New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-26
The Right of A.ylum.

interesting information rera-djr,
circumstances under which M,ni,tsS
se5t gave protection to Haytian ret5,I
given in correspondence Just pub,,5.
the State Department. The nam.
WHICH the refugees sought. last Ma
right OF asylum" ia thus de,c-ih.
Minister Bassett:
About three o'clock Monday NON
knock came to my bedroom door
heard unknown voices outside. On
ing the door three men rushed pas.r
covered with traces of exposure and "A.
L asked who they were and yhu
wanted. A oroad-shouldered mulatn
handsome face, in which were ri.
courage and generosity, said, Il am
rond Canal. These two young men Ar
relatives But said /, imp,ts
what in the world are you G0ipr
at this time of night" ave bavs
ruthlessly, without shadow OF la7
tackled by whole army sai
diawing up to full height hi:
form, Five of us, continued he
them at bay for thirty-six hour,
them back, evaded them. and fouyt{
way here, intending to keep or "a
Two of our number fell in our ca
we are not in arms against the govern
we are not enemies of society. vi
fleeing tor our lives before merci!es,
suers- acting outside OF the law. VI
the protection OF your flag" | toll
DID not see how / could protect then
TO be frank, l could not turn them ont
knew that within two minutes, i'll.
DO SO, and close my door behind them
would be slaughtered without ildsnt
mercy. 1t may be that the hi
tor humanity got the better 0!
The men before me were no,
personal friends. They had never
my house before, nor / theirs. / Id
merely personal interest in them,
have faithfully described the mar,
which they came upon nv hands
day sawned gave them room, Oh
them to remain perfectly quiet, AID
OF to the city thinking to be able
the day to sense out the situation 4.
regard. | had scarcely arrived Their
dispatch came to me from the NH
stating that the government had knVs
that certain rebels had taken refuge /:
house occupied by you incl in thec01
and that it desired to know the nsj
these persons.
The Haytian government was grea Il
noyed at Minister Bsssett pro:ectn b
refugees, and showed their Hostility I,
vexatious manner. This brought % \
last August the following warning fra 4
CadWalader,- acting Secretary Of y
which he addressed to Mr.. Pressed n,
Haytlan minister at Washington;
. You are aware that Mr.. Bassett I'd fn'
fster resident of the United States q. ia
au-Prince, has thought proper to II =
into his official residence certain I'd Ii.
refugees. This act on his part has I'd =
approved by this department, as it
sanctioned by public law, though
conformity with precedents in that Ql |,
The tact, however, that Mr.. Bassett h
have thought proper to take the Ie:
bility of harb bring the persons refer
contrary IN the wishes not ONLY of h w
government, but to those also OF d !.
when he ID accredited, is not conce7
forfeit his right. not only to pro,ectioI
violence, but also to a continuance o.
observances which are due to the dip VI
representative of friendly nation. ae
TO state, however, that, according ~
Bassetts reports to this departme,. M
observances have, in respect to hiu M,
his legation, been signally disre gas..d 9it
states that his abode is encompass ~
armed force, and that during the Dig =,
peeiaily, persons in his neighborhoa ar,
shouting, apparently on purpose, y al
gree which makes it impossible fors qn
his family to obtain necessary rest NJ
not be believed that these anuoysro m
by the Haytian governntl hh
perhaps it may not be aware that ta L
practiced. However this may be, it y y,
pected that they will at once be III
tinued. If this expectation should l,r
it will be regarded IS "a,
friendly proceeding on the part Of b IT, !
tlan government. Indeed, the dem sm
tons adverted to, and all the circun me
make it advisable, in the op;aiu. nus
President, that United States Usa1 rs
should visit Port-au-P Prince. The " lei
OF the Navy will consequently be NJ +
to order one thither. {
Much writing followed, until aa
Department informed the Haytia IN !
nent that Minister Bassett would 10,
thorized to surrender refugees, Pr
they were allowed to leave the . q
safely. This offer was accepted. ion
formal agreement was signed By N n; ~
and MIR. Preston to that effect. faal
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