New-York tribune., 1873-03-10
WASHINGTON.
AND sANTo DOMINGO.

.r,r, rppsrDEyT AND SANTO DOMINGO.
,rvrs OF HIS BAD MEMoRY-DIsCREPAN-
rrs RETwEES THE STATEMENT IN HIS IN
TcuRAL ADDRESS AND HIS PREVIOUS
srss1GEs-HIs POSITION ON ANNEXATION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THR TRIBUNRl
=, ,sHISGToN March 9-Considerable comment is
;nuleed in here among the opponents Of the scheme
for the annexation of Santo Dimingo on the portion
of the Presidents inaugural relating to that ques-
tion and the President is severely criticised for his
moor memory in recalling the facts of his own action
with reference that Administration measure In his
inaugural address the President said the annexation
was not a question of his seeking, but that ne
believed il for the best interests OF the country
and for the people of Santo Domingo that the annex
alton proposition should be received iaVoraoy' ~
closing the subject the President used these words
.It +be traatvl WAS however rejected constitution
ally and therefore the subject was never brought up
again by me-"
IL will be remembered that the treaty negotiated
nv Gen Babcock of the military staff of Gen. Grant
failed of ratification for want of the twotbirds vote
of the Senate during the last week in June, 1870.
In his next message to Congress- in December, 1870,
The President devoted more than column OF space IN
The Confessional Globe to the subject of Santo Do
mingo urging its advantages over all the ISLANDS Oh
the West Indies, and saying that he firmly believed
that the moment it is known that the United
nexation a free port will be negotiated for by
European nations in the Bay of Samana." He also
saws in the same message: Its possession by us
will in few years build up coastwise
eemmerce of immense magnitude, which will
90 far toward restoring to us our Iost
merchant marine.' After citing other advantages
10 come from annexation the message closes by say
ing with such picture IT is easy to see how our
large debt abroad is ultimately to be extinguished
The acquisition of SantO Domingo is an adherence
10 the Monroe doctrine. 1t is measure of national
protection In concluding the subject in the mes
sage of 1870 the President used the following Ian
puage " In view of the Importance OF the question,
Iearnesty urge upon Congress earlyiachon express
i've Of its views the best means of acquiring Santo
Domingo Ny suggestion is that by joint resolution
Of the two Houses of Congress- the Executive be
authorized 10 appoint commission TO negotiate
treaty with the authorities Of Santo Domingo for the
ACQUISITION of that island and that appropriation
be made 10 defray the expense of such commission.
The question may then be determined either by the
action of the Senate upon the treaty or the JOINT
action of the two Houses of Congress upon resolu-
tion of annexation as in the of the acquisition
of Texas. So convinced am of the advantages to
flow from the annexation of Santo Domingo and of the
great disadvantages, might almost say calamltles,
to flow from non-acquistion that believe the SUBJ
feet has only to be investigated to be approved"
In obedience TO this formal request on the part OF
the President Congress provided for the appoint
ment of commission which went to Santo Do
mingo and made q report which the President sent
to Congress This report never met the sanction of
Congress, and thus the matter ended. The enemies
of the Santo Domingo scheme now claim that the
Presidents memory is not good when he says the
subject was never brought up by him after the reec
ton Of the Babcock treaty in June, 1870.