Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 4

[430] resources of the island, and other like points. But while directions for inquiry only appeared on Mr. Fish's papers, Robeson was issuing orders which contemplated force. On the 13th, the day the instructions were dated, he ordered one war vessel to give Babcock not only ‘every attention and facility in the execution of his present duty,’ but also ‘the moral support of its guns’ and by telegram, August 23, he ordered another to proceed from Key West and to be placed at Babcock's disposal while he was on that coast. Though only authorized, so far as written instructions showed, to inquire and report, Babcock executed, September 4, with the Dominican authorities a protocol which stipulated for the annexation of Dominica to the United States, with the payment by the United States of $1,500,000 for the extinction of the Dominican debt; and two days later he started on his return to washington. He assumed in the body of the protocol the ambitious title of ‘Aide-de-camp to his Excellency, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States of America,’ and added to the terms of cession and payment the strange pledge that ‘his Excellency, General Grant, President of the United States, promises privately to use all his influence in order that the idea of annexing the Dominican republic to the United States may acquire such a degree of popularity among members of Congress as will be necessary for its accomplishment.’¹ Here was a military agent assuming to conduct civil business with military forms, and making the extraordinary pledge that the President would exert personal pressure on Congress!

Though Babcock's written commission was confined to inquiry, his transgression of its limits was afterwards publicly approved by the President, who certified that he had done his duty, and had not exceeded his instructions.² After conferences at Washington he returned in November to San Domingo, bearing instructions from Mr. Fish, and having a naval force placed at his disposal with directions ‘to conform to all his wishes and orders, and to convey him to such points as he may desire to visit.’ On arriving at his destination he concluded, December 3,