Wichita eagle., 1889-01-18
HHYTIA AND PANAMA,

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE president
today sent to congress correspondence con-
corning the seizure of the vessel Haytien
| Republic. In a letter to Minister Preston
| dated November 9, 1888, Secretary Bayard
takes the ground that the seizure of the
vessel was irregular; that she should be
restored to her owners, her officers re-
leased and adequate compensation made
| to both.
He says that it is unnecessary to discuss
the charge of attempting to run block
ade, for whether valid blockade did or
did not exist, it is clear that the Haytlen
Republic had and could have had no notice
of it.
Tbs legality of the tribunal which pre-
sented the charges against the vessels is
had scarcely feature of formality and
legality aud that no opportunity was
given for defense.
Afer expressing the belief that the yes
sci was captured outside of Haytien
waters, the secretary says: 1.-The rights
person and property of American citizens
engaged in business in Hayti cannot be
permitted to be subjected to their evan
escent authorities and the protecting arm
OF this government must secure their
safety. We wish merely to secure our cit
liens who may be caught in the eddies of
local sanguinary emeutes."
In conclusion the secretary expresses the
confident expectation of the president that
the vessel will be released and an investi-
CATION commenced TO ascertain the iniur-
les inflicted upon her owner, the captain,
officers and crew.
On December Z Secretary Bayard adj
dressed letter to Secretary Whitney, the
result of which. as is well known, was the
sending of the 4antic and Galena to Port
au Prince TO recover the captured vessel.
On December Secretary Bayard, reply
ing to a note from Minister Preston, says:
The proposition contained in your note
now under reply, that the Haytien Repub-
lie should be placed under guard of a
United States man-Of-War, brought to
New York and there libeied by the Hay
ten government in The United States dis
trict court, is declined, and the decision of
the president, as already communicated,
will be carried into effect.
For testing any rights known TO the law.
the courts of the United States are open to
foreign governments, their agents or to
private parties, and can alone decide what
matters are therein justifable.
Mr.. AdamsOn, the Uniten States consul
general at Panama, on the I'd inst, re-
ceived communication from the secretary
general from the department of Panama,
saying that although the local government
would do all in its power to preserve peace
and order, it feared disturbance of its pub
lie peace might follow the suspension of
work on the Panama canal, which sllspen-
sion is expected soon.
In transmitting this information to the
state department, Mr.. Adamson says: 1--WE
appear TO be on the verge of a crisis, and
grave results may be well apprehended.
Fortunately there are comparatively few
Americans employed upon the canal but
these few will surely demand my aid.
Whatever may occur, shall do my best
for the protection of American interests
here, and hope to merit continuance of
the kind support heretofore given to me-"
The secretary of state, in his report to
the president. says; 1T will be remem-
bered that in 1885 it became necessary for
the United States to send sufficient force
to the isthmus for the purpose of perform
ing their duty under the treaty to sup
press disorder at that point"
The president today transmitted the
correspondence TO congress.