Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-05-02
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RECOCNITION OF HAYTI AND
LIBERIA.
UgLISGTON:
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY ?, 1862.

The recognition Of Ilayti and Liberia, az
governments proper to be treated with and
placed on conditions Of equality with those
Of other nations, is likely to be consummatcd
within few days. Other Bations-those OF
the greatest antiquity and power in Europe
so recognized them long time ago
Cur Government, which ought to have been
among the first to do it, has heretofore stead
Ily refused to show them this courtesy,
too, though all commercial reasons werc
strongly in favor of it. The proslavcry in
fluenccs, 50 long overPowering at Washing
ton, would not admit that a government con-
sisting Of black and mulattO men, could cx-
ist anywhere. President Lincoln, in his annu-
Al message Of December last, said he could sce
no reason why diplomatic relations should not
be established with Hayt and Liberia, and he
recommended an appropriation for that pur
pose.
Like many other important subjects in
our great national circumlocution office, this
one seemed to be pretty much lost sight Of
for the first three months Of the session.
Lately it has 3 into sight and de.iled
progress is reported. In the Senate, on the
23i, the bill for recognizing the inderen-
dcncc Of Hayti and Liberia, and for the ap-
pointmcnt of diplomatic representative, was
tatan MP 4 hraf report of Senator Sum
ner's remarks is as follows;
"alr Sumner said thus far our Government,
usually friendly to new governments, had turned
aside from these nations. lie thought it time
TO put an end to this anomaly in the history Of
this government. Hsyti was one Of the most
beautiful and fertile islands in the world. 1t has
surface Of 30 600 81 lare miles, being about the
size Of ireland. 1t holds commanding situa-
tiou in the Gulf, and has maintained its iniepen-
dence for nearly sixty years. Liberia, stretching
along the coast of Africa, is about the same size,
and seems hardly less favored in iich fertility
than Hayti; but especially Hsyti excels in the
production Of cotton sugar and palm oil. Ihe
argument for treaties with such countries becomes
irresistible in view Of the demands Of commerce.
In a list Of sixty countries with which we have
commercial relations, Hayti stands twenty seventh
and Liberia twenty ninth. In exports liayti
stands next to Russia, and in the number Of trad
ing vessels Hayti is superior TO Russia There
are thirteen countries in the commercial list Of
less value than Hayti, where We have diplomatic
representatives aud eight countries where we have
representatives not in any commercial list. The
Sandwich Islands have only population of sev-
enty thousand, while Hayti has six hundred thou
sand population, and her exports amount to 81
673 COO; vet at the Sandwich Islands We have
Commissioner and three cOnsuls. Hayti in the
last wear took more fish, cotton goods soap, butter
and lard than Cuba and Porto Rico together, and
more than many other countries where VIC have a
full diplomatic representation. If any other az
gument is needed, it is found in the condition Of
things in the West India Islands and Mexico
Spain is attempting to recover foothold in the
West Indies by the acquisition Of Hayu. We
must check such schemes Of ambition and preserye
the balance Of power among these islands. Libe-
ria also, though not so important commercially,
yet has strong demands for recognition. BY re-
coenizing these two nations Only tardily fol-
low the example of the principal nations OF tae
world
The subject being referred to the next day,
Mr. Davis of Ky, moved substitute for
the bill, to the effect that consul should be
appointed to Liberia. and consul general
to Hayti, with power to negotiate treaties,
&c. lie was opposed he said to sending am
bassadors to those countries, and did not want
negroes received here on an equality with
white men. The bill, however, passed; yeas
80, nays !. No doubt the House will con-
cur.