The Cairo Daily Bulletin

SAN DOMINGO.
The
Tennessee
Sloop.
Arrival of the Commission
THEIR
OPERATIONS, ETC., ETC.

TENNESSEE ARRIVED.
San Domingo City, February 8. -The
Tennessee arrived here day before yesterday
evening, but did not land, formally
till today. She had a very
passenger list, including many persons
of note, but as the government has no
facilities for coaling vessels of the United
States, which are obliged
to lie a mile and a half off, there was
little opportunity to get off coal in the ship. The commis-
sion spent the time in hard work and got
statements from representatives of all
classes met from
here.

REGARDING ANNEXATION.
Many large wagon holders, however, are
speculating
by Americans on their crops and while they did
not raise the question with the commission,
they talked freely with some others.

TOO MUCH COUNTRY.
The country is not as rich as its most earn-
est friends have represented it. The cli-
mat is healthy. and the heat less oppressive
than Washington summers.

THE PEOPLE ARE VERY IDLE,
and the whole land seems asleep.

SAMANA LAND TITLES
The matter of land title about the har-
bor of Samana was thoroughly investigat-
ed by the commission.
A number of people
claim to own the land, but from the records obtained there is nothing what-
ever to show that any official of the United
States is connected in
any
private lands.
Fabez and Cabral, with some associates of the former, own nearly
all the water front and for a considerable
distance back, which has deep water
in front of it. The grant is for below the
usual rates, and the annual renewal is
without regard to increase in value.
The annual consideration
is $12 per year. Fabez has also imported
Jumbos and other wares free of duty
under the plea they were for the United
States.

PEOPLE IGNORANT
The people in that section are ignorant
and most of them live in huts. There is a
mixture of half dozen races, and a corres-
ponding corruption of languages,

NEGRO COLONY
The most prosperous part of the popula-
tion is a negro colony which came out
from Philadelphia in 1824. They now
number five hundred, and are all Method-
ist.

THE HARBOR OF SAMANA
will not admit ships of the second class
and it will require a
large appropriation
to put the coal station in proper condition,
but it is capable of being made one of the
best in the world.

THE SYSTEM OF FORTIFICATION
will necessarily be nearly as extensive as
New York city

THERE IS NO HARBOR AT THIS PLACE
except for vessels below fourth rate. All
war steamers lie in the open roadsteads
with banked fires.

The commission is honestly aiming at a
FULL AND FAIR INVESTIGATION.
None of the members express their opin-
ions.

THE RECEPTION
here by Baez was of a formal character,
followed by quite familiar conversation.
The ceremony took place at the executive
mansion of the republic. Delmonte,
Gautier and the Minister of War were
present. Mr. Wade presented a statement
of the action of Congress, and read the
following letter of authority from President
Grant :

Executive Mansion, Washington,
D. C., January 16, 1871.-His Excellency
B. Baez, President of the Republic of San
Domingo, Sir: In accordance with a joint
resolution of the two houses of Congress
of the United States, I have appointed
three distinguished citizens of the United
States, to-wit: Hon. B. Wade, for many
years a Senator; President A. D. White,
of Cornell University. And Dr. B. G. Howe,
distinguished for his philanthropy.
learning and service in relieving the blind and
many of the monotony of life in-
cident
to their lot, to visit the republic of San Domingo
to obtain the information called for by
resolution.
Associated, with the commission
is Judge Allan G. Burton, secretary to
the commission—a gentleman who has been en-
dorsed
by the
Bar in a diploma
of high ca-
pacity.

With
you
will be associated in this work
through so highly appointed a medium.
I understand that your mission, ordered
by the Congress of the United States, is one
absolutely of peace. This is the aspiration
and object of the Republic. One of the
grand motives which has produced these
negotiations is the development of its re-
sources by means of labor, and thus guar-
antee the existence of the liberty
and
property of the citizens.

You may depend on the most ample and
absolute liberty in the exercise of your
commission. The government offers
whatever data you may consider necessary.
and will take special pleasure in giving
you every satisfaction in making investi-
gation
As to the spontaneity of the resolution
of the Dominica people, we desire ardently
that you will consult not only the immense
majority in favor of annexation, but also
those who are opposed to it.

The above is the official translation of
the speech.

AFTER THE FORMAL SPEECHES,
the interview took the form of question
and answer, Baez asserted that opposi-
tion to annexation was not with the
Dominicans, but with the Haytiens.

CABRAL HAD NO DOMINICAN SUPPORT
worthy of notice: in fact he was not in
command of the force commonly styled
his forces. The officers were Haytiens
and the whole life of the movement was
with the Haytien authorities.

DIFFERENT OPINION
IN THE UNITED
STATES.
Mr. Wade here said that such a state-
ment was at variance with the com-
monly received opinion in the United
States that he felt constrained to ask
whether it could be relied upon.

ENTIRELY ACCURATE—PROOFS.
Mr. Baez replied that it was entirely
accurate, and to show the basis for it he
produced official letters giving detailed
information of arrangements made by the
Haytiens for an incursion, nominally
under Cabral, while the commission was
here for the purpose of influencing its
opinions.

HAYTIEN HOSTILITY.
The case made out by Baez certainly
showed deep hostility on the part of Hayti
to Baez and his plans.

CABRAL'S FORCE.
The force with which Cabral is, Baez
gave one regiment, and only a prospect
that one or two more were about to join
him.

HIS REAL POSITION
is thirty miles west of Azua, and he has
been constantly along the Haitian border.
Even Dominicans near him have taken no
part, but fallen back as he advanced.

BAEZ
EXPRESSED
GREAT CONFIDENCE
that he had not overrated the desire of
the people for annexation, but hoped the
commission would question freely upon
that point in all directions.
A second and less formal meeting was
arranged to take place at Baez's house.

EXPLANATIONS.
Small parties of the scientific corps will
be sent into the country from here in va-
rious directions.

VALUE AS A NAVAL STATION.
What was seen of the people around
Samana was of little consequence compared
with the investigation into the value of
the place as a naval station. All seemed
to agree that if the present condition of
the finances would justify it, that the
harbor where the coaling station is should
be obtained by our government, by lease
or purchase.

SCENERY AND SOIL.
The magnificence of the foliage, beauty
and grandeur of the mountains and rich-
ness of the country cannot be overrated.
There is, however, neither energy nor
thrift.

STARTING FOR HOME.
The commission hopes to start home
soon after the first of March.

HEALTH OF THE PARTY.
There has been no case of illness in the
party, and the season is healthy every-
where in the island, so far as heard from.
All United States officers upon the island
are well.

THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
can hardly be ready for Congress before
the latter part of March, or ten days after
their arrival in Washington. It will
doubtless contain a very favorable sum-
mary of the material resources of the
island, and strong recommendation of
Samana as a naval station, and bearing of
observations made.
The studies presented upon the political,
social and economical questions connected
with the annexation will probably be
touched upon only so far as to call public
attention to them, but without presenting
an argument either for or against annex-
ation.

VINDICATION
The report will undoubtedly fully vindi-
cate the President's motive and declare
that his sole connection with the matter
has been in his official capacity, and that
he is not concerned in private operations
of any kind.