New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-21
NEWS FROM THE TENNESSEE
THE SAN DOMINGO COMMISSION
Details of the Voyage
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND
TIE CLIMATE. PRODUCTIONS, ETC



EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
SlR-lIaving promised YOU the earliest
possible account of the voyage of the United
States steam frigate Tennessee, and some
details of what should be heard and seen of
the character and condition Of San Do
mingo by the commission sent thither by
the United States Congress and President
Grant, l hereby proceed, without further
introduction to fulfill that promise as well
as circumstances will permit.
THE DEPARTURE
The Tennessee left New York Tuesday at
tern0on, January Il, in the midst OF the
cold and frosts of mid winter, and the COM
missioners-none of them young or ro
bust-with the rest of the ships company,
were but too happy to take advantage OF the
fortunate chance on this accommodating
war steamer to leave such rigorous shores
for voyage to a tropical island. All en-
loved the rare beauty of the harbor OF New
York, the bay, and the neighboring islands.
Soon leaving Staten Island out of sight,
they found themselves on the broad At
lantic.
TIE COMNISSIO MFRS AND ADJUSC1S.
The commission. when at length complete.
yOur readers are probably already aware,
consists of Hon b. +. Wade. of Ohio, chair
man; Professor A. ID. White, of New York,
and Dr. S. Il. q. Howe. of Boston: with
Hon Allen A. Burton, OF Kentucky. secre
tary: all men of mark in our country. As
showing in a small degree what marked
personages they are, it is but necessary to
say this of them, that '.Ol,l Ben Wade" of
whom his long adopted Buckeye State is 50
proud. is IA native of Massachusetts, and
son of soldier OF the Revolution, and that
he served Ohio in a number of honorable
positions besides being one of her United
States Senators for near il score OF years
| and acting Vice President of the nation.
| Old Ben is a fixed fact. at any rate. over
| three score and ten: and didn't l drink
| brandy and water with him OF the second,
| it NAV be remarked that Andrew ID. White
| is President of Cornell University. a
| graduate OF Yale. all extensive trav-
eler. and formerly professor III
probably the greatest university III Amer
|
Howe. the third, is superintendent of Per
kns Blind Institute. and it was he who taught
the deaf and blind mute Laura Bridgeman.
He is a noted philanthrophist In early, as
| well a. later life. he has been the friend OF
Greece. CARRYING American contributions to
that country when struggling for lndepen
dence. serving with Lord Byron at the
| time and more recently aiding the gallant
Cretans in the same way. He is known as
IA lifetime abolitIonist. and WAS practical
friend OF the Kansas Free State men. Dr
| Howe is known to be an excellent Spanish
scholar. and accompanied by his wife, Julia
Ward. has spent much time in Cuba and
| other West Indian islands. The secretary
of the commission. Judge Burton, is also al
excellent Spanish scholar, was recently
Minister to Colombia, and is gentleman
of fine legal and other attainments, who Is
not the less worthy from having had to sell
his possessions and been driven from his
native State OF Kentucky by The hu-hllrA
of the crossroads. where he had for life
time resided. All these gentlemen are o
independent fortunes. and not the men Il
be bribed.
OF scientific gentlemen there are sevcra
attached to the commission, whose name
are honored with various adjuncts. Among
these are Dr.. c. c. Parry, botanist OF The
Department of Agriculture: Professor viii
liam F. Blake. the eminent California geo
logist Professor Crane, of Cornell univer
slty. and others. Next but not least impor
tant. come the representatives, of the lead
ing Journals of our cities. 1t is safe to pre-
dict that "A correct and fuller account of the
character of San Domingo will emanatt
from their pens, and be spread before all
English readers, than was ever before pub
lished. Their names and the papers they
represent. are too numerous to publish.
Among them. however, are General II. '
Boynton for long time the industrious
sturdy. and truthful telegraphic correspond
ent. from Washington, OF the Cincinnati
Gu.ene and other Western journals, will
Homer r. Ramsdell, of the New Iorl
Tribune. a rough diamond and jolly soul
who can keep the whole ships company il
good humor all the time. Space is to-
limited for notice of all the company, and i;
word only will be said of the frigate's com
mander, William G. Temple, who has born
our flag triumphantly on every ocean, ant
through the Mexican and our later war, II
his thirty years service. And yet, when tn
land was sinking from our view on starting
it required all the hope he could master t.
outweigh the intense feeling of responsible
ity that hung over him. 1t may be com
pared to that of one doomed to destruction
But he nd all could but repose cOniidenc
in the aid and protection OF Him whom al
hands had been called to worship.
| FIRST DAYS-COLD-GTLF STHEAM-WARN
| WEATHER. ETC.
Wednesday, January lS.-It is cold AM
rough. though not at all stormy, and thos'
who are on deck ear thick coats and caps
An abundance of sails in sight, and steam
ers. which soon disappear below the horizon
We are not far from Cape Hatteras Hat
teras Light is seen thirty miles away. The
lonr swell lifts and drops the bow AMI ster1
and rolls the huge three thousand ton;
steamer from side to side; the sea-bell'
strike their strange reckoning OF the hall
hours: the wet and darkness drive all belo'
but the seamen Thursday it is still cold
but all can brave a few days OF this siee
and cold at sea for the palnl-trees anu man
goes. the cocoas and the orange trees they
| l,a r;t in fnw =.