The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-18


rights of the United States For this reason, any
instances of an energetic wise administration Of
the foreign affairs of the country by an Executive
whose general policy we have been constrained to
condemn, will the more readily command our
warmest commentator. Such an instance OF wise
diplomacy do we regard the efforts Of this Govern
ment, in conjunction with Great Britain and
France, to arrest the sanguinary designs Of the
negro emperor Of Hayti against the republic OF
Dominica.
"By some means, publicity has been gwen 10
the correspondence between the Stat Department
and MIR. Robert M. Walsh. its agent in tte nego
tiation for the pacihcation OF HaytI. Ia me vaT
Qua papers which constitute this correspondence,
the motives and purposes Of the Adml"i.trat'cn in
proffering it's good offices in behalf Of the Donn'
can republic are frankly and clearly set forth
..In 1921 the Spanish portion of the Island " ST.
Domingo voluntarily subjected itself t" the x"
verunent of Hayti, then presided ovr by Boyer.
On the expulsion Of Boyer, and on s,.t cunt at the
wrongs and grievances which they had 'ndnred.
with a repetition OF which they were inenacrd,
the Domuicans threw oil tn subj ct,on OF negro
government and established an independent re
public. To this step the Spansh inhabitants oi ST.
Domingo were driven by the necessity OF .eIf-pre.
servation Not only were their political rights and
their liberty invaded and trampied upon by the
black arbarians of Hayti, but the doom of indis
cr,nnate slaughter and determination was inces-
sanity held before them in the threats OF the Ma
caya and Dessalines.
.'By the most imperious necessity. then were the
Domiuicans impeilcd to set up independent
government. Nevertheless, their act of separation
regarded a revolt by the negroes of Hayti,
who prepared to reduce the rebel whites to sub
lection by the strong arm of force. All the efforts
of the Haytien government were unequal how
ever, to the reconquest OF Dominica The Span
defended themselves with valor and energy, and,
despite the disparity of numbers, successfully
PEELED the nvasons Of their foes, They achieved
| and established their independence. France for
mally recognised the republic of Dominica. Eng
land and the United States recognised it 10y their
acts. Still Sououque refused TO acknowledge the
Independence of the Dominicans, and persisted in
his efforts reduce them to suN ccti"n. In this
juncure, under the apprehension OF avery iorinidi
| BILE attack by Soulouque, the Dominican govern.
me mt solicited the mediation of the Cued States,
Great Britain, and Frame, to restore, if possible,
| peace cable relations with its savage neighbour.
Great Britain and France promptly coded to the
proposition, inpelled thereto by every ,onsidera-
| ton Of justice and humanity Without reluctance.
the United States followed their example. The
| Government despatched Mr.. Walsh to the ytie,.
court, t. cooperate with the representatives VI
Grea, Britain and France in the humane cudeavor
| to persuade the Emperor Souovque to abandon his
hostile designs against the Dominicans. The
| turc of MIR. WaIsh's coninissioy may BIZ altered
| from the following extracts from Mr.. Wtbster's
| instructions:
| "When, therefore, you shall have held free and
| full conferences with your colleagues, and shall
have ascertaine the reciprocal claims OF the par
ties the il the Emperor Soulouque shall in
sst upon maintaining belligerent attitude until
all bis demands shall have been satisfied; by the
opposite party, you will unite with your colleagues
in demonstrating against this course his part.
II the remembrance should pIove to be unavailing.
you will signify 10 the emperor that you shall give
imme date notice ~ your Government, that the
President, with the concurrence OF Congress- may
adopt such measures in operation with the gov
| ernmcnts OF Engla and France, u may cause the
Of the three powers to be respected and
you will lose time in communicating the result
to this Department The emperor should be made
properly aware Of the dangers which he and his
country may encounter, II he should be uniortu-
nately advised to reject reasonable terms OF pacf
| cat ton; but you will stop at remonstrance until
further notice.
"If, however, your joint and oncurrent repre-
| sentations should induce the Emperor Soulouque
TO make an abatement OF his demands, which you
and your colleagues may deem reasonable, you
will, in concert with them, make this known to
the Dominican government and will recommend
their adoption OF n peace on that basis You will,
however, give n patient hearing to any objections
which that government may advance, and ii you
| and your colleagues should deem those objections
solid. you will communicate them 10 the Minister
for Foreign Affairs OF Hsyt and will require from
bTo answer 10 them. If this answer ehould not
be given within reasonable time, or ii when given
it should not prove to be satisfactory, you will
then, conformity with your colleagues, require the
emperor to coIclude n permanent peace with the
Dominican government upon the basic which you
may jointly prescribe TO him, or to consent 10 II
truce with that government OF not iess than ten
years.
Great Britain and France went even further,
and formally instructed their agents to nieuace
soulouque with their hostility in the event OF his
refusal to accede to their proposition Persuasion
could not appeass his ferocious wrath, nor could
threats drive him from his bloody POSES. He
Persisted in his des gns against Dominica. and
would in no manner acknowledge it's independ
ence. The utmost the meditating powers could
effect was the prolongation Of an existing truce.
land this WAS the issue Of negotiation for
which tho Administration deserves credit 1t orr
ginated in an impulse Of humanity, and sought to
protect a civilized community from he oppression
and ferocity of n blood-thirsty savage. The mis-
sion of Mr.. Walsh was a mission Of peace and true
philanthropy"