found TO cor
respond with It, A copy OF that boundary line as
shown by the Official map, Is herewith transmitted
Blythe ninth article OF the treaty OF peace between
them OF the I'D OF July, 1895, commonly
called tile Treaty or Base, Spain ceded to France
her territory IN and sovereignty over thai islano.
which, however. were restored TO Span by the
eighth article Of the treaty between the allied Pow
crs OF Europe OF the soth Of May, 1911. By ord.
nance Of King Charles X. OF France, ot the i7lh OF
April, 1920 translation OF which IS also herennto
annexed, the indcpendence OF the French part OF
island was acknowledged upon certain conditions,
one oI which was that the inhabitants were required
10 make certain anauai payments into the Frehcn
treasury These payments were further regulated by
formal treaties betwe France aud nayt or the 3lst
October 1926 the l2tn OF February 1885, the 18th of
May, ls47, and tie LIST OF October, 1854 IN none Of
these instruments IL any reference made 10 The
spanish part OF the island OF ST. Domineo,
and no public document srs, Of any KIND
or the Inhabitants OF that region liable for
any Of the debt TO France assumed b. the govern
+, lcnt Of Haytl. The independence or the Dominican
republic declared anu constitution for Its gov
ernmens was proclaimed on the lst OF December,
issued decree equalixing the treatment to be given
10 the ags OF All nations In Its ports. Under date Of
the 18th OF October, lSaS 1t negatvcd q treaty Of
commerce and navigation with France. on the 9th
OF March, 1850, IL concluded similar treaty with
Great Britain. On the Sth Of May and The 10Th OF
July 1852, other similar treaties with France and
Denmark were respectively concluded. On the 22d
or March. 1854, II concluded treaty OF commerce
with Sardinia. On che 18th OF February, lsa5, Tie
Dominican republic concluded treaty WITH and lis
Independence was formally acknowledged by, spain.
On the 2lth OF July, 1856, II concluded
treaty OF conmerce with the Netherlands,
and on the 24th OF october. 1857, q similar treaty
with the United states. On the 22d of February,
lS45. that government having applied 10 this gov
erninent Tor recognition, Mr.. John Hogan was
despatched from this department special
agent, with Instructions to inquire the extent
0f the territory or the republic, IA to the character
and composition OF the population as 10 the nun-
Der and discipline OF the troops 10 the people OF
The country and it5 division IN races and "a ita
finances. Mr. Hogan reported that the territories Of
the republic are those WHic IorInerly belonged ~
Spain; that the population was about 100000, al
whom 10000 were blacks and over 100000 were
wlfes ana the other information called for was
given IN a correspondence ana series OF tables ap
pended TO the report. A copy of tne instructions TO
Ml. Hogan oi his report and OF the enclosures IT,
are herewith transmitted.
Va tne following year the subject was again taken
up py the administration OF Mr. Polk and under
crectons OF Mr. Bancroft the then Secretary OF the
navy, Lieutenant NOW AdmiraD u. ID. Porter
Irupclsed nearly the whole island from east 10
wesI anu from Dorb TO south travelling some.