favor in any considerable class of the people-then it will be but too evident that the time for opening, or attempting to open, such a negotiation has not arrived. . . . The language of some part of the report might perhaps be so construed as to sustain the inference that you and your associates in the conference were of opinion that the proposition should be made, though there should be no chance of its being entertained, and that it should be accompanied with the open declaration or a significant suggestion that the United States were determined to have the island, and would obtain it by other means if their present advances, so advantageous to Spain, be refused by her; but other parts of the report repel this inference. . . I will only remark that the acquisition of Cuba by the United States would be preeminently advantageous in itself and of the highest importance as a precautionary measure of security. However much we might regret the want of success in our efforts to obtain the cession of it, that failure would not, without a material change in the condition of the island, involve imminent peril to the existence of our government. But should the contingency suggested in your report ever arise, there is no reason to doubt that the case will be promptly met by the deliberate judgment and decisive action of the American people." Mr. Marcy, Sec. of State, to Mr. Soulé, min. to Spain, Nov. 13, 1854, H. Ex. The "report" referred to in the foregoing passage is the so-called "Ostend “An examination of the large mass of correspondence in regard to Cuba, since 1869, printed in Executive Documents and Foreign Relations, will show you that no proposal for the annexation of that island to the United States has been made by or on behalf of this Government." (Mr. Adee, Second Assist. Sec. of State, to Mr. Ohl, Jan. 14, 1898, 224 MS. Dom. Let. 434. ) The United States have constantly indulged the belief that they might hope at some day to acquire those islands [Cuba and Porto Rico] by just and lawful means, with the consent of their sovereign.” Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Schurz, min. to Spain, April 27, 1861, MS. Inst. Spain, XV. 263. (4) YUCATAN. § 119. In 1848, an Indian outbreak having occurred in Yucatan, the authorities offered to transfer the dominion and sovereignty" to the United States, and at the same time made a similar offer to Great Britain and Spain. President Polk recommended the occupation of the territory by the United States. May 4, 1848, a bill to enable the President "to take temporary military occupation of Yucatan" was introduced in the Senate, and its passage was urged on grounds both of humanity and of national policy. A few days later, however, information was received of the conclusion of a treaty between the Indians and the whites, and the bill was not again called up. Cong. Globe, 30th Cong. 1 sess., 709, 778; S. Ex. Doc. 40, 30 Cong. 1 sess.; (5) ISLANDS AT PANAMA. § 120. In 1856 the United States, in order to protect and render secure the transportation of persons and property across the Isthmus of Panama, endeavored to obtain the cession from New Granada of the islands in the Bay of Panama, viz, Taboga, Flamingo, Ilenao, Perico, and Culebra. A special mission was sent out to endeavor to obtain the cession, but it was unsuccessful. Mr. Marcy, Sec. of State, to Messrs. Morse and Bowlin, Dec. 3, 1856, S. Ex. (6) SANTO DOMINGO; SAMANA BAY. "You have communicated to me certain views and wishes which have been expressed to you by President Baez, and Santo Domingo. his confidential minister, Mr. Felix Delmonte. These views and desires substantially are that the United States shall immediately publish a declaration placing the Dominican Republic under the protection of the United States and shall sustain the proclamation by sending vessels of war to take possession of Samana and Mancenilla bays and any other points that military strategy might indicate, and thus pave the way for annexation to the United States by Mr. Baez, who, although President by name, is virtually clothed with dictatorial powers. You have given me the considerations out of which these views have arisen. These considerations are that the proceedings thus solicited would impart great confidence to the people of Dominica, and likewise to foreigners who might wish to settle there, but are at present prevented by the constant changes and uncertainty of the Dominican Government; that the late revolution in Spain may lead to important revolutions in the condition of affairs in Cuba and Porto Rico, and may have a tendency to induce many planters to remove from those islands to St. Domingo; that there is a prospect of a general war in Europe, and that there could be no more propitious time than the present for the United States to place St. Domingo under their protection; that, in the opinion of Mr. Baez and Mr. Delmonte, the Dominican Republic would in that case at once seek admission into the Union, which is the fervent wish of a large portion of its people. You give your own opinion that the extinction of slavery in the United States has prepared the way for the important proceeding which those gentlemen have thus recommended, and that it is eminently desirable in view of the decline which has taken place within the last century in the productions and revenues of the island of St. Domingo. "President Baez and his minister can not be unaware that the proceeding which they propose, however beneficent its purposes might be, would nevertheless in its nature be an act of war, and that as such it transcends the power of the executive government, and falls within the exclusive province of Congress. "In submitting such a transaction to the governments of mankind, it would be difficult to distinguish it from the attempt which was made during our recent civil war by Spain to reannex the Dominican Republic to her own dominion by means of an illegal arrangement made between the Spanish Government and Santa Anna, then President of the Dominican Republic. There would, indeed, be this difference, that in the case proposed by President Baez the Dominican Republic would be virtually transferred to and accepted by an American Republic whereas in the other case it was an attempt to subvert a republic at St. Domingo and annex it as a province to one of the ancient European monarchies. It may be doubted whether this distinction would be regarded as a moral justification of the proceeding. "If, however, we lay that question aside, there still remains an inherent difficulty in the case. To establish the protectorate in St. Domingo would be virtual annexation by act of war, and not by the consent and agreement of the people of the Dominican Republic. The Congress of the United States are always disinclined to foreign military conquest, perhaps more so now than at any time heretofore. It seems unlikely, therefore, that Congress would entertain any other proposition for the annexation of Dominica than one which should originate with and have the sanction of the Dominican people, expressed in a regular constitutional manner. Nevertheless, the subject is a very important one, and I reserve further consideration of it until Congress shall have assembled, which will be on the first Monday in December. "You may read this dispatch, confidentially, to President Baez and his secretary." Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Smith, commercial agent at St. Domingo "Comprehensive national policy would seem to sanction the acquisition and incorporation into our Federal Union of the several adjacent continental and insular communities as speedily as it can be done peacefully, lawfully, and without any violation of national justice, faith, or honor. Foreign possession or control of those communities has hitherto hindered the growth and impaired the influence of the United States. Chronic revolution and anarchy there would be equally injurious. Each one of them, when firmly established as an independent republic, or when incorporated into the United States, would be a new source of strength and power. Conforming my administration to these principles, I have on no occasion lent support or toleration to unlawful expeditions set on foot upon the plea of republican propagandism or of national extension or aggrandizement. The necessity, however, of repressing such unlawful movements clearly indicates the duty which rests upon us of adapting our legislative action to the new circumstances of a decline of European monarchical power and influence and the increase of American republican ideas, interests, and sympathies. "It can not be long before it will become necessary for this Government to lend some effective aid to the solution of the political and social problems which are continually kept before the world by the two Republics of the island of St. Domingo, and which are now disclosing themselves more distinctly than heretofore in the island of Cuba. The subject is commended to your consideration with all the more earnestness because I am satisfied that the time has arrived when even so direct a proceeding as a proposition for an annexation of the two Republics of the island of St. Domingo would not only receive the consent of the people interested, but would also give satisfaction to all other foreign nations. "I am aware that upon the question of further extending our possessions it is apprehended by some that our political system can not successfully be applied to an area more extended than our continent, but the conviction is rapidly gaining ground in the American mind that with the increased facilities for intercommunication between all portions of the earth the principles of free government, as embraced in our Constitution, if faithfully maintained and carried out, would prove of sufficient strength and breadth to comprehend within their sphere and influence the civilized nations of the world." President Johnson, Fourth Annual Message, Dec. 9, 1868, Richardson's Messages, VI. 688-689. The report of John Hogan, special agent and commissioner of the United States, to Mr. Buchanan, Secretary of State, received Oct. 4, 1845, on Hayti and San Domingo, is printed in H. Ex. Doc. 42, 41 Cong. 3 sess. The report of Captain Geo. B. McClellan to the Secretary of War, Aug. 27, 1854, on San Domingo, and particularly on Samana Bay as a naval station, is printed in H. Ex. Doc. 43, 41 Cong. 3 sess. Both these documents are reprinted in S. Ex. Doc. 17, 41 Cong. 3 sess. "I have received your letter of this morning and hasten to make a reply. The information upon which the statement of the President's message concerning the condition of the Republics of Hayti and St. Domingo is based, is official, although from prudential considerations the communications containing it are confidential. The opinion expressed by the President that those Republics are not unprepared for a direct proposition of annexation was inferred from the nature of the propositions which had been received at this Department before the meeting of Congress, but which expressed or implied some limitation or condition of military aid or pecuniary equivalent. Within the present week, however, a reliable and confidential proposition comes from the Dominican Republic which proposes immediate annexation, waives all preliminary stipulations and addresses itself simply to the discretion and friendship of the United States. An agent from St. Domingo awaits the action of the Government. I am obliged to ask that this communication, although it is official, may for the present be regarded as entirely confidential." Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Banks, M. C., Jan. 29, 1869, 80 MS. Dom. Mr. Orth, of Indiana, introduced in the House a joint resolution for the "During the last session of Congress a treaty for the annexation of the Republic of San Domingo to the United States failed to receive the requisite two-thirds vote of the Senate. I was thoroughly convinced then that the best interests of this country, commercially and materially, demanded its ratiñcation. Time has only confirmed me in this view. I now firmly believe that the moment it is known that the United States have entirely abandoned the project of accepting, as part of its territory, the island of San Domingo, a free port will be negotiated for by European nations in the Bay of Samana. A large commercial city will spring up, to which we will be tributary without receiving corresponding benefits, and then will be seen the folly of our rejecting so great a prize. The Government of San Domingo has voluntarily sought this annexation. It is a weak power, numbering probably less than 120,000 souls, and yet possessing one of the richest territories under the sun, capable of supporting a population of 10,000,000 of people in luxury. The people of San Domingo are not capable of maintaining themselves in their present condition, and must look for outside support. They yearn for the protection of our free institutions and laws-our progress and civilization. Shall we refuse them? "The acquisition of San Domingo is desirable because of its geographical position. It commands the entrance to the Caribbean Sea H. Doc. 551-38 |