The Spanish expedition to St. Domingo.
The Cuban Messenger furnishes the following authoritative statements in reference to the expedition to
St. Domingo, of which we have before had accounts, its origin and its object:
A special committee from the government of
St. Domingo, composed of Sr. De
Apolinar de Castro and Sr. Dn.
Manuel de C. Hereda, arrived here on the 27th, in order to inform the
Government of the fact that the people of Spanish origin in the
Island have enthusiastically declared their wish and willingness again to become subjects of
Spain.
On the 18th inst., the
Spanish flag was hoisted at
St. Domingo, and the
President,
Gen. Santana, issued a proclamation which sets forth the desires of the people on the subject.
H. E., the
Captain-General, has allowed, that in accordance with the wishes of the people and government of
St. Domingo, troops and men-of-war should go there; but the
Captain-General submits the whole matter to H. M. the
Queen for decision, giving the asked for assistance temporarily and conditionally.
These men-of-war, with the land and naval forces granted for
St. Domingo by
Gen. Serrano, left port on the 30th, under the immediate command of the
Admiral of the Navy,
Gen. Rubalcaba, and we expect shortly to hear that Her Majesty, Queen Isabel, has accepted the offers of the people of
St. Domingo, and that the once beautiful Island of
Hispaniola will soon form a new, rich and prosperous-portion of
Spain, adding a third brilliant jewel to the
Spanish crown in the Antilles.
The expedition above referred to, so far consists of five vessels, H. C. M. steamers
Blanca,
Blasco de Garay,
Velasco,
Berenguela an Isabel la Catolica.
The first two sailed sometime since, before the proclamation was published in
Havana.
The last three sailed on the 30th, the
Isabel la Catolica being the flag-ship.
The occasion was one of great joy at
Havana.
As they sailed out of the harbor they were honored with a parting salute from the fortresses, as well as cheers from an immense crowd of people assembled in the vicinity, salutes which the departing ships and the troops on board returned with the usual national enthusiasm.
The royal bands of the various regiments stationed at
Havana also celebrated the occasion with appropriate music at the
Punta Castle, and the day generally was observed by the people as a day of national rejoicing.
The daily journals record these important events in very jubilant tones, the Prensa going so far as to say that ‘"the day is not far distant when the
Spanish marine will be restored to its ascent power, as in the times of Philip II."’
Santana's proclamation.
The proclamation of the
Dictator,
Santana, addressed to the Dominican as above mentioned, is dated the 1861 of March, It speaks first of his own services and of his well-known st to the mother country, from, which the and then separated only by the schemes of ambitions was, and then proceeds to show how are suit their interests and sympathize, socially and politically, the people of both countries speak-
ing the same language, professing the same religion, and living under the same laws.
He then alludes to the bloody revolutions of the
Republic, the perils which still threaten her, and finally to the promised protection of the mother country, which had never ceased to entertain kindly feelings towards them.
She promises to us all that civil liberty which her own people enjoy, and guarantees to us natural liberty beyond all possibility of losing it. She secures to us our property, and to that end recognizes as valid all the acts of the
Republic.
She promises to recognize and reward merit, and will never forget services to the country.
In fine, she will bring back peace again to a country so long the scene of wars, and with peace its innumerable blessings.
Yes, Dominicans, from this day forth you may rest from the fatigues of war, and occupy yourselves with the future of your children.
Spain protects us. Her flag waves over us. Her arms will defend us. She recognizes our liberties, and together we will defend them, as one people, one family, as we always have been.
Together we will prostrate ourselves before those altars that same nation erected; before those altars which she finds to-day as she left them, safe, intact, and crowned yet with the shield of her arms, her castle and lions, the first standard which
Columbus raised at the side of the cross in these unknown lands, in the name of Isabella the First, the great, the noble and the
Catholic Isabella; an august name, which with the sovereignty of
Castile, inherited also the love of the people of the
Spanish isles.
We raise there again the flag of her kingdom; and proclaim it in the name of our
Queen and Sovereign.
Long live
Isabella II.: Long live liberty ! Long live religion ! Long live the Dominican people Long live the
Spanish nation!
