Year: 1871

yours begins. The facts will now be
spread before the country and a decision
rendered by that tribunal whose convic.
tions so seldom err and against whose
will l have no policy to enforce. My
opinion remains unchanged; indeed it
is confirmed by the report that the in.
terests OF our copuntry and San Do
mingo alike invite the annexation
of the Republic. In view of the
difference Of opinion upon the subject,
suggest that no action be taken at
the present session beyond printing and
general dssemination..of the report. Be-
fore the next session of Congress the
people will have considered the subject
and formed an opinion concerning it.
1t is not only the theory of our Consti-
tuition that the will Of the people, con-
stitutionally expressed, is the supreme
law, but l have ever believed that all
men are wiser than any one man; and if
the people, upon full presentation of the
facts, shall decide that annexation of
the Republic is not desirable, every de-
partment of the government ought 10
acquiesce in that decision.


In again submitting to Congress a
subject upon which public sentiment
has been divided, and which has been
made the occasion of acrimonious de-
bate in Congress, as well as unjust as
PENSIONS elsewhere, l may, | trust, be
INDUCED in a single remark. No man
can hope to perform duties so delicate
and responsible as pertain to the Presi
dental office without sometimes incur
ring the hostility of those who deem
their opinions and wishes are treated
with insufficient consideration, and he
who undertakes to conduct the affairs
Of great Government as a faithful
public servant, if sustained by the ap-
proval Of his own conscience, may rely
with confidence upon the candor and
intelligence Of free people whose best
interests he has striven to subserve, and
can bear with patience the censure Of
disappointed men.


Signed U. s. GRANT


Erecutive Mansion, April 5, 1871.


REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.


The following is the report of the
Commissioners: The report opens by
giving the resolution under which the
Commission was appointed. They
traversed the Dominican Republic from
end to end in several directions, either
by agents or in person. They spent
several weeks in daily conference with
the President and chief officers of the
Government, in examining official re-
cords, and, as at all other places, in
constant intercourse with the people
and taking testimony. The present
Government is in theory unconstitutional
Republic. According to their Consti-
tuition the Government is divided into
three Misunderstanding, legislative
and judicial. The first consists of a
President and Vice President, elected
by an electoral college for the term OF
six years, with difference of three
years ip the time of their election.
Both President and Vice President are
ineligible to the Presidency during the
following term. The President ap-
points a Council Of State, consisting OF
minister of public instruction, in
terror, police, agriculture, public
works, commerce, war and marine. On
one of these ministers the duties Of
Minister of Foreign Relations devolves
at the will of the President The legis-
lative branch Of the Government con-
sists of a Senate (Senado Consulto),
elected by primary assemblies, and has
two members for the city Of San Do
mingo, two for Santiago and one for each
of the other provinces and districts
nine in all. These hold office six years,
and may be reelected. Each province
and district has a Government and each
parish and military post has Com
mandant, nominated by the Executive,
and responsible to him. The towns are
governed by a Guntamiatos, or councils
elected by primary assemblies for three
years. The Judiciary consists Of Su-
preme Court, whose seat is at the Capt.
tai, with President, four Ministers and
one Attorney General, who are chosen
by the Senate from nominations
made by the electoral college
and who hold office five years.
In every province and district there
is a court of first instance, sitting in
the respective capitals, consisting of
iudge, prosecutor and attorney gen.
eral, all nominated by the Executive
and holding office five years. 1t was
found that this court had in many parts
Of the Republic fallen into disuse.
Finally, each town and parish or COM
mune has an Alcalde, appointed by the
Executive and holding office at his
pleasure, and corresponding to our
justice Of the peace. In the latter case
practice is far better than theory. In
all parts of the Republic it was found
that the Alcalde held office virtually
during good behavior. The Commis.
sion found the government organized
and in operation in all its departments,
exercising every function of govern
ment, with General Baez as Chief Mag
istrate in full and peaceable possession
of all parts OF the Republic, except on
the Haytien border, which is disturbed
bv insurrectionary leaders, aided by
Haytiens and political intriguers. These
are melted to be active at this time by
the fear of annexation to the Uuited
States.


From all the Commissioners could
ascertain President Baez has the re-
spect of great majority of the Domln-
lean people, for his administrative abili-


ties and strong attachment. Many


leading men regard him as the only


statesman among them who can hold


the nation against domestic factions


and foreign foes. The Commissioners


il not Enl h.. ,l