Mr. Seward to Mr. Peck.
Sir: I have received your two despatches, viz., the one of April 20th, No. 28, and the other, April 21st, No. 29; both of which relate chiefly to the domestic condition of Hayti, and to jealousies really existing or supposed to exist between Hayti and St. Domingo, which jealousies derive support from some imaginary political designson the part of the United States.
The contents of your No. 29 have been made known to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate with a view to bring before them the question therein suggested of raising the rank of the mission of the United States in Hayti, and also the rank of the proposed mission of the United States in St. Domingo.
In regard to your No. 29, I have to observe that Congress has not yet taken action upon the President’s recommendation of the creation of a mission in St. Domingo. The delay is understood to be inadvertent, and due only to the presence of more urgent questions.
The United States sincerely desire and hope that Hayti and St. Domingo may become cordial friends and may dwell together in peaceful neighborhood, each maintaining its own sovereignty, integrity, and independence. The forbearing and friendly policy of this government towards all the free states of the American continent and islands has been so often exposed and illustrated during the last five years, that it is deemed unnecessary now to make a distinct utterance on that subject when no event has occurred which could bring uncertainty or suspicion over it. If any such uncertainty or suspicion exist, either in Hayti [Page 518] or in St. Domingo, it is exclusively a creation of parties there who have no grounds for claiming any interest or sympathy here.
Perhaps I could not more clearly elucidate the policy of the United States, in regard to other American governments, than it is already done in the correspondence which has recently taken place between the United States and some of the European powers with regard to Mexico. I give you, therefore, for your information a copy of that correspondence.
The President does not think that it would be expedient, under the present circumstances, to direct a formal conference between yourself and the representative of the United States in St. Domingo. The office of mediation is always a delicate one; it is never to be resorted to where alienation has not become flagrant, and it cannot even then be safely or wisely resorted to without first obtaining the consent of the alienated parties.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Henry E. Peck, Esq., &c., &c., &c.