Year: 1871




is $1,565, 900. The official statement of
receipts of the government for 1870 shows
total of $703, 900, and one of the items
is for import duties of over 100000.


The Commissioners report that they
found no foundation for the statement
that Dominica is bound to Hayti for
an indemnity sum to France. No treaties
of any consequence exist between Do.
minica and the other powers. The only
settled boundary between Hayti and San
Domingo is the old Spanish and French
line of 1777. When the Haytians were
driven out of the eastern part of the
Island, there remained as disputed terri
tory considerable extent east of the old
boundary. This is still in dispute. Of
this the Haytiens have held in practically
constant control the towns of San Rafael,
San Miguel and Los Canbas. The Benicia
valley, east of these, and the Neybs dis
trict have been alternately overrun by
both parties The claim of Hayti to the
boundary of the Geffard map-which is
the meridian through Alta Villas re-
garded as preposterous. The extent of
territory within the old boundary of
1777 is found by new and careful compu-
tation to be 22,212 square miles. The
portion of this Republic referred to as
having been mainly in Hay ten occupancy
is about 10000 square miles.


The Commissioners give an official list
of grants and concessions, together with
all information they received regarding
them, with the names of the respective
grants. They are the same as have al
ready been widely published. The Com
missioners declare that after the most
careful research they could not find that
there was any particle of evidence for the
rumors that the government officials of
the United States have been privately in
terested in them. The report is very en-
phatic and conclusive on this point The
Dominican government was found willing
to agree to the terms of the treaty as now
concluded.


Although the people do not hesitate to
say that they would prefer Independence
to annexation, yet they declare that inde-
pendence is impossible, and the Commis-
sioners confirm their declarations. There
is but one chance for that Republic. Even
to recover its independence, to become
after proper period of probation of q
union of states, the freedom and substan-
tial independence of each being guaran-
teed by the strength of all. 1t is beyond
the province of the Commissioners under
the resolution of Congress to recommend
that such course be adopted or abstained
from. They simply state as their belief
founded upon all the observations they
could make, and of all the facts that they
could learn. that this is the only way ia
which the Dominican independence can
be secured, and that, if it is judged best
not to adopt that course, even the present
shadow of independence will be taken
away. The Domiuiuan territory is one
of the fairest an d richest on earth, and
unless some such means as above mention
ed are resorted to it is to lie exhausted
and helpless until some strong nation
shall seize it and hold it in colonial subju-
cation.


| The tnhaoon traaa ia -ap;1ly heoonias
a German monopoly. The Commissioners
find the number of German subjects in
important business operations and agen-
cies on the north side of the island to ex-
ceed those of any other foreign power,
and their influence is extending steadily
up into the great central districts. The
inhabitants of San Domingo are earnestly
opposed to slavery, and under more favor
able circumstances the moral influence
would be felt in the neighboring islands
1t would be all on the side of freedom,
Nor would that influence be merely moral
Commercial influences would work in the
same direction. San Domingo is capable
of supporting millions of people. Land is
cheap. In fertility it certainly equals,
and probably surpasses, the neighboring
isles, and is even better suited for the
production of sugar and coffee. 1t could
supply the whole market of the United
States with these great West India staples
This trade is the main support which
the slave system now has. With
liberty, order and free labor, immigration
would be attracted by these, with the vast
advantages in the West Iudia trade, aside
from the fact that any duties made by the
United States on West India productions
for revenue would be discrimination
against slave products, and would ensure
the protection of Dominican free labor.
1t is not too much to expect that San Do
miugo might be developed into a power.
full State, which, by the invariable laws of
trade, would make slave labor in the
neighboring islands Improbable, and by
the spread of its ideas render the whole
slave system odious.


The Commissioners say they know of no
valid claims which Hayti had against San
l|OniuSO, hOi VI dby itkhbs OE tutcEoeIl
which could be endangered by the extern
sion of our institutions over the eastern
end of the island. Nevertheless they de-
sire to give to the government and to the
intelligent citizens an opportunity of stat |
ing their views. Moreover they desire in |
the most friendly spirit to make the same
observation and study of Hayti and the in
habitant, as they had made of the Domini-
.,,t, &oI ~
President and his council their disposition
and desire. They stated that they would
be glad to be put in the way to ascertain
what were the claims of Hayti upon San
Domingo, and what were the views of the |
Hay tien people with respect to any change
that may be brought about in the neigh |
boring Republic, but they received no en-
couragement to pursue their inquiry. They
asked verbally, and through our Minister
in writing for permission to explore the
western part of the island, but this was
met in a spirit equivalent to refusal.
They conteLted themselves therefore, with
taking such testimony, and gathering such
information upon matters bearing upon the
question of annexation as they could with.
ont giving offence. On reviewing the
whole field of their Investigations looking
to the interests of both divisions of the
island, they are firmly persuaded that the
annexation of San Domingo to the United
States would be hardly less beneficial to
the Hay tien than to the Dominican peo-
pie. This benefit would arise from the
example which would doubtless be af-
forded of well regulated, orderly and
prosperous State, the great need of that
part of the world, and which it has, as
yet, never seen. A second and more direct
benefit would arise from the equitable es-
tablishment of boundary line between
the French speaking and Spanish speak
ing natives upon that island. and its
guarantee by strong power. This would
end the existing border warfare, which
has been one of the greatest curses OF
Hayti as well as of San Domingo, and
would enable both to devote their energies
thenceforward to the education of their