In view of the facts which had been laid before me, and with an earnest
desire to maintain the "Monroe doctrine," I believed that I would be
derelict in my duty if I did not take measures to ascertain the exact
wish of the Government and inhabitants of the Republic of San Domingo in
regard to annexation and communicate the information to the people of
the United States. Under the attending circumstances I felt that if I
turned a deaf ear to this appeal I might in the future be justly charged
with a flagrant neglect of the public interests and an utter disregard
of the welfare of a downtrodden race praying for the blessings of a free
and strong government and for protection in the enjoyment of the fruits
of their own industry.
Those opponents of annexation who have heretofore professed to be
preeminently the friends of the rights of man I believed would be my
most violent assailants if I neglected so clear a duty. Accordingly,
after having appointed a commissioner to visit the island, who declined
on account of sickness, I selected a second gentleman, in whose
capacity, judgment, and integrity I had, and have yet, the most
unbounded confidence.
He visited San Domingo, not to secure or hasten annexation, but,
unprejudiced and unbiased, to learn all the facts about the Government,
the people, and the resources of that Republic.
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