Year: 1876

append to this message for convenient reference
o synopsis of administrative events and Of all
recommendations to Congress made by me during
the last seven years. Time may show some OF these
recommendations not to have been wisely conceived,
but beleye the larger part will be no dscredit to
the Administration. One of these recommendations
met with the united opposition of political party
in the Senate and with strong opposition from the
other namely, the treaty for the annexation OF
SantO Domingo to the United States to which l
shall specially REFER maintaining do, that If my
views had been concurred in the country would be
in a more prosperous condition to-day both politi-
cally and financially. Santo Domingo is fer
tile and upon its soil may be grown Just
those tropical products of which the United
States use so much, and which are produced and
prepared for market now by slave labor almost ex-
clusiyely, namely, sugar. coffee, dyewoods, mahog-
any, tropical fruits tobacco etc. About 75 per cent
of the exports of Cuba are consumed in the United
States A large percentage of the exports of Brazil
also find the same market. These are paid Tor al
most exclusively in coin, legislation particularly IN
Cuba. beng unfavOrable to mutual exchange OF
the products of each country. Flour shipped from
the Mississippi to Havana can pass by the very en-
trance TO the city its way to port In Spain, then
pays duty fixed upon articles to be reeXported,
transferred to Spanish vessel, and brought BACK
almost to the point of starting. paying second
duty and still have profit over what would be re-
ceiyed by direct shipment. All that is produced In
Cuba conld be produced in Santo Domingo Being
part of the United States, commerce between
the island and main land would be free; there
would be no export duties on her shipments,
nor import duties on those coming here, There
would he no import duties upon the supplies, ma
chinery, &C., going from the State The effect that
would have been produced upon Cuban commerce
with these advantages to q rival is observable at
glance. The Cuban question would have been set
tied long ago in favor of " free Cuba.D Hundreds
of American vessels would now be advantage0nsy
used in transporting the valuable woods and other
products of the soil of the island to market and


III carrying supplies and emlgrants to it, The island


is but sparsely settled, while it has all area suf-
cicnt for the profitable employment of several nil
lions of people The soil would have soon fallen


into the hands of United States capitalists The
products are 50 valuable IN commerce that emigra-
tiOn there would have been encouraged. The eman-
eipated race of the South would have found there
congenial home where their civil rights would not
be disputed. and where theirlabOr would be so much
sought after that the poorest among them could
have found the means TO CO. Thus In cases
have been practiced upon them in many
places within the last eleven years, whole
communities would have sought refuge in Santo
Domingo. do not suppose the whole race would
have gone, is it desirable that they sh0nd-their
labor is desirable indispensable almost where they
are, but the possession of this territory would
have left the negro master OF the situation" by
enabling him to demand his rights at home on the
pain of finding them elsewhere. do not present
these views now as a recommendation for a renewal
Of the subject of annexation but do refer to it TO
vindicatc my previous action i'll regard to


With the present Congress my official life terml-
mates. IL il not probable that public affairs Will
ever again receive attention from me further than
as q citizen of the Republic, always taking deep
interest in the honor, integrity and prosperity OF
the whole land. u. D. GRANT.


Erecuire Mansion, Dec. 5, 1876.