Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-04-07
The San Domingo Question.
A LETTER FROM SECRETARY RoBEsoN.
UAautunrou nfarcb

WASHINGTON, March 81.
Secretary Robson has written letter |
to Rear Admiral Lee, in which he says:
al herewith enclose copy of
a letter which purports TO have been ad |
dressed, on the gath day of February last, |
by the officer commanding the Tennessee,
TO Hon. BaDiamin F.ssWade, Chairman of |
the Commission sent to San Domingo on
that vessel. l have thought 1t right to |
correct unfou ded IDEAS therein contained, |
through you, commaIdant of the fleet in |
those waters. You will perceive that in |
this letter the writer assumes, in effect, |
that if any person connected with the
Commission was taken prisoner by the
opponents of the San Domingo Govern
ment, within their lines, he would be
spy, and might under the laws of civilized
warfare, be treated as such, because the
United States has, in the opinion of the
writer, through the orders of its Execu-
tive to the naval vessels there, chosen TO
take part in the in the internal conflicts of
the dominican Republic. This statement
is founded in fact and inference. The
United States is dealing with the regularly
constituted government of the Dominican
r public, in mannerand for apurpose not
inconsistent with international law, and
though the right of revolution against the
constituted authority for just and adequate
causes inheres in every people, yet the con-
stituted government is, until 1t is actually
oveTthrown, the legal representative Of the
nation in all its relations to the other peo-
pie, and the right of revolution does not
carry with it to the revolutionists, pend
ing their contest, their rightto treat agents
of other nations as enemies, when not in
arms against them, while they are acting
as they have an international right to act
in accordance with the laws of the exist
ing government. But neither the United
States nor its Executive has chosen to take
part, or have taken part, in the internal
conflicts of the Dominican Republic. The
situation is this: The President of the
United States has, by the constitution, the
right to make treaties subject to the ratifi.
cation of the Senate. The Congress of
the United States, in 1866, appropriated
considerable sum of money for the under
stood purpose of acquiring by lease or pur-
chase part of the island of San Domingo.
The bay and peninsula of the same were
considered the most appropriate for our
purpose, as a naval station, and the Re
public of San Domingo itself, with its
favorable position and natural resources
its friendly government and people, seemed
for the purpose of commerce and ciYiliza-
ton most desirable for the use of those
fragments of our continent which lie
across the gateway of our domestic com.
merce, and shut up the entrance to our
great inland sea. TO initiate treaties is
the constitutional right of the President,
and he thus had the power TO negotiate
treaties for the cession of Samana
and the annexation of the Domin-
ican Republic il, upon proper considera-
| hot 4 tnl,t far ha int 90
| the country, whose interests are, to this
extent, intrusted to his judgmc IT. 1t was
his constitutional right, if he lid negotiate
such treaties to negotiate them with the
existing government of the republic, con-
| fessedly the government both de .flIet0 and
de juTe. These treaties were, of course, in
choate, and subject to be confirmed or de.
feated by action of the Senate of the
| United States and the people of the Do
minican Republic, but, by such treaties,
and pending such final action, the United
| States acquired an interest in the thing me-
| gotiated, from which it could not be right
| fully disturbed by any other power; and
| it was the plain duty of the Executive to
| protect, if need be, the integrity of the
consdtutionally acquired interest, so that
the subject of negotiation might remain
| intact until final action of the 'ratifying
power should be properly had. Under the
treaty, and by means of an appropriation
by Congress for such purpose, we took
possession of the bay and peninsula OF
SANTANA. This possession we still hold
and while our flag flies there we must pro.
tect from every interference the interest
which it presents. In carrying out this
policy the government of the United
States has not fired shot mol
landed man in a hostile attitude
on the island of San Domingo
and has neither interfered in the con
flicts of the Dominican Republic mol
coerced any other power. 1t has simply
announced to all the people generally, and
particularly to such as appeared in q
threatening attitude, its determination tc
protect, until finally disposed of, the in
terest it had acquired in that republic from
all attacks from without its boundaries
and from the interference of any foreign
power, so that in the event of the treaties
being ratified, there would be left thu
thing contracted for with no hostile pos
sessions intervening to destroy our righ
Of pre-emption. To do this is certainly
not to make war or take part in the con
fiicts of the country, nor to coerce, nor at
tempt to coerce, any power. 1t is but {
simple performance of the duty to Con
gress and to the nation in preparation, il
the existing condition of what We hav
constitutionally entered into negotiation
constitutionally to acquire. Under TIN
orders Of the Executive, it is a part of tn
duty of those ships of your feeewhich ar
at any time cruising in the waters of Sai
Domingo, to maintain this status sgains
every power, and while we would no
yield the right to interfere with it to tn
most powerful government, wecannot con
cede that right even to the weakest.
(Signed) GEO. NJ RoBEsoN,
Secretary of the Navy.