The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-04
HAYTT- DESIGNS UPON HER INDEPENDENCE

There has been considerable speculation re-
Gently respecting the mission of Mr.. GREEN, sent
out by our Government to Hayti, as O special
agent AS he is the son Of General Duff Green,
who figured somewhat prominently in the in
trigues for the annexation Of Texas, it was
natural to feel some dstrust Of his movements
amongst people whom Shareholders have always
regarded with an evil eye.
Mr. Calhoun, it will be remembered, while
Secretary of State, sent an agent of the same kind
to Hayti, with a view, it is sad to ascertain the
condition of the Spanish part of the Island which
since the time of Boyer, has maintained an indie
pendent existence. We heard much during that
mission of the White Republic Of st. Domingo
the persecution it endured from the Blacks the
duty of this country to affiliate with it. and sus
tain it in its struggle against the Haytien Gov
eminent The Mem York Herald seemed to be
the organ of the new White Republic, which
doubtless had larger existence in the columns
of that veritable sheet, than in St Domingo
Mr. Calhoun retired from the State Depart
ment Mr. Hogan came home and the war with
Mexico suspended our researches in Hayti
Lately they have been resumed, and the following,
from the Washington correspondent of the North
44meriean, throws some light upon their nature and
objects:
"The newspapers are specializing very wildly
as to the recent mission of Mr.. Green to the Island
of Hayti. The Government had reason to believe,
about twelve months SINCE that England and
France had formed designs for establishing rela-
tiOns with st. Domingo that might prove preju-
dicial to our commerce. which, from being, seven
years ago, larger than with all the British West
Indies had been reduced, by the intestine wars
and other causes to a very inconsidersbe trade.
With a view Of preventing any dissdvantageous
connections such as were then contemplated, as
well as for the purpose of ascertaining the wealth,
resources and population of that portion Of the
Island inhabited by the white and mixed races,
special agent was despatched to communicate the
| requisite information to the Government, looking
| to the recognition of their independenoe-if the
facts justified it-as means Of arresting possess.
sion by these foreign Powers. One Of the princi-
pal objects of this mission was to adopt plan for
reviving our commerce, by exerting proper inhu-
ence in preventing a renewal Of the bloody scenes
| which have been witnessed between the blacks and
Dominicans during the last few years The geo.
graphical position Of st. Domingo, together with
the large supply Of coal which abounds in its
vicinity, presented considerations, in connection
with our steam marine trading with California
and other parts, which induced the Government
to regard 1t as OF considerable Importance
"After concluding his mission to st. Domingo,
Mr. Green was instructed to visit the western por-
ton Of the island, under the dominion Of Sou
louque for the purpose of negotiating for the re-
| cognition of Consular agents-who had never be-
fore been received, owing to the difficulty of recp
rocating-and the revocation Of an imposition Of
ten per cent. duty on our commerce. The agent
was invested with strong argument, in the shape
Of demsnd for spoliations on American property,
which induced his ebony Excellency to grant the
conditions required Our commerce il therefore
sure of protection hereafter; and there ia reason
to believe that it will be largely extended. Mr..
Green is now preparing his report which will be
laid before Congress shortly"
II is not 70 much owing to the intestine wars in
Tlayti that our commerce with that island has
been reduced, but to the fact, that while Great
Britain and France have both recognised its in
dependence, our Government, in obedience to the
Slave Power, has CONTEMPORARY refused to
acknowledge it, or institute diplomatic relations
with it. The HIaytiens naturally resented such
an indignity, and the result the imposition of
q discriminating duty on our commerce, giving
to the trade Of England and France great advan-
tages To crafty the senseless prejudice Of the
Slave Power, the interests Of our merchants aud
Northern agriculturists have in this way been
sacrificed. That is the secret Of the difficulty.
Now, II we understand the correspondent Of the
No,th AmSiean MIR Green was directed to insist
that commercial agents from this country should
be received as consuls in Hsyti, invested with
consular privileges, though We still refused to
recognise the independence of the Haytien Gov
eminent, or to tolerate any consul under Its APP
pOintmsnt and to insist further upon the removal