Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-04-14
1.resident's, 8, san EDop,ingo 0 Message


President's, SAN kDon.i lingo Message.
WAsHINeToN, April 5.-7o the Senate
and House or Representatives.:
Ihaye tho honor to submit herewith to the
two Houses of Congress, the report of the
Commissioners appointed in pursuance of a
I joint resolution, approved January l2JlS7l.
, Tt1wiil bo observed that this report more than
sustains all that have heretofore said, in re-
gard to tho productions and hcathfulness Of
the Republic Of San Domingo, of the unan
nimity of the people for annexation to the
4 United States, and their pcacabo character.
Itis.due to the public, as it certainly is to
myself, that I should here give the circum.
stances, which first led to the negotiation of
! t.caty, for the annexation of the Republic
of San Domingo to the United States
When / accepted the arduous and rcspon-
sible position which now hold, did not
dream Of institutng any steps for the acquisi
tion of insular possessions. believed, how
over, that our institutions were broad enough
toextend over tho entire continent, rs rapid
ly as other people might desire to bring them
selves under our protection, | believed fur
: thcr, that we should not prevent any indepen.
dent government within the limits of North
America Co pass from a condition of indepcn
dence to one of ownership or protection un-
der nm European power.
( Soou after my Inauguration as President,
]. was waited upon by an agent Of President
Baoz, with proposition to, annex tho Rcpuh
lio of, Suns Domingo to the United States
This gentleman represented the capacity Of
the island, the desire of tho people, and their
character aud habits, about as they have been
described by the Commissioners, whose report
accompanies this message. He stated fur
j ther, that, being weak in numbers and poor
in purse, they were not capable Of developing
their, great resources; that the people had
no incentive to industry, on account Of pro
tcction for their accumulations and that if
= not accepted by the United States, whose in
stitutions they loved above those of any other
nation, they would be compelled to seek pro
lection elsewhere. TO these statements
made no reply, and gave no indication of
l what thought of the proposition. In the
course Of time, I was waited sSton by sec
geasG IN * ~ sa 1870, III n, who maa
ed in like, manner. In view of Tic facts
which had been laid before mo- and with an
earnest desire to maintain the Monroe doc
! trine, believed that would be dcrclict in
l.
certain tho cxact;wish of the Government,
and inhabitants Of tho Republic of San Do.
mingo, in regard to annexation, and commu
nicate the information the people Of the Uni,
tod States. Under tho circumstances, felt
that il turned a deaf car to this appeal,
might, in the future, be justly charged " it'll
fragrant neglect of tho public interests, and
an, utter disregard of tho welfare of a down.
~oI,l ~, 1 L..
free aud strong Government, and for protec
tion in the enjoyment Of tho fruits of their
own industry These opponents Of anucxa.
ton, who have heretofore protcssed to be
prominently the friends Of the rights Of man,
believed would be my most violent assaiants
IT | neglected 50 clear duty. Accordingly,
after having appointed II commissioner to Wis
it tho Island, who declined on account of
sicEacss. lysc!eotcd a second gentleman, in
whose capacity, Judgment and integrity / had,
and have yet the most undopbtcd confidence.
Hc visited San Domingo, not to secure or
hasten an annexation, but unprcjudiccd aud
unbiased, to learn all thcafacts about the Gov.
ernment, the pco9lc and tho resources of that
Republic. Ilo went, certainly as well pre-,
pared to make an untayorablc report as ia.
yorable one, as the facts warranted it. His
HAoPoic.iu''y CoIiouolaIcu luc views or DrCEl-
Gus Commissioners, and upon its recapt, /
felt tat sense of duty, ard due regard for
our great national interests, required nc to
nego!iqte;a treaty for tho acquisition ofsthc
( Republic ofSSan Domingo, AS, soon as it
became publicly known, that such treaty
. had been negotiated the attention Of tic
country was occupied with allegations, calcu:
hted to prtjutico'the merits of the case and
with: aspersions. upon those, whose duty had
eoanectca them with il. Amidst tho public
excitement thus created. the treaty failed to
recaiye the requisite two thirds vote Of the
Senate, and was rejected but whether the
action of that body was based wholly upon tho
merits of tho treaty, or might have been, in
some degree influenced by such, unfoundcd
allegations could not be knownby the pco.
pie, because the debates Of tho Senate, in
secret session are not published under the
circumstances. | deemed it duo to tho Office
whiolr [ he'll, and due tho character of The
agents, who had been charged with the inycs.
tiyation, that such proceedings should be had
as would enable them to know tic, truth. A
Commission was, therefore, constituted under
tho authority of Congress, consisting of gen.
btlelnen selected with special reference to their
high ehasacter aud capacity, for the laborous
work entrusted tosthep, who were instructed
to yisit1tber spot and report upon tho facts.
Other eminent citizens we're requested to ac.