The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-23
HAYTl-A SINGULAR DIPLOMATIC CORES
PONDFNCE

AAYT-A SINGULAR DIPLOMATIC CORES
P0NDENCE.
Towards the close of the last century, the
French Government in obedience to the spirit
Of Liberty which then controlled the nation,
and for the purpose Of saving their most valu-
able colony from England, liberated the slaves
of ST. Domingo The freedmen manifested
their gratitude by loyal Acknowledgements, and
attested their loyalty by preserving the island
from the grasp of English power Danger
having passed by, the French Government,
with characteristic caprice attempted to re-en-
slave the islanders What are called the "Hor-
rors of st. Domingo" followed. The people
would not be re-enslaved war of extermina-
ton sprung up; the planters were destroyed +;
the freedmen established at once their own
freedom and the independence of the island.
ST. Domingo became the Republic of Hayti
and for more than half q century has main
tanned its independence, either as a republic or
a monarchy.
In the year 1922, union was effected
between the western portion of the island, in
habited by the French negroes by far the more
numerous and powerful, aud the eastern por-
ton, called Dominica, inhabited by the Spanish
negroes.
Hayti, next to Cuba, is the largest of the
West India islands its area being estimated at
2,45O square miles. The French part of the
island was supposed to contain, in 1889, a
population of SPA 900, of which 1000 were
whites; the Spanish part, it was estimated,
contained 1862 GAO, chiefly blacks and mulat-
toes Humboldt reckoned the population of
the whole island in 1924 at 500 O0O 80 900 of
whom were whites not confined to any par
ticular section.
Some years since, Dominica, pleading in JUS
tifcation the oppressive character of the Hay
tien Government revoted and declared indie
pendence. From that time an irregular war
has been going on between the two parties, one
endeavorng to re-establish its supremacy, the
other to make good its revolt
Of the conduct of the United States towards
the Government of Hayti no truly enlightened
American can think without shame and indg-
nation. Recognising the right of People
to resist oppression, to cast off the yoke Of
dependence, to assert an independent existence,
and to determine their own government and
affirming MS a rule of international intercourse
that the fact of an Independent existence en-
titles People to recognition, we have never
recognised or acknowledged Hayti as men,
Der of the family Of nations, though she has
been an independent nation, without question,
for more than half century. We have thus
been false to our own principles Aware, too
of the great value of commerce with that island
of the Importance of its trade, especially to the
Northern section of the Union, we have refused
to appoint consuls in its ports, or receive it,
its sovereignty In this way we have sacrificed
our commercial interests, and permitted Eng
land and France, who have long since acknowl
edged its independence, to obtain signal advan
tagcs over us in its ports. Had We promptly
pursued this same reasonable policy we should
have escaped the dishonor of classifying our owl
professions We should have secured the larges
portion of the rich trade Of tho island and ou
influence, wisely directed, would have promote,
among its people the cause of order and free
dom, and prevented, most probably the presen
destructive warfare between the hostile partie
which divide the country
We all know why this humane, wise, and be
: nefccnt policy has not been adopted but
cannot be too often brought to the notice OF tn
American People and of Christendom 1t
because the shareholders, controlling in this Re
public the action of the Government, and look
ing mainly to the security of Slavery, deeme
it necessary to maintain perpetual protef
against revolution by people of African ea
traction" and 10 exclude from our shores tn
representatives Of sovereignty established b
such a people They cared nothing for the col
sistency of our Government--nothing for Oh
general cause of Misunderstanding for tn
commercial interests Of the countryside
preiudices, the security of their local system
would not tolerate the idea of recognition
Haytien independence and so our Government
as their organ, refused recognition.
That's the whole Of it.
Adopting this exceptional, sectional an
petty policy, common decency required that "
should at least let that prescribed people alon
1t was ungenerous not to recognise them
was base to plot against their peace And y
this very thing our Government has been dom
From the time when Dominica reyolted
would seem that it has been busy, by its emi
saries, fomenting the rebellion What moa'
the mission Of Mr., Hogan to Dominica, viii
John C. Calhoun was Secretary OF State