which would afford a moral guaranty of its independence, and a harbinger of prosperity and welfare of the Dominican Republic. Induced by these considerations, the Assistant Secretary of State, attended by Rear-Admiral Porter, United States Navy, on the 6th of January, 1867, proceeded to the city of San Domingo, invested with amplpower to conclude, subject to ratification by the Senate of the United States, a convention with the Dominican Republic for the cession or lease of the peninsula and bay of Samana; provided that in the judgment of the Assistant Secretary, with the concur rence of the Admiral, that peninsula should be found to offer the advantages which were sought. The Assistant Secretary was authorized to offer to the Dominican government two millions of dollars, payable one-half in cash and the other half in arms and munitions of war, as a consideration for the proposed cession. He was instructed to require a full sovereignty of the United States over the territory to be ceded. He was authorized to pay part of the consideration money at once, if the cession should be made and ratified by the government of the Dominican Republic.

"The Assistant Secretary arrived at San Domingo on the 19th of January, 1857. He was cordially received, and the government of the Dominican Republic entered very frankly upon a discussion of the affair with which he was charged. Conferences were continued so long as they promised any favorable result.

"On the 22d of January, 1867, the Assistant Secretary transmitted a final report. He stated that the Dominican government expressed a willingness and even a desire to make some arrangement with the United States in regard to Samana, which would provide us with a suitable naval harbor and coaling station; that it could not cousent to an absolute sale of territory without violating an express provision of the constitution of the Dominican Republic just adopted; that it would be inconvenient to await amendments to the constitution.

"The Dominican government therefore proposed a lease of the cayes Levantado, which command the entrance of the bay of Samana, and the use of the adjacent waters, together with certain specified privileges on the main land of the peninsula. Their measure would not answer the purposes of the United States. The Assistant Secretary therefore declined to entertain that proposition, and stated frankly that we wanted no place at all, unless it was one which we should have absolute control over while we owned it, one which was large enough for our uses, and one which we could hold, fortify, and maintain against all enemies. The Assistant Secretary reported as the result of all the discussions that it was impracticable to conclude any arrangement at that time with the Dominican Republic, on the basis of the instructions of the Department; that they offered to concede only such privileges as it needs no treaty to obtain in any part of the civilized world, namely, space for yards, wharves, buildings, &c., to be paid for by our money, but not to be under our flag or protected by our guns. The Assistant Secretary concluded that the project of selling or leasing the peninsula of Samana to the United States was one which commanded itself to the better judgment and sagacity of the leading minds of the Dominican Republic; that they saw in it a relief from dangers and misfortunes that then menaced them, and that they fully comprehended that such a transfer on such terms as the United States could offer, would be quite as advantageous to Dominica as it would be to the United States; that they were, nevertheless, reluctant to risk the responsibility of so bold a step, fearing the public sentiment, or the popular prejudice, of the Dominican people; that the Spanish invasion and seizure of Samana had worked a distrust of foreign powers, a dread of foreign designs for aggrandizement; that time and reason would perhaps show how unfounded these prejudices were as regarded the United States, the oue power whose presence and friendship would save them from the very evils which they dreaded, and lend peace and prosperity to a republic hitherto the theater of so many unhappy discords.

"On receiving this report, the President of the United States was unwilling to relinquish his desire that the very liberal propositions which the Assistant Secretary had made, and which had been disallowed by the Dominican government, might yet, upon reconsideration, be accepted. The President, therefore, on the 26th of February, 1867, transmitted a full power to J. Somers Smith, esquire, commercial agent of the United States at San Domingo, authorizing him to conclude a convention for the cession of the territory and waters in question, should he find it practicable to do so upon the same basis with those submitted by the Assistant Secretary. No progress having been made by Mr. Smith, the power with which he was invested was revoked on the 8th of May, 1867. Friendly sentiments concerning the delicacy of the subject induced the Secre tary of State to direct that no publicity should be given to these proceedings, and that no trace of them should be left on the records of the commercial or consular agent of the United States in San Domingo.

"At subsequent periods during the year 1867 the Dominican government was understood to have entered into a formal treaty with the republic of Hayti, by which those two powers, which divide the island of St. Domingo between them, mutually stipu lated that neither would, in any case, alienate any portion of its territories; and a proclamation was issued by the President of the Dominican Republic announcing that

he had not made, and should not make, any cession of the bay or peninsula of Samana to the United States, or to any other power. The undersigned now learns with pleasure, that the treaty thus referred to was not absolutely concluded."

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It appears that the government of President Cabral was unwilling to rest on the failure of the negotiations with the Assistant Secretary of State. Mr. Somers Smith wrote the Department confidentially on the 24th of November, 1867, that "an informal proposal had been made to him for a lease of Samana," to which Mr. Seward replied on the 13th of December, 1867, that "it would be inconsistent with the self-respect of this Government to entertain the question which Mr. Fiallo has raised without being first furnished with authentic evidence of powers of negotiation conferred upon him by the government of the Dominican Republic."

Upon the receipt of this emphatic letter Mr. Pujol was sent to Washington by General Cabral with full powers, and Mr. Somers Smith was confidentially informed that "the President in his refusal to cede territory had acted for the dignity and honor of his country, but that affairs had become desperate, and might terminate in complete anarchy; it therefore became necessary to yield to the situation ;" and the President had been advised by "twelve of the leading generals in Cibao, at once to make a proposal to the United States for a lease of Samana."

These negotiations with the Cabral government, which promised to be successful, were terminated abruptly on the 6th of the following March, (1868,) by the downfall of the administration of General Cabral, and the reinstatement of General Baez as President of the republic by means of a revolution.

It would seem that this failure had caused apprehension in some minds lest some European power should avail itself of the opportunity which the United States was apparently letting slip from its grasp. The archives of this Department show inquiries on that point. On the first of June, 1868, the following letter appears to have been received at the Department, addressed to the "Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Department of State:"

SENATE CHAMBER, May 30.

DEAR SIR: If you have any information with regard to any movement on the part of the North German Confederation to obtain a naval station in the West Indies, I should be obliged if you would communicate it to me.

Faithfully yours,

CHARLES SUMNER.

The answer to this letter is not found on the files of the Department. It is to be presumed, however, that efforts in that direction at that time by European governments were unsuccessful.

The new government at San Domingo reopened negotiations with the United States, and on the 9th day of December, 1868, Mr. Somers Smith wrote the Department:

I have had repeated interviews for the past fortnight with President Baez. General Luperon has protested against any kind of an arrangement between the United States and the Dominican Republic, and has written to President Salnave, saying that it was necessary to forbid all negotiation, adding that it was requisite to protect the negroes, the only caste that must govern this island. Salnave refused to agree with him, and has sent to Mr. Baez the communication of General Luperon. General Pimentel has likewise protested. The only true government that possesses power and popularity, and wishes to be under the protection of the United States, is that of Mr. Baez.

And again, on the 10th of December, 1868, Mr. Somers Smith wrote to the Department, that since his dispatch of the previous day, “Mr. Delmonte had called on me [him] at the special instance of the President, to inform me [him] that he, Mr. Baez, addressed letters to the dif

ferent authorities throughout the republic, on the question of seeking the protection of the United States, and has received replies from all quarters, affirming that such a measure is most highly approved of, and is very popular in all parts of the country." Again, on the 19th of December, 1868, the same officer wrote: "Mr. Baez is well aware that the Congress of the United States may not be inclined to bring about the annexation of any State or country by an act of war, or what might be construed as conquest; but only by the free and general consent of the people, expressed in a constitutional manner. The government of the Dominican Republic is prepared to obtain this national declaration by the common vote, or by acclamation, or in any form that our Government may indicate as satisfactory."

Such was the condition of these negotiations when the administration of Mr. Johnson ceased.

A mass of correspondence in the archives of this Department from a variety of sources, much of which was unprejudiced, and some of which may have been biased by prejudice or interest, appeared to demonstrate the following points:

First. That the Spanish portion of the island of San Domingo was sparsely populated. The estimates varied from 150,000 to 300,000 persons. Those who would appear to have the best opportunities for correct information, fixed the number at less than 200,000.

Second. That the soil of that part of the island was rich, and capable of a productive power beyond any corresponding extent of the island of Cuba.

Third. That its actual production was greatly diminished by the disturbed state of its civil and political society, caused partly by the Spanish invasion, partly by the character of the population, and largely by the aggressive policy of the neighboring republic of Hayti.

Fourth. That all parties, with equal unanimity, sought refuge from these disturbances in a more intimate connection with the United States, which was regarded as the natural protector of republican institutions in the western hemisphere.

Fifth. That to this end all desired to lease the bay and peninsula of Samana to the United States for a naval station, as a first step toward ultimate annexation.

Sixth. That the bay of Samana was the key to the Mona channel. which was the "gate" to the Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus of Panama. The policy which led several previous administrations to entertain the negotiations which have been referred to, was regarded as too well settled by a practice of nearly seventy years to be then questioned. It was supposed, in the striking language of a then recent speech in the Senate on the acquisition of Alaska, that "our city can be nothing less than the North American continent, with its gates on all the surrounding seas." Nevertheless it was thought best not to act without further information, derived through accurate and trustworthy sources, of which the administration had actual knowledge.

On the 2d day of June, 1869, Mr. Benjamin S. Hunt, of Philadel phia, a gentleman peculiarly well qualified for the mission, was instructed as follows:

The President deeming it advisable to employ a special agent to obtain information in regard to the Dominican Republic, has selected you for that purpose. The points to which your inquiries will be directed are: the population of that republic, in towns and in the country, on the north and south coast and in the interior, respectively; the numbers of whites, of pure Africans, of mulattoes, and of other mixtures of the African and Caucasian races; of Indians, and of the crosses between them and Africans

respectively. You will also inquire and report upon the soils of the country and their production in each locality; as to the timber, dye woods, and minerals, and as to whether any mines are worked, and the extent and value of their proceeds. You will likewise endeavor to obtain full and accurate information in regard to the disposition of the government and people of that republic toward the United States, the character of the government, whether it be military or civil, whether it be stable or liable to be overthrown. It is also desirable to know what the revenues of that country may be and whence derived, and the tonnage, to be classified so as to show the proportion of its foreign trade under its own flag and under those of other countries. Similar returns in regard to the coasting trade would be acceptable. You will also ascertain what the debt, foreign and domestic, of that government may be, how long it may have to run, and where the debt may be held. Inquiry should also be made as to whether any other foreign power may be seeking to obtain possession any other part of that country. Generally, any information tending to illustrate the condition and resources of that republic, and the character and influence of those charged with its destinies, would be acceptable.

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Mr. Hunt accepted the appointment, and was making preparations for his departure, when he was attacked by a serious illness, which compelled him to resign the appointment.

On the 13th of July, Brevet Brigadier General Babcock, who was employed in the Executive office, and who enjoyed the full confidence of the Government, was (in the place of Mr. Hunt) instructed to proceed to San Domingo on the same mission, and sailed from New York about four days after receiving his instructions. The instructions previously given to Mr. Hunt were enlarged, by directing an inquiry into the issues of paper money, and as to the supposed views of foreign powers toward that country. They may be found in Senate Report No. 234, second session forty-first Congress, page 189, and also upon the third page of the correspondence confidentially communicated to the Senate hereinafter referred to, which is herewith transmitted.

The manner in which General Babcock executed those instructions has been minutely detailed by him in his examination before a committee of the Senate, which is reported to the Senate in the same document, to which report the Secretary of State respectfully refers.

Upon his return to Washington General Babcock made a favorable verbal report, fully confirming the information previously in the possession of the Department, as to the population of the island, the salubrity of the climate, the wealth of the soil, and the disposition of the people and government toward annexation; and he presented, as a Response to his instructions, the following documents: 1st. The paper dated September 4, 1869, (to be found on the 188th page of the Senate report already referred to,) in which were stated the terms upon which 2d. A contract or treaty with Hartmont & Co., of London, which may the territory of the republic could be annexed to the United States. be found on the tenth page of the printed copy of a letter from the Secretary of State to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which were confidentially communicated to the Senate by the chairman on the 24th of March last. 3d. The prospectus of that loan, which is to be found on the 14th page of that copy.2 4th. The that copy. 5th. The official statement of the Dominican concessions, statement of the "Dominican debt," to be found on the 15th page ot which is to be found on the 16th page of that copy. No other statement of the grants and concessions made by that republic has been returned to this Department, except the statements shown on the 21st and 22d pages of said copy, and the Secretary of State does not know of any other. 6th. A statement of the "national properties," to be found on the 17th page of said copy. 7th. A statement of the population of the republic, to be found on the 17th page of said copy. A copy of these 1 See page 86. 2 See page 90.

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3 See page 91.

See page 92.

5 See page 93.

papers, thus confidentially communicated, is herewith transmitted, in compliance with the resolutions of the Senate.

The results of General Babcock's examination were deemed favorable to the maintenance of the American policy. He was therefore directed to return to San Domingo, in order to aid Mr. Raymond H. Perry, the commercial agent of the United States, in negotiating for the annexation of the whole territory of the republic to the United States, and (as) an alternative proposition) for a lease of the peninsula and bay of Samana to the United States. A treaty for the annexation of the territories of the republic, and a convention for the lease of the bay and peninsula of Samana, were accordingly concluded. Copies of these documents are herewith transmitted, in compliance with the resolution. The treaty did not receive the assent of the Senate. The convention is still pending. The terms of the treaty require that a popular vote should be taken upon the question of annexation. The almost unanimous affirmative vote, (the transcripts of which are in the Depart ment of State,) to whose spontaneous character Mr. Perry bears repeated testimony, justified the opinion alike of the friends of General Cabral and of the friends of General Baez, (in other words, of all the political leaders of the republic,) that the whole people desire annexation to the United States.

So much of the correspondence of Mr. Raymond H. Perry, the agent who signed the treaty and convention on the part of the United States, as is not printed in the said Senate report, and relates to the information called for by the Senate resolution, is herewith transmitted. Some irreconcilable discrepancies will be observed in this correspondence. The communication from the Secretary of State to Mr. Perry, which will be found upon the 284th page of said report, comments upon the false information which he had communicated to the Department and upon his disregard of his instructions. It is evident that nearly all parties in St. Domingo were favorable to annexation; but there appears to have been a hostility to the form in which it was to be consummated, growing out of the supposed repudiation by the Baez government of a grant of salt mines to one Davis Hatch, originally made by the Spaniards when they attempted to reassume their old dominion during the rebellion in the South, and confirmed by Cabral during the few days that he held power after the retirement of Spain. It is claimed that Mr. Hatch was a naturalized Spanish subject.

Having thus rapidly surveyed the negotiations between the two gov ernments, extending over a period of twenty-five years, the Secretary of State is enabled to answer more intelligently the questions submitted to him by the President. He is asked for

I. "Copies of all papers and correspondence relating to the proposed annexation of the Dominican portion of the island of San Domingo, or the purchase of any part thereof, including the first and all subsequent instructions to any agent or consul of the United States, with the correspondence of such agent or consul." In reply to this he has the honor to refer to the instructions to Mr. Hogan, already noticed, and his report, with its inclosures; to extracts from and references to the correspondence with the commercial agents at San Domingo, already made in this report; to the correspondence of this Department with Mr. Raymond H. Perry, in the Senate report already referred to; to the extracts from the correspondence of that officer, which are herewith transmitted; to the copy herewith transmitted of the confidential correspondence already alJuded to.

II. Any protocol or convention signed by such agent or consul."