The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-10
INTERVENTION IN HAYTI.

The following letter containing tho secret
instructions Of Daniel Webster to R. NJ Walsh.
concerning affairs in Hayti, is communicated
by native of that island to the New York
Tribune. Throughout our Government appears,
not us mediator-how could it, never having
recognised the existence of the Haytien sover-
eighty but simply as partisan of the Do
minican Republic, in whose welfare it mani
fests m interest 80 anxious as to point to some
Interior end, of special concern to itself
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON Jan, ~, 1851
SIR Although, in the letter of the Depart
ment Of this date, you are directed 10 be gov
erned in your proceedings in st. Domingo by
the Vows expressed in the instructions of Sir
Henry l.. Bulwer to Mr. Usher yet, as tho lat
ter may conceive those instructions to warrant
him in demanding from the Dominican Repub-
lie, in behalf of the Emperor Soulouque, con
cessons which, if yielded would it IN believed,
trench upon the Just rights of TINT Republic,
and would therefore render insecure any peace
which may be established between tho parties,
it is deemed advisable to advert to those points,
in order that you may endeavor TO resist them
far M you can compatibly with the main
object Of your mission. Ii il probable that
Soulouque may require m extension of his do
minions, 80 as to include part of the territory
formerly belonging to tho Spanish quarter Of
the island but now embraced within the terri
tory of the Dominican Republic This pretcII-
sion will, it is presumed, be set up on tho
ground that the population of the French part
of the island is much more numerous than that
of the Spanish part and yet that the number
of square miles embraced by the former is con-
siderably less than that embraced by the lat
ter, There might be some weight in this pre-
tension, IL the differences between the areas Of
the territories OF the parties respectively were
greater than that which actually exists if tho
boundaries between them were not naturally
good or If the population of Soulouque's do
minions were inconveniently crowded, or wero
likely to become so within any appreciable
time As the reverse Of all this, however, is
believed 10 be the truth you will object to any
extension of Soulouque's territory. IT, however,
treaty of peace should be concluded between
tho parties, tho boundary should therein be de-
fined, 40 ~ in future to leave no cause of dis
pute between them respecting it,
II, also, the Emperor Soulouque should re-
quire from his adversary any concessions of
humiliating character, such as the hosting of
his flag at the city of st, Domingo, even tenn
porsrily, you will oppose it, rs being incompat-
ible with the actual state of the contending
parties, and a. being certain to leave a rancor-
oas feeling in the bosom Of the Dominicans,
dangerous to the perpetuty Of peace. They
have shown much gallantry in expelling tho
Haytiens in 1874 and in repulsng the subse-
quent attempts to resubjugate them. From the
information in possession Of the Department, it
is believed that they desire peace, not NO much
through any consciousness oil inability to main
tain their independence, IN from wish to cul.
tivate the arts Of peace, and thereby develop
the vast and almost virgin resources Of their
part Of the island. The mode of warfare
adopted by the Haytiens impelled M they have
on former occasions been, not by tho lust of
dominion only, but by their savage anGpathy
to different race il shocking to humanity,
denounced by international law, and cannot
claim any sympathy from civilized communi-
ties
The Department understands that one of
Sool0uque's pretexts for bearing arms against
the Dominicans u.s. that unless he can re -estab-
lish Hayden authority in their territory he
cannot without the revenue which would then
be collected in their ports, resume the payment
OF the Hayten debt to France There is some
cause To apprehend that this prcsext has not
been without influence in tho French council
adverse 10 the Dominicans IL is difficult, how
ever, 10 understand why it should there have
made any impression, especially when il is con
sidered that the ordinance OF Charles X, in
1925 by which tho Independence of Hayti IN
recognised upon the condition Of their paying
! $4,000, 900 francs to France expressly confines
that recognition to the French part Of tho
island
! am, sir, worry respectfully, your obedient
servant DANIEL WEBSTER
X. NJ Walsh Esq
The Hayden spirtsdly remarks;
IL have always understood that non-nter-
yention was one OF the dogmas Of American