New-York tribune., 1871-04-07
BAEZ AND SAGET.

A STATEMENT FROM THE HAYTIEN MINISTER.
TO me EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your issue Of the 30th ult, under the
title Of Simple Matter" referring TO the late debate
ON santo Domingo 10 tho Senate Of the United States
YOU conclude by Il question: "I Baez is usurper, what
is sagcp II you will allow viii answer your ques
ton by few facts Of course leaving ont whatever
lacs TO the protection accorded to the Government Of
Bacz by that OF the United States ard the the neutrality
which has been imposed Hayt in the affairs Of sano
Domingo my official position in This country not allow
ing ne enter into such controversy in the columns Of
a newspaper.
After the evacuation OF the Spanish part OF rhe island
by Spain, Cabra had the supreme military command;
and Bacz who had just arrived at Curacao from Spain,
was proclaimed President tine sh OF December 1865
In June, 1906 he deposed by his people, with or
without good Cabra shortly after elected
President by universal suffrage. In 1861 revolution To-
mcnted by salnaye then President OF Hayt, deposed
Cabral; and a council Of four Generals, having no au-
thurty from the people, replaced Baez as President,
Dictator or anything else, without any election-not
even sham one Thus Baez came last TO power. Is he
legitimate chief, or n usurperi
Now as to Gen. Saget, the present President OF Hayt,
whom have The honor TO represent near the Govern
naut of the United States He was elected President
after the fa Of Gefrard in 1867 by the unanimous vote
n the Senate according to constitution then In eX-
istonce lie refused the situation, being of the opinion
that The country wanted liberal constitution, with
tie Presidency for four years instead Of that for ie as
we'll as ono with fcworprerogatves 10 the Executive
new constitution was formed by National Assembly.
elected by universal suffrage This new constitution was
based on that of the United States and that Of France In
1913 In June 1867. sanave elected President But
arpo set aside the constitution to which he had sworn
obedience having expelled and imprisoned the Repre-
eutatives OF tie people and proclaimed himself Dicta-
tor in APRIL IsC9 the whole country lookup arms aganzt
him An article Of the constitution Itself placed it in the
charge Of every citizen, thus giving TO the people the
right to revolt against 4 usurper.
After nearly two years OF bloody and rGinous civil war;
the revolution victorious the l9h Of December,
s19 ny the capture Of the capital On the 10th Of the
sae month Sflnaye was offered by the commanders Of
the revolutionary army through the representatives OF
the United states, England and France safe conduct,
wing him 10 leave the country unmolested, with all
those Who desired TO follow him. under he protection of
ue o-.'c1 ministers and the aulhortcs. At the time,
c.a v..o .. fl or n vessels az iu The haror,
.,.lr .ru Hr ish itoI-ca at gate o Tho hrst class.
Law, iAau isiI, the whole country, oIly the upper
ltt st tc City of rtau-rIince H. refused the FER,
trrd the town, murdered tbe political prisoners in the
Irsu and took TO the woods with the Intention OF J0in
n Baez lis former associate. who received from hin In
sts loan of 20OO0 rGncs; which oan as that OF 1866
nppepr IN the statement of Dominican debts. Salnaye
Intended to TO Haytl with foreign assistance and
Path from Portau-Prnce to the frontier. he cap
ur Il. Brought 10 PortauPrince. he was tried by mil
haIY tribunal appointed by the ProIlsonsl Goiernneht
and The Council o state, according 10 the martial law OF
Iayti which had often been used hy Saiuage himself
ataiu-t MS enemies He condemned Ia death. ana
executed the 18th Of January, 1850. On tine isth 81
Niarc OF tie same year the National Assembly OF Hay
composed OF tie House Of Representatives and the sen
ate both elected by universal suffrage the former con
satre of ~ members for three years and the later Oh
20 mUmbers for six years, met according TO the C"h-.i
Executive Of the Provisional GoNefhmenA'
cpno 20 the tribune OF the Assembly ana P1olCCnH,
before the people and Foreign Ministers anu 1onSus ~.
or. Bdsscit, L. :. Minister, being prrnelj irJ
the hands Of the Assembly the dictatotihl Ipn " thc
he had received from the Revolution, anu a, & ,ne
same time, the command OF the army Nni,i N,arbIr
dinrly placed under the sole cOntrol OF 'hc 'h, -;
Aftcr this Gen. Sagct and his cOlruEuc' ~ na'ni.
the Assembly, leaving the representative o 'O
masters o, the destinie- of the country IN 80,
after THE the Assembly having deeiueu 70 y" ,h -"
chief magistrate OF the Republic without '''s Cen
tuu took place by ballot ana ~ ho.o' -, ,,n Iierrs
sagct received AZ votes; Gen DVhi'Ne"'''' -
and one vote was blank -, a Il -, A..
Thus Gen. saget, having obtained the Iequir~i two
thirds majority VI tho votes was proclaimed Presi
dent for four year, and the day after election fock
tho oath NJ Office The above are facts which are proba
bly, unknown 10 the public OF this country Who have
taken So very little interest In the struggles Of Hay for
civilization aud progress. She by age the second nde
pendent state In America. Gen. saget has an unblem-
ished character with his enemies. No one In Hayti
has ever said OF him what certain United States Sena
tors in Ignorance OF facts, have stated. II
hone the above statement Of plain facts, which III
taken from official documents Will enable readers
or yourself TO answer your editorial question III
STEPHEN PRESTON, Mnlster from Hayt. HI
WssAi.0toa. April I. 1871.