ted States and the Kingdom of
Italy, signed at Florence on the 26th of last month.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 31, 1871_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

In answer to your resolution of the 17th instant, requesting, "if not
incompatible with the public service, the report recently made by a
board of officers of the Engineer Department on the condition of the
Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Miss., with such remarks, suggestions,
or recommendations as may be made by the Chief Engineer of the Army,"
I herewith transmit a report, dated 28th instant, with accompanying
papers, received from the Secretary of War.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _April 5, 1871_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I have the honor to submit herewith to the two Houses of Congress the
report of the commissioners appointed in pursuance of joint resolution
approved January 12, 1871.

It will be observed that this report more than sustains all that I have
heretofore said in regard to the productiveness and healthfulness of the
Republic of San Domingo, of the unanimity of the people for annexation
to the United States, and of their peaceable character.

It is due to the public, as it certainly is to myself, that I should
here give all the circumstances which first led to the negotiation of a
treaty for the annexation of the Republic of San Domingo to the United
States.

When I accepted the arduous and responsible position which I now hold,
I did not dream of instituting any steps for the acquisition of insular
possessions. I believed, however, that our institutions were broad
enough to extend over the entire continent as rapidly as other peoples
might desire to bring themselves under our protection. I believed
further that we should not permit any independent government within the
limits of North America to pass from a condition of independence to one
of ownership or protection under a European power.

Soon after my inauguration as President I was waited upon by an agent of
President Baez with a proposition to annex the Republic of San Domingo
to the United States. This gentleman represented the capacity of
the island, the desire of the people, and their character and habits
about as they have been described by the commissioners whose report
accompanies this message. He stated further that, being weak in numbers
and poor in purse, they were not capable of developing their great
resources; tha