The New York Herald Newspaper, March 17, 1871, Page 3

all ose im ——————_- 2_---_-- ST. DOMINGO. Another Batch of Correspondence from the Herald Commissioners. THE HUNT FOR ANNEXATION. Rayings and Doings of Old Ben Wade and His Associates, Dominicans Pretty Unanimous for Union with Our States. BAEZ AS A FIRST CLASS BAMBOOZLER, Don Quixote Howe Attacking Tropical Windmills. Learned Examination of Whooping Coughers and Washerwomen. PEN PICTURE OF AZUA. Whe Great Bugaboo Cabral, the Anti-Annexationist. ViIsiT TO HAYTI. President Saget Nervous and Excited. rs OUR MINISTER AT PORT AU PRINCE. Movements of the Commissioners—What They Think of Anvexation—A Puzzling Question— ‘The Don Quixote of the Party. Sr, DoMINGO City, Feb. 19, 1871, THE COMMISSIONERS. Since I closed my correspondence by the Tybee a few days ago, the programme of the Commission, as to its future proceeding, hasbeen modified. Inaeed, it is changed almost every day. The only practical man ja old Ben Wade, and he is overruled by the hers, If the present programme should be carried Out the whole party will leave this place about next Wednesday. The Tennessee, with most of the Com- ‘mizslon and correspondents, will goto Azua, tosome other points on the south side of the island, and round to Port au Prince. Commissloner White con- ‘Semplates crossing the island with a few compa- nions to Puerto Plata, on the north side, following the course taken by a party that went over afew @ays ago. The Nantasket sailed on Friday to Samana, and will go thence to Puerto Plata to take up Mr. White and the others, and will then meet the,Tennessee either at Cape Haytien or Port auPrince. It ts intended that the Tennessee, efter reaching Port au Prince, shall go either with ajl the Commission or a part to Kingston, Jamaica, and to Santiago de Cuba. This, it is saia, 18 to get a mai expected there, to btain supplies and to enable our adventurous and ‘visionary Commissioners to compare Cuba and Ja- matca—one under slave labor and the other unaer freed negro labor--with St. Domingo. Why did not Congress provide for a roving missien to the South Sea islands avd other parts of the globe without any Init of time or money? There 1s no end of the comparisons or contrasts that might be drawn, though none might be very favorable to St, Domingo in KB present condition, THEIR VIEWS ON ANNEXATION. ‘ f any reliance can be placed upon the present tmpressions and views of the Commissioners they winot be strongly in favor of annexing the whole of St. Domingo at present, They will be wiore inclined, probably, to swallow it piece by piece, waiting to see how the first afeuthiul may be digested before taking @nother. They may favor taking Samana as a foot- hoid, and to extend a quasi sort of protectorate over the rest of Dominica, and, perhaps, over Haytl as well. Tuere is a decided affection for these colored people and a desire to put them under the American flag; but even Dr. Howe, who thinks a biack man would become superior to the white, with the same chances of development, is in doubt as to the propriety of admitting them as Jull Ameri- can citizens right away. Hewever, as all the Com- mission are of the negro-worshipping radical persua- sion, it is dificult to conjecture how far they may be disposed to go. There may be different opinions and a sort of majority and minority report, for both Mr. White and Dr. Howe are ambitious to cut a pro- minent figure in this St. Domingo business, They have thrown the Secretary completely in the shade, and, by their jomt votes, overrule Mr, Wade. Stil, everything goes on harmonteus enough in a social way. The expedition is regarded as a pleasant sort of thing—a kind of frolic—and no one allows a dif- ference of opluien or object to interiere with enjoy- ment. A PUZZLE. One of the most puzzling things about St. Do- mingo, aud on which a good deal has been said in Congress, 18 the history of the recent Spanish occu- pation of and expulsion from the country. ‘the Commission has been snveanigating. that, but under the same disadvantages of all its investigations re- garding the real sentiment of the people. On one wide it has been said the Spantards were invite by the voice of the people to repossess their ancient colony, and on the other side, that there never was ® general desire to be governed by Spain again; that, in fact, the Spaniards came here through an ‘utrigue with the Dem‘nican President, Santana, and through a forced or pretended vote under his despotic authority. The Dominicans nave offered themselves and their country, or rather St. Domingo das been offered by oue or other of 1s despotic pre- sidents, to several of the great nations of the world. Spain alone grasped the offer. ‘his, as 1s well Known, Was at the commencement of our great . Civil war, and about the time the Emperor Napoieon . Wied to establish an imperial government under a Kuropean dynasty in Mexico. Looking at the condition of St. Domingo, torn by factions, utterly rostrate, and fast going to decay apd parbarism, it was natural that the Dominicans desired some government that would preserve order and improve the country, and that ‘hey.should have chosen the nation trom which they ~ BDE and which speaks their own language to mule over them. I can readily imagine that under ugk circumstances and relationship to the Span- lards thé Dominicans might have voluntarily asked ;@ rewilor with Spain, It was more reasgnable that iney anouid desire this than that they should wish to be wnited to a people of another Janguage, tastes, Feligion and habits. it is quite lixely a majority of the ple did favor a reunion with Spain, as a majonit now appears to be im favor of anyexation to the vay Slates. is said by seme that there was no free ex- ef Opinion, and that Santana exercised as iirary power ever the people and the ques- does new. Jn March aad A of 1861 eau, writing from St. Vomin; e ‘rege! toma air. W. L. Ga Secretary of state atWashington, Mr. Seward, wine people are sullen ‘and defected, for ot oy man wa hie bwundre@ throughour t counuy is willing to exbmit to the rule of Spain, and -t wil. require’ @ strong military force to keep thein 1m subjection. By the aurojt po artedert of the Cabipet (Dominican) the country has been surprised iuto a seeming acquiesence, tor the masses Were ata loss what to do, when strong dilitary detachments suddenly raisea the flag of ‘Spain in varlous interlor tows. These acta are om | Cially reported by agents sent for the pur as the spontaueous movement of the Beople, in fact care was taken that they shoulu have no free voice or Vote in the matter, It 18 certain that tp this city they witnessed it with every siga of disguat and con- sterngtion. I assure you that the whole ee 48 @ daring fraud upon the Domivican people an LAL 0} maintamed by 4 military force asa con- pr country.” Tos pietare Of Mr. Vazpeau, bably 18 overdrawn, for he was a strong partisan opposition to Santaua's policy and was working for annexation tothe United States. Stull it shows that there is no such thing as enlightened public inion, OF public opinion at all, mm St. Vomingo. ‘ne Fayed have been, as they are to-day, the slaves of the men hol@ing sapreme power. * The mass of the People Know little or noth- ing of what annexation means, or of the Inst{tu- nons or nature of the government of the Umted States, Of conrse, he more ipieiigent, particularly in the seaboard (owns, wre betier ins structed, But even irom what use is knows of our NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1871.—TRIPLE SHEET, THE ANTILLES: The Island of St. Domingo and Surroundings -Its Great Highway of Nations. PAWONEWS | country and government the Dominicans generally can understand, I sappose, that under our rule they need not fear such tyranny ahd exactions as they endured Jately under the Spanish government. Con- sequently there would not be the same motive for revolt, They would submit, bably, to the benign government of the American republic. Still to gevern them must be regarded as an experiment With an uncertain result, for they are of another race, language and religion to ourselves and are ac- customed to revolutions, They couid not bear our present taxation, and there are restless and ambl- tious chiefs who would not like te pe thrown in the backgrounu by @ superior race. It is impossibie that such a mongrel people, of all shades o! black and scarcely one pure white in a@ thousand, could ever attain any position, political or social, in the American repubite; nor would their union with us advance that high civilization which we have reached and to which we aspire. Then with ail their degradation and poverty the Dominicans are proud, and more so, perhaps, because they are. ignerant of the rest of the world. It is possible they might chafe under a change which must, by the force of circumstances, place them im an inferior position, though extending to them, at tne same ume, liberty, protection, equality beiore the law and improvement in their material condition. Should any portion ef them become dissatisfied and rebeilious, however few, the gov- ernment would fina it very troublesome and expen- sive to carry on war amid the dense forests and Mountains and under the burning sun ef this trepi- cal country. The Dominicans are Bot devoki of courage, a3 history shows, and, limited as they are in number, their ragged bands of bushwhackers use their machetes and old guns effectively. The disci- plined troops of Spain suffered greatly, and, afier Much cosi of men and treasure, were compelled to leave St. Domingo, While such a war would not be likely, shouid annexation take place, it might occur, and in that case we should tina it more costly, and, from the nature of the country,and climate, more destructive of life than our Indian wars have been. ir. Cacenau unconsciously has described pretty much the same state of things existing under the an- nexatton proceedings of Mr. Baez as existed when Santana turned St. Domingo over to Spain. There was as little free expression of public opinion, if such a thing can be said to exist, in one case asin the other. At the same time, I believe the fees, are really more in favor of annexation to the United States now than they were to reunion with Spain. I think the Baez government 1s resorting to sinilar ciap-trap efforts to make it appear that the Domini- cans are intent on annexation, Mr, Cazneau says the flag of Spain was raised with apparent en- thusiasm in different parts of the country under the management of Santana and through his agents. ‘here 1s reason to believe Mr. Baez 1s re- sorting to a similar proceeding. Just as we were onthe eve of leaving St. Domingo city, and our baggage a packed, ready Co be sent on board the Ten- nessee, Mr. Baez informed the Commissioners, a8 & matter of great importance, that the people in dif- ferent parts, and particularly at Seybo, were raising the American flag and making other demon- strations §=in favor of annexation, Mr. Wade had sent his trunk on board. news had the desired effect. Unimportant as it really was, if even the demonstration of fifty ora hundred Dominicans in a remote part of the country was gcnuine and spontaneous, it has had the effect 01 detaining the wheie party and the Ten- nessee five or six days longer. Dr. Howe and Mr, White became excited, the former Coane and ud true Quixotic manner it was resolved that ene of the Commissioners, at least, ought to go and investi- gate this phenomenon. There Was a solemn con- clave of the Commissioners at once. Old Ben Wade has practical common sense, and saw the ab:wrdity of wasting Ume in that way. He epposed the prope- sitien, but was overruled by his two colleagues. Everything ped by vote, and generally Wade 1s the muxerity of one. He growls and es things a8 easy.as he can. Dr. Howe 18 a veritable Don Quixote ef che party, rushing hither and thither in search of adventures, or, what amounts to the same thing, in sea..ch of information of ne value whatever. Mr. Whites little more practical. ‘The consequence is, in tits, matter of our delay, that Dr. Howe gone a huméred miles into the interter to find out, If he can, the meaning of a dozen negroes or so raising the Ameucan flag. Of for A zga--Denth on Board—President Baez on the TeunesseoHe Desires to Visit Azua— Return of Dr. Howe—Ue: issioner White Goes Overland—A Visit to tg Theatre—Tiie Subject of Anvexation. ON BOARD THE TENNESSEE, Orr St. DoMINGo Crry, Feb. 21, 1871. } “ALL HANDS, UP ANCHOR.” ‘ As Jayrite everything and everybody on shore be+ I¢uging to our party are being harried aboard the Ter yessce with a View of sailing to Agua wns alter- noon. DEATH OF ONE OF THE CREW, We have just witnessed an impressive scene on board, The wsdy of one of the men has just been lowered in a boa* for burial on shore, The man ated last might after 120 days? tliness, arising from a gevere cold at first, Xt Wasan artinary nage af si, ness, and death resulted from the constitution of the patient being se much broken that it could not overcome the attack, The deceased was a fireman, and his name Fish, He was from New York city. Two Dominican Catholic priests came on board last night and administered the last consolation of re- ligion te the poor fellow. Ail hands were piped up and the officers were in dress to pay respect to the remains as they were brought from below, carried along the deck and lowered into the boat. The coffin was covered by the American flag, and on this lay the caps of the sailors who bore the body on their shoulders. The band played a solemn luneral march, and all on board, from four hundred to five hundred persons, officers, seamen, marines, and those attached to the expedition, grouped in pro- per order on the maimdeck and poop, and stood un- covered and silent till the boat containing the body was pulled away from the ship’s side. The pre- sence of death always creates a serious Impression, and more especially under the ceremony prescribed by the naval service and when the body or a fellow countrymen is lett in a strange land. PRESIDENT BAEZ A PASSENGER, Another and quite different scene was witnessed on board an hour afterwards. President Baez, who had been invited to take passage en the Tennessee to Azua, came on board with his suite, The ship’s launch conveyed them. He and his military officers, comprising the General-in-Chief, Caminero, three or four aides-de-camp, and others, nearly all black, or very dark colored, were in full uniform, Two of the Cabinet—Gautier and Curiel— accompanied the President. The captain, officers and marines were in full uniform, Our band played inspiring airs as the party approached and ascended the ship and while the formal reception on the deck was going on. Immediately after twenty-one of the monster guns were fired, making tne immense vessel quiver from stem to stern and smothering us in smoke. Then the Presidential party were taken to the captain’s cabin and regaled with good champagne. In the course ef an hour or so all except Mr. Baez and his aids leit for the shore. President, captain and all soon toek off their full uniform after the ceremony was over and settled down to the condition of ordinary mortals. We shall sail for Azua at five o'clock this evening, and reach that place in the morning. Whether Mr. Baez will be our guest ana companion longer than to-morrow morning is not known at present. He was anxious to be invited to take pas- sage on tne Tennessee, and this being made known indirectly to the captain and Yommissioners the in- vitation was given. He goes professedly to visit his estates at Azua, and to point out to the Commis sioners the productiveness of that region, but I have no doubt his real object 1s to make a parade of the attention and pretection he receives from our government for the purpose of making an impression upon the Dominicans, In this way he silences his opponents and revives the enthusiasm of his friends. Then it must be remembered the Cabralists occupy the region of country not far from Azua and bordering the Haytien territory. It 1s not many days since either Cabral himself or one of his chiefs came down with @ considerable force near to Azua and had a fight with Dominican troops. At least so the Baez government reported to us, Ic was said, too, that the Dominiean troops, though much inferior in numbers, whipped the Cabralists, Several hundred Dominican soldiers are just leaving in the two government sloops, called war vessels, for Azua, and to meet the President there. I am more inclined to believe his voyage on the Tennessee and assembling of several hundrea more troops at Azua just as we are going there isan adroit sxroke of policy, because he understood the Commis- sion Wished to gee Cabral, and intended seeing him Mf possible. True, Mr. Baez pretended he had no objection te the Commissioners interviewing his riv:) and promised to give a safe conduct it required for that, bat the presence of himselt and a larger fe'rce at such @ time jooks as if he intended to frastra’? the object of the Commis. siou while pretending to Xavor it. ANOTHER REASON YOR THE VISIT. ‘There ‘ia anothar reaeg, perhaps, for the Presi- os MARIGAUNA = a 3 ca Ws, Oe s MARLCARS yim tinge Qe Commanding Position on the PErncae 5 Quen AYRE b. LA NUEVA a (SLANDS OAT ISS LEEWARD dent’s visit to Azua and this military demonstra- tion. It 1s rumored that Cabral contemplates ano- other attack on the territory of Baez, either at or near Azua. His headquarters are said to be at Sau Juan, thirty to forty miles only from Azua. In fact, the well-deiined ines of outposts or the two factions are nearer than that to Azua. Mr. is seizing the opportunity white the 1 Commission proceed to a point so near his adver- sary to terrify him. I have heard over and over again, and that from well-informed persons, that Baez holds power ouly through the aid and protection of the United States It is certain that the presence of our war vessels and the improved guns and muuitions of war we have supplied have rendered important service to Baez. When the Nantasket leit St. Domingo city a few days ago for Samana and Puerto Plata she car- ried arms for the Baez gevernment. Our govern- ment has really become @ party in the war, though it does not supply men, and this notwithstanding the treaty made with Baez for annexation failed to be ratified vy the Senaie. Baez, his Cabinet and friends pooh-pooh the Cabralists, and almost the ex- istence of Cabral, atone time,¢and at another make extraordinary demonstrations as if a terrible con- flict were imininent, The e is no doubt that Cabral holds a large slice of the Dominican territory trom @ point a few miles back of Azua far into the inte- rior, including San Juan, Benica, Neyba and the re- gion of the sait lakes and mines and all along tne Haytien border, However small bis force may be— ana it has been represented to us as insignificant — Baez cannot reach it. Cabrai’s rule, a8 far as it ex- tends, is as independent as that of Baez, and, look- ing at the way in which Baez came into power, is quite as legitimate, DR. HOWE RETURNS FROM THE INTERIOR. Dr. Howe has returned from his wild goose chase to Seybo, and reports everything in glowing terms— the country, the people, ‘their enthusiasm for an- nexation and everything else. Some 200 mounted soldiers, under the command of the general-in- chief, Caminero, came rushing into town the day after from the Seybo region, to strengthen the impression made. However far tue Dominicans may be behind the age in civilization they have pienty of cunning the Management of this an- nexation business, @ud have carrie’ the Commis- sloners, and many attached to the Commission, b) storm. ‘Ihe day Dr. Howe returned was a carnival, the usual one in Catholic countries preceding the commencement of Lent; and the wretched grotesque masks in the streets represented very well the broad farce being performed by and with the Commission. Dr, Howe will proceed by land to Azua, going over the same ground General Sigel and several of the correspondents went over eight or nine days ago. The doctor wants to see everything lumself. If he should undertake to ex- amine the people one by one on the way as he has every washerwoman and vagabond Dominican he could pick up in the town we shall not get away from Azua for a fortnight after we arrive. AN OVERLAND TRIP. Commissioner White, with others, proposes to go overland to Puerto Plata and to start to-morrow. ‘This journey will take seven or eight days, He 1s going over the ground, the greater part of the way, which Proiessor Blake and his party went over pre- viously. All these wil be taken up by the Nantasket aud brought round to us at Port au Prince. Amon; those who are going with Mr. White is the husban¢ of Lucy Stone Blackwell, who arrived the other day in the Tybee, and Professor Gabb, who has charge of the Fabens survey business. ‘birds of a feather flock together,” the eld proverb says, and it was never better illustrated than in this St. Domingo afttair and expedition. With very lew exceptions, the whole party on board the Tennessee were negro worshipping radicals, and now Mr, Lucy Stone Blackwell, and others of the same trive, have followed, and propose to join us. St. Domingo is tne place of all others for these people. if Charies Suimner could be here and witness the infinite blending of colors as the result of miscegenation, and see how vastly the colored people preponderate over the whites, he would hardly oppose annexation any longer. If Susan 68. Anthony ana ber strong-minded sister agitators could see the freedom 01 social life here they might come forward to rescue the adminisira- Uon irom is St. Domingo dilemma. Julia Ward Howe is represented by her husband, Dr. Howe, and, theret mught remain athome. By ail means Generat Grant sheuld fit out a second expedition, with another batch of radicals, white, black and gray, Male and female; for St. Domingo is a para- lise for them, and they would not fall to urge annexation, One of the many comical scenes wit- nessed on our voy and (ches I had torgotten to mention, and one in which Dr, Howe, the Quixote of the Commission, wus the prominent figure. While at Samana the Doctor saw both men and women mounted on bulls, and, as he is intent on examining and trying everything, he resolved to get astride one of these animais. But this Dominican bu), understanding well the difference between a Yankee and @ native, pawed the io furiously and was well nigh pitching his rider on tne ground. Every one was amused and applauded the Doctor for Lis bullmanship, AT THE THEATRE. A party of the expedition went to the theatre the other night, which ig an old convent church, and one of largest ruins here. Tae performance ‘Was We Oyat since our arrival, It promised to be @ | Burovean little sensation amid the dull routine and tiresome monotony of life 1a St. Domingo. We took a bo. for four, for Which we paid three dollars, But had to furnish our own seats, and got our mitre @hotel to send chairs. Then we had to pay forty- five cents each for admission, in addition to turee doliars for the box, At elt o'clock in the eveung we were at the door. Outside were colored shoc- less soldiers, with fixed bayonets; at the entrance and by the side @f the man who took the meney was another similarly half clad black soldier, tuside aiso were other like soldiers, with fixed bayonets, The playbill handed to_us read:—“con perimiso de la auioridad, compania dranuttiea de Don José La Frané,” &c, The play was “La Condesa de Barju, o Elamor y El Interes.” The interior of this small theatre is as rade-looking and dirty a3 could be imagined, Tne so-called boxes "pro ject a little over the parquet on each side, and are enclosed im iront by a sort of fence made of reugh slats of wood. Across and above the whole floor of the parquet, near the en- trance end directly in front of the stage, is the State box, in Which was seated the Governor, Damian Baez, ana others of the governing or upper class, In the box next to ours were two of the Commis- (Wade and White), and sandwiched in with was Fred Douglass. On the opposite side there was a large box ull of men, women and chil- dren—-twelve or fourteen, probably—all in their best, and of every shade of color, trom the pure negro to the octorcon. This was all the box audience, In the parquet, Which has the ground for tne floor and rough wooden seats, was a strauge, motiey group of about eighty or a hundred persons. The only pure whites were tiree of our man-of-war sailors* and some of the correspondents and scientific men of the expedition. ‘These latter had, by way of contrast, the young Douglass—black as the blackest of the natives—placed conspicuously among them. Two out of three of the Baez Cabinet Ministers were in the parquet, who seemed to relish the performance amazingly, Atthe end of the first act several cor- respondents and other Americans, following the fashion in more civilized countries, went to pay their respects to the Commissioners and to Mr. Fred Douglass, who was seated with them. Douglass appreciated the compliment highly, for he rose with immense dignity and shook hands ail round ip fil view of the gazing audience. This scene was tu per- fect harmony with all the surroundings and with St. Domingo life. Much cannot be said fer the per- formance elther of the actors or the half dozen wretched instrumentalists in the orchestra, The most amusing part of the whole was the vociferous applause, someumes in the wrong place, given vy the party in our box to the actors, and particulary to the prettiest of two women, who happened to be the worst actress, or, really, no actress at gi. ldo not know whether the Dominicans undersi™>d this extraordinary applause and the presentation of a bouquet to Miss Conception, the aforesaid young lady, aa sincere or only fun, but they enjoyed it greatly. If the theatre and the whoie spectacle could ve transported to New York it would take as acurious noveity better than the broad caricatures at the Olympic or the funmest negro minstrels, Last night (Sunday) there was another performance by the same company, siX in nutver, and te in th orchestra, ali included, but to a jarger native aual- ence, ‘There was, however, nothing more worthy of special notice, MISCEGENATION, Here it may be as weii to remark, in connection With the scene described above, that our black aud tan radical poiiticlans composing the Tennessee party, with the Dougiasses of that color, naturally as well as politically, and inciuding, with two or thiee exceptions, ali the correspondents as Well a8 the Commission, are quite at home 1n St, Domingo. ‘They see here their princlpies or doyinas carried out to the fullest extent. White men, and some of them Americans, marry or live with negro women, and it matters little which, and bring up their mixed progeny a8 their proper families, just as the fanniies of white married people are recognized in the United States, Miscegenation, so far from being odious, is tle rule of life and not damaging socially, though there may be very few whites who are proud enough of their blood and r not to be legally united with the colored people. This habit of life, together with the vast preponderance of the colored race, the degraded condition of the population and the tropical citmate, soon have 4 demoralizing in- fluence over our Americans even, Ind no more trutt- ful place could be found to carry out the muscegenat- ing theories or tastes of our radical republicans, ANNEXATION, The annexation question, then, must be regarded QS an linportant oue in & social and moral as Weil as ima political point of view. We might mmprove the Dominicians, but their influence upon us, small as We populauon is, could only be injurious, Not ouly Would annexation be the Commencement of a new pelicy of liuding distant possessions aud in- corporating @ heterogeneous and an alien race with our own, but in (he case of St. Domingo there would be nothing to compensate for the sacrifice we Should make. Rica as the island 13 in natural and undeveloped wealth, like nearly all tropical coun- tries, 1ti8, tn its present condi'ion, the sinkhole of the Antilles. The question of labor or improve- ment of the country I shall advert to hereafter. There is no comparison between the vaiae of Cuba And this island, Cuba 1s 80 near a8 almost to form & part of the North American Continent. It has a better population and a large number of the ay 1 BLOCK. Tt bag all the elements of civiliade | 8 tion, ratlroads, telegrap!is, Nourmsning cities, mt rous fine ports, with a iaive commerce, @ vast pro- duction and extensive trade. itis really the Gem of the Antilles, and is so situated as to command all the passages of commerce to and from the Guif of Mexico, the Varibbean Sea, ‘he entre group of the West Indies, as well 48 Central and South America. How different with St. Domingo, a wilderness and @ wreck, jar away from our shores and lying on the onter verge of the Antilles, with a miserabie colored population little removed from barbarisin | The Vicicisy of Azua—Looking for Petroleum-= The Schooner Pomonamfo Caldcras Bay— The Tounesseo ArrivesAddress and Reply o! Mr. Wade—An Alarm—End of an Out. law Party. Azva, St. Domingo, Feb. 25, 1871. AROUND AZUA. While our overland party have been waiting here for the Tennessee to arrive from St. Domingo city we have not been entirely idie. We have visited a number of places in this neighborhood and have Made many inquirtes relative to its resources. ‘Two of our party the other day visited some mine- ral springs about eighteen miles distant, and were delighted with their excursion, iroin the side of a mountain, and within a space of 100 hundred yards, are several springs, one quite hot, the temperature being about 169 degrees, and strongly impregnated With sulphur; in close proximity is @ warm chaly- beate spring and several colder ones. There Is quite @ volume of water Issuing from them, and they are in their natural state, without any improvements, Few of the people here are aware of their existence. Some water was secured in boities, to be analyzed upon our return home. About twenty-five miles to the westward we were shown @ mounvain of con- siderable magnitude, which, we are assured, coutains an unlimited amount of rdck salt—indeed the story 1s that it 1s. a mountain of salt, We have been una- ble to visit tton account of the very unsettled con- dition of the country. A PETROLEUM EXCURSION, On Sunday morning last we secured horses, pro- visions and @ guidd and started for a visit to a pe- troleum district distant @ few miles from Azua. For a short distance we followed a main road, which Was in pretty good condition; but soon leaving this We struck into a narrow wood path winding around through the dense chaparral, swaying our bodies and bending our heads to avoid the low branches, most of which were provided with sharp thorns. The morning was well advanced when we started and the sun was quite hot, but we have become somewhat accustomed to the heat and do not mind it as we did at first. Soon we came to a beautiful spring, carefully pro- tected from animals by an enclosure of woven branches, The water was not very cold, but was good, and its appéarance had a refreshing effect upon us, Near this spring we fouud several large mango trees, where we left our pack mule and ser- vant, with directions to prepare our repast by the time we should return from the oll wells, A short distance further on we came to the petroleum, and found that considerable labor haa been expendea here in order to make use of the oll, A derrick was still standing and machinery was lying about in a dilapl- dated condition. Two wells nad been bored, and a considerable supply of ol. obtained, large quantities of which were visible. Mr. Arthur Folsom, for- merly the American Consul to Cape Haytien, had in- vested about $10,000 in the endeavor to make use of the oil, ana had secured a hundred barrels of good oil, eight of which were sent to Boston, and an analysis had shown 1t to be of the heaviest quality of lubricating oil kuewn. As, however, the duties were so high as to preclude its importation the eight barrels were emptied into Boston harbor, and the remainder of the hunared barrels which were taken to the beach were allowed to waste, The speculation thus resulted disastrously to Mr. Folsom, but nevertheless the fact remains that the oil is in considerable quantity aud is of exc lent quality for lubricating purposes. In the immediate peigh- borhood of the wells there is considerable sulphur and we picked up many small pieces frum the earth, After examining the piace pretty thoroughly, and botiling sone of the oil, we returned to the mango trees and enjoyed a hearty meal, which haa been prepared in the meantime. Then slinging our ham- mocks in the boughs of the beautiful trees we en- joyed a glorious siesta in the cool shade, and re- turned to town more and more impressed with the resources of this wonderful island, THE POMONA. is a schooner of about 509 tons, which has peen trading between this place and Boston for a number of years past; although in the employ of Mann & Co., of Boston, she 18 competied to sail under £ng- lish colors, owing to the fact of her having been built in Engitsh possessions, tie wise act of Congress preventing any change in her regtster. Captaio Muiyneux feels indignant at the necessity, and never raises the British tag when tt can be avoided. The Pomona has been lying here for nearly two weeks, and we have received considerable information trom the captain relative to the trade of the town anil ‘he character of the peopic. His cargo norti is principally dye woods, sugars, molasses, loney, wax and hides, He speaks in the highest terms of the willingness of the people to labor, and of ihetr docile and friendly dispost- tion, and aithough wien the question of annexation Was first mentioned he was oppose.l,to 1t, yet he is now as strongly In favor of tt, He says that St. Do- miingo Is the richest of the West India islands, sur- passing even Cuba in its fertility and nacural re- kources. Ocoa bay he declares to be a good harbor, Wich a little expense would render safe and com- modious, We have enjoyed his hospitality ou board his vessel a number of tunes, aad wave found him to be & whovie-hearted satior. A TRIP T) CALDERAS BAY, On Wednesday morning, about taree o'clock, the mate of the Pomona, With two men and myseil, started in their longboat for a trip to Calderas bay, or, rather, to the mouth of the Ocoa river, which 13 about twelve miles distant from this piace, Our little boat, which was about sixteen feet long, had a leg of mutton sail, and contained tive casks for Water, to obtain wuich was the main object of the expeditton, We had a pleasani sall across tne bay, and reached a low sandy beach, near the mouth o! the river, avout sunrise. Wile the men were get- tung their casks filjed I strolled back into the country some stance, and sovun found @ rich neck of land covered with tue royul patms. ‘The soil was remarkably fertile, and I came across frequent fresh water lagoous filed with ish, which 1 could see darting about in the clear depths. Thou- sands Of small biras were feeding ou a species of wild plum, and @ number of wild hogs scamperea otf at my Approach. 1 saw a great many holes in the ground, from three to six inches iu diaineter, but I gould not discover whether they were the bur- rows Of some anunal or of the large crab which fre- quents this coast, ‘There was but little undergrowth except the centipede cactus, which infests every available spot, and whose long spines penetrate the Sesh with painful persistence. he Ocoa river tor some distance above its mouth divides into several chauvels, which, however, lose their delta-like na- ture before reaching tue sea, and, joining again, flow out through @ narrow cut with considerable velocity. The water was quite clear, the Sea in that region, and I was cnabied to see the coral formation at Uie bottom through at least five fathoms of water. Atthe mouth of the river is formed quite a long bar, on Walch were lodged several huge palm jogs, which prevented tie entrance of our bout Along the Coast in the immediate vicinity the preakers were quite high, and 1 enjoyed @ delicious ath In thea. Caideras Bay 18 just beyond the river aud is one of the finest harbors in tue West Indies. It is com- pietely landiocked and is said to be the only secure harricane harbor in the isiaud, There js Consider- avle salt wanufactured there by evaporation, and it Js capable of producing an indefinite amount, ARRIVAL OF THE, TENNESSER. While roaming around in’ this manner I caught sight of a vessel coming in, which, upon a nearer approach, I was delighted to find was tue ‘ennes- see. As rapidly as possivle, therefore, we hastened homewards, and { son had the pleasure of shaking our old comrades by the wands, Captain Temple's genial face welcomed us after our two weeks’ ab- sence from the vessel, and letiers aad papers by the ‘Tybee were devoured with eagerness, Brea commlo- tion was occasioned in Azua at the arrival of the Vessel of the Commission, aud svon after the custo- inary salute was fired from the Tennessee General Baez, with a considerable cavalcade, made his ap- pearance on the beach and escorted to the town those who desired to pay a visit. President Baez came as & | assenger on the Tennessee, and his pd ence baturally Created a great sensaciou. Mr. Wade is the ouly one of the Commissioners who came around on the vessel, Dr. Howe having started across overland and Professor White having gone overiand from St. Domingo to Puerto Plata, where he is to meet the Nantasket and rejoin us at ag Prince. The two lauer Counmissioners have acted in a singuiariy vacillattg manner, making arrangements one day which they alter the next, and have received the designation from ail on board of the ‘Betties.” Mr. Wade considers that the object of the Comission has been accom- ae and is advocating the return to te United tates and reporting the result of their Inquries without ‘uetays but fe other two desire to huld on here for a while longer, in order to get back after the cold weather, fea:ing the change of temperature upon their systems, The day after the Tenneasce arrived Mr. Wade, in Mis usual business manner, weur to Azua, and proceeded to take testimony from the priacipal men of the town; alter which le declared himself ready to 4ee anytuing of special Interest. He expressed hits ideas to your correspond: emt very distinctly, saying that there was but ene oviion on the islaud regarding ..unexation, and