The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-02-01
Acquisition Of Samana Bay.
[From the n. o. Republican,


When he takes it of his own accord it
is so much better for~ his antagonist.
One would suppose that there was an
antagonism between the journals OF
New Orleans which advocate CONNER
cial expansion Of the trade with the
West India islands. The exclusion
of the Confederate States from the
trade of the British West Indies con-
tributed greatly to force the adoption
of the federal constitution. Washing
ton, jackson, Polk, Buchanan, all
manifested anxiety to acquire the
right Of reciprocal trade with these
islands. They are the natural market
of the Mississippi valley and OF the
Eastern coast from the st. Lawrence
to Cape Henry. The administration
Of President Grant pursued the ira
ditional policy Of the government. 1t
sought to acquire the bay of SANTANA
as a key to the trade it made between
the Isthmus of Panama, the Mississip-
pi, and the coasts of our Eastern At
Iantie and Western Pacific States.
Opposition to this policy was found i'll
unexpected quarters. Senator Sum
ner was unwilling to see !" the only
negro republic consolidated with the
only republic capable of giving pro-
lection to republican negroes. The
opposition press Of New Orleans trav-
ersed the traditional wish of the peo-
pie of New Orleans to acquire the ter
ritory of the West India islands and
to restore the freedom Of commercial
intercourse which existed when Qua
daloupe and San Domingo, at one
time, and Cuba at another, both be-
longed to the same power with Lou
isialla. Suppose the parties connected
with the negotiations of SANTANA had
been instigated y'corrupt motives.
Why, therefore, oppose the policy OF
commercial expansion9 The wrong
doers. whoever they may have been,
could have been tried and punished,
but the policy Of the government
might have gone on. Friends to that
policy would have said: "Relieve the
measure of those imputations, and we
are with you in any honest mode OF
acquisition" The opponents of the
administration, however, rejoiced to
throw an undeserved imputation on
those whose political opinions they
did not like. In our view, they sacri-
feed a commercial interest of this
great city to secure position OF par
tisan assault. They have been dis
appointed. The honest expansion OF
territory and commercial intercourse
with the West Indies is a popular pol
icy with our people, without regard
] to color or condition. The Picoyu,a.
I fdenounces the recent purchase Of ter.
ritorial jurisdiction and proprietary
title ON the island of San Domingo by
certain American citizens. 1t says
awe never before read of orconceive.
of such transfer OF Il portion of Ma
tionality.n We intend no imputatiol
on the extent of historical research
thus announced, but we think ampl
examples might be found in the con
cessions OF. territorial and politica
authority made by the native prince
of Asia to the British East India Com
pany, through Hastings g. Give, ant
other agents and representatives o
that corporation, or by tie acquisition
of similar rights in the island of Bor
! neo by Raah Brooke, q British sub
iect. Indeed, there is not an origina
British colony planted on our Atlanti
shores, that was not founded by Il cor
poration, which acquired the politiea
and proprietary title from the nativ
sovereigns. We might cite other ex
amples, as of the British settlement
in New Caledonia and Canada; c
} rights acquired by the AFRICAN Com
pany of England and that of Portuga
upon which the colonial government
of Sierra Leon, Goa, etc, were found
; ed. Even the Garay grant of til
rights of property and jurisdictio
over n portion of the Isthmus of Tt
lluantepec contained similar concef
sions to those of the SANTANA purchas,
, Our citizens maintained the legalit
of,the Garay grant.
As we know nothing Of the partit
. purchasing Samana, or the integrit
of their transaction, we make no a
tirmation OIL that point, but the rigi
of ii corporation, OF of individual cit
; zens of our country, to purchase {
, hold any title, political or proprietar.
! in another, is too well established b
! the principles of international law an
!. commercial practice to need argumen
SO much for the right Of our citizel
} to buy out foreign government al
expatriate themselves if they choo
} to do so. But having condemned tn
invasion of the rights of San Doming
}, the next objection is a little misty:
r Having bought the flag of s.
Domingo, it escapes our navigati'
y and registry laws; for our people CT
: not buy ships abroad, but this Ame1
d can company can buy vessels at t
e cheapest rates, put up the San Doni
i go national flag, and compete for t
entire West India trade"
+, And pray what difference does til
t, make to us? Would the fact Il,
j American citizens had bought t
Dominican flag authorize them
Y, make any use of it that they can 1
a make at present9 Amy American m
lr huv - fnreipn shin. bnt it does 7