The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-04-14
THE SAN DOMINGO REPORT.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

/
Commissioners
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: have the honor to submit
to the two Houses of Congress, the re-
port of the Commissioners appointed
In pursuance of the joint resolution
approved Jan. ~, 1871. 1t will be OBJ.
served that this report more than sus.
tains all that l have heretofore said in
regard to the productiveness and health
fulness of the Republic Of San Domingo,
1.-THE unanimity Of the people for an.
nexation to the United States, and of
their peaceable character. 1t is due to
the public as it certainly is to myself,
that l should here give all the clrcum-
stances which first led to the negotia-
ton of treaty for the annexation of
the Republic of San Domingo to the
United States.
When 1 accepted the arduous and re.
sponsible position which | now hold,
did not dream of instituting any steps
for the acquisition of insular possess.
ions. believed, however, that our in.
stitutions were broad enough to extend
over the entire continent as rapidly as
other peoples might desire to bring
themselves under our protection. be-
lievcd further that we should not permit
Independent governments within the
limits of North America to pass from a
condition of independence to one of
ownership or protection under an Euro.
pean power. Soon after my inaugura.
tion as President, l was waited upon by
an agent of President Baez with pro.
position to annex the Republic of San
Domingo to the United States. This
gentleman represented the capacity of
the island, the desire of the people and
their character and habits, about as
they have been described by the Com
missioners, whose report accompanies
this message. He stated, further, that,
being weak in numbers and poor in
purse, they were not capable of devel-
oping their great recources; that the
people had no incentive to industry, on
account of the lack of protection for
their accumulations, and that if not ac-
cepted by the United States, with the
institutions which they loved above
those of any other nation, they would
be compelled to seek protection else
where. To these statements made no
reply, and gave no indication of what L
thought of the proposition. In the
course OF time was waited upon by a
second gentleman from San Domingo,
who made the same representations,
and who was received in like manner.
In view of the facts which had been
laid before me and with an earnest de-
sire to maintain the "Monroc doctrine,n
l believe 1 would be derelict in my
duty If did not take measures to ascer.
tain the exact wish of the Government
and inhabitants of the Republic of San
Domingo in regard to annexation, and
communicate the information to the
people of the United States. Under the
attending circumstances, felt that if |
turned deaf ear to this appeal might
in the future be justly charged with a
ilagrant neglect of the public interests
and an utter disregard of the welfare of
a down-trodden race, praying for the
blessings of free and strong govern
ment, and for protection in the enjoy.
inent of the fruits of their own industry.
Those opponents Of annexation who
have heretofore professed to be pre-. emi-
nently the friends of the rights of man
l believed would be my most violent
assailants if | neglected so clear duty.
Accordingly, after having appointed
Il Commissioner to visi t the Island, who
declined on account of sickness, seec.
ted second gentleman, in whose capac-
ity, judgement, and integrity ] had
unbounded confidence. He visited San
Domingo, not to secure or hasten annex
alton, but unprcjudiced and unbiased,
to learn all the facts about the Govern
ment, the people, and the resources of
that Republic. He went certainly us
well prepared to make an unfavorable
report as favorable one, if the facts
warranted it. His report fully corrobo.
rated the views of the previous COM
missioners, and, upon its receipt, felt
that Il sense of duty and due regard
for our great national interests required
me to negotiate treaty for the acqui-
sition of the Republic of San Domingo.
AS soon as it became publicly known
that such a treaty had been negotiated,
the attention of the country was occu.
pied with allegations calculated to pre-.
judice the merits of the case, and with
aspersions upon those whose duty had
| connected them with it. Amidst the
public excitement thus created, the
treaty failed to receive the requisite
two-thirds vote of the Senate and was
| rejected, but W hether the action of that
body was based wholly upon the merits
of the treaty, or might rot have been
in some degree influenced by such un.
| founded allegations could not be known
by the people, because the debates of
the Senate in secret session are not pub.
lished. Under these circumstances |
| deemed it due to the Office which !
| hold, and due to the character OF the
agents who had been charged with the
Investigations, that such proceedings
would enable the people to know the
truth. A commission was therefore
constituted under the authority of Con-
gress, consisting of gentlemen selected
with special reference to their high
character and capacity for the laborious
work entrusted to them, who were in
structed to visit the spot and report up-
on the facts. Other eminent citizens
were requested to accompany the com
mission, in order that the people might
have the benefit of their views. STU
dents of science and correspondents of
the press, without regard to political
opinions, were in vited to join the expe-
dition. Their numbers were limited
only by the capacity of the vessel.
The mere rejection by the Senate OF a
treaty negotiated by the President only