Year: 1871

WASHINGTON, March II, 1871.


To Rear Admlral 8. p. LEE, Commanding North At


ADMIRAL--I herewith enclose copy Of a letter
which purports to have been addressed on the 24tn
day Of February last. by the otlcer commanding the
Tennessee, to the Hon. Benjamin +. Wade, chairman
OF the Commission sent to ST. Domingo ON
the correspondence OF the New York TIT
6unsP on the 1Tth day OF the present month


were simply to convey the Commission on their
peditlon to such points as they might DESIRE and
contain nothing further OF general instruction or d.
reclOn, naturally feel somewhat doubtful OF the
authenticity OF this letter; but as It has been pub


ished as authentic and contains much which Is cal
cuated to mslead the people and authorities OF ST
Domingo to the trne spirit and extent Of the
orders OF the Executive to the naval vessels
extent the officers In command of those vessels,
] nave thought II right to correct the unfounded
ideas therein contained through you. the command:
ant OF the feet IN those waters. You Will perceive
that In this letter the writer in effect that
II any person connected with the Commission was
taken prisoner by the opponents of the Dominican
government within their lines ne would he reality
spy, and might under the rules OF civilized war
has, in the opinion OF the writer, through the
orders OF It's Executive TO the naval YES
Internal conicts Of the Dominican repuolic THIS his
statement is unfouaded in fact and inference, ana
has evidently been made hastily, In ignorance Of the
real circumstances In the case, III misapprchen-
sion OF their legal effect The United States Is deal
Ing with the regularly constituted government Of
the Dominican republic IN manner and for pur-
pose not inconsistent With International law, and
though the right Of revolution against constituted
authority for just ana adequate cause inheres
In every people, yet the constituted government is
until II is actually Overthrown, the legal representa-
tive Of The nation IN all It's relations TO other people,
ana the right OF revolution does not carry with II TO
the revoluGlonists pending their contest, their right
10 treat the agents OF ether nations as enemies when
not In arms against them while they acting,
as they nave an International right TO act,
in accordance with the laws OF the. exist
formal notice is contrary TO the rules of civilized
warfare and the notice, given, is at the peril OF
the insurgents, and Is Justified only when the dis
turbance rises to the dignity OF a revolution. But
neither the United States nor its Executive has
to take Or nas IN the Th IN


situation this The President Of the United States
has by the constitution the right 10 make treaties,
subject to the ratification OF the Senate The Con-
gress OF the United STATES in 1866 appropriated
siderable sum Of money for the understood purpose OF
OF st. Domingo. The bay ana peninsula OF SANTANA
were considered most appropriate Tor our purpose
az naval station and the republic OF ST. Domingo
ltSel. with favorable position and natural re-
sources, It's friendly government and people, seemed,
for the purposes OF commerce and civlllzatlon far
the most desirable for us OF those fragments OF
continent which lie across the gateways OF our
domestic commerce and shat up the entrance to our
great inland To initiate all treaties is the con-
stitutiona right OF the PRESIDENT and thus he had
the constitutional power to negotiate treaties for the
ce. sion OF Samana and the annexation OF the Do
minlcan republic. Ii, upon proper consideration,
he thought it right aud the interest OF the cOun.
try, whose interests are to this extent entrusted
his Judgment, it was his constitutional right IL ne
did negotiate sucn treaties with the existing govern
mcnt Of the republic, coniessedIy the govern
ment both de Jdcto and de j,ue These
treaties, OF course, incnoate and subject to De
confirmed or defeated by the action OF the Senate
OF the United states and OF the people OF the st.
Ing such final action the United States acquired an
interest In the thing NEGOTIATED, from which we
could not be rightfully disturbed by any other
Power, and It was the pialn duty of the Executive
to protect II need be- the integrity OF THIS constitu
negotiation might remain intact until the
tinal action ol the ratifying Powers could
and in every case % Of valuable acquisition the p eHe


cutiOn Of 1t will be expected and approved by toe
people 1t was in the DISCHARGE of such duty tnat,
the early part OF the present century, President
Madison marched the armies of the United States
into and actually took possession of the territory
then known as West Florida, including what is now
the state OF Alabama. for which territory negotia-
tons were then pending and afterwards con-
cluded and settled with Spain. This action was
approved by Congress and the people not as an
exercise OF war power but as the protecting OF an
Executive was bound to maintain intact wniie it re-
maned in use In the present case the President has
hitherto only pursued, In relation TO che republic Of
sL. Domingo, this same recognized policy
OF our government and, under the treaty
and by means Of an appropriation by Con-
Bay and Peninsula Of Samana. This possession
we still hold, and while our flag flies there We must
presents. In carving out this recornzed pocy me
government OF the United States has not nred shot
nor landed man in hostile attitude on the island OF
Si. Domingo, and has neither lnerfered In the in
ternal conflicts Of the Dominican republic nor
creed any other Power. 1t has simply announced
To all people generally, and particularly
ing attitude, It's Determination to protect
until finally disposed of the interest had acquired
in that republic from all attacks from without ts
boundaries and from the interference of any foreign
Power, so that, in the event oil the treaty being
ratified there would be LETT the thing contracted for
with no hostile possessions intervening to destroy
right OF pre-emption To do this certainly not
TO make war, or to take part In the
conflict OF a country. nor to coerce, nor
Ia attempt to coerce any Pswer. 1t Is
but the simple performance of q duty to Congress
and 10 the nation, In the preservation ITS exist
tered into negotiations cOnstitutlonally to acquire
Under the orders OF the Executive 1t Is part OF the
duty OF those ships OF your fleet which are at any
time cruising In the waters OF st. Domingo to
MAINTAIN this STATUS against every Power. and while
we would not yield the right to interfere wit ~ to
the most powerful government we cannot cencede
that right even 10 the weakest Very respectfully,


GEO. M. ROBESON,


Secretary OF the Navy.