Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-04-11

I'M Wv Elm vi ENAs
The present government of the
Dominican Republic is in theory a
constitutional republic. According
to it's constitution, the government
is divided into three branches--the
executive, legislative and judicial.
The first consists of President and
Vice President, elected by an electo-
raj college for term of six years,
with q difference of three years in
the time of their election. Both
President and Vice President are in
eligible to the Presidency during the
following term. The President APP
points Council of State, consisting
of the Ministers of Public Instruction,
Interior, Police and Agriculture,
Public Works. Commerce, War, and
Marine. On one of these four Min.
listers the duties of the Minister of
Foreign Relations devolves, at the
will of the President. The legisla-
tive branch of the government con-
sists of a Senate, elected by primary
assemblies, and has two members for
the city of San Domingo, two for
Santiago, and one for each of the 9TH
err provinces and districts--nine men,
bers in all. These hold Office for six
years and may be reelected. Each
province and district has Governor,
and each parish and military post has
Commandant, nominated by the
Executive and responsible to him.
The towns are governed by aguntd-
midtoS, or councils, elected by the
primary assemblies for three years.
The Judiciary consists of Supreme
Court, whose seat is at the capital,
with President, four Ministers and
one Attorney General, who are cho-
sen by the Senate from nominations
made by the electoral college, and
who hold office five years. In every
province and district there is a court
of first instance sitting at the respect
i've capitals, consisting of "a Judge,
Prosecutor and Attorney General,
all nominated by the Executive and
holding office five years. 1t was
found that this court had in many
parts of the Republic, fallen into dis
use; Finally, each au tGM SadRS pda APPOINT GS5iit
ed by the Executive, and holding of
flee at his pleasure, and correspond
ing to our justice of the peace. In
this latter case, practice is far better
than theory. In all parts of the Re-
public it was found that the alcados
held office virtually during good be-
havior, and not one was found whose
character did not inspire respect.
CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
The Commission found the govern
ment organized and in complete OPP
Grafton in all it's departments, exer-
cising every function Of legitimate
government, with Gen. Buenavento
Baez as Chief Magistrate, in full and
peaceable possession of all parts of
the republic except Oh the Haytien
border, which is disturbed by insur-
rectionary leaders, aided by the Hay
items and political intriguers. These
are melted to be extraordinarily nc.
tive at this time by the fear of an
nexation to the United States. From
all that the Commissioners could as
certain, President Baez has the re-
spect of the great majority of the
Dominican people for his admins
trative abilities, and the strong at
tachment of many leading men, who
regard him as the only statesman
among them who can hold them to-
gether against domestic factions and
foreign toes. In 1845, after five
years of anarchy, consequent on the
expulsion of the Haytien power,
Gen. Baez was regularly elected
President of the republic. Itappears
that he was chosen as the man who,
by his education, fortune and public
services, would be most likely to Sc
cure general confidence and heal the
wounds inflicted by the civil and for
eign wars. In one of the delegations
of leading citizens who rendered to
him the chief magistracy, was Gen.
Cabral. There is creditable testimo-
ny to the fact that, under him, de-
spite the difficulties that have beset
him, the republic has enjoyed as much
liberty as any of his predecessors
dared to allow, and more tranquility
than they knew how to give. Nor
do the Commissioners find that there
is any opponent of the present admin.
istration of that republic who has
now, or who ever has bad, any claim
TO the chief magistracy by title SUI
perior to that Of the present incum.
bent. Whatever technical defects
there might have been in his original
title to the Office, it was confirmed
by national convention and ratified
by the assent and support of the peo-
pie. Tho frequency of civil com mo-
ton during a long period, and the
consequent insecurity of property.
have paralyzed industry. disconraged
accumulation, and so impoverished
the country that for the last two
years the financial resources of TIC
government. as its officers informed
us, have been inadequate to paw ex.
penses.
THE INSTRUCTIONS
which still exist are headed by Cab
raj and Luperon. The former of
these is universally conceded to be
the more important, but neither has
q distinct flag or regularly organ
zed army. The Commission found
hat Cabral does not claim to be the
egal head of the republic (; that he
loes not claim to represent the prin-