Mr. Peck to Mr. Seward
Sir: As might be expected now that General Salnave has returned to this country and become “the man of the hour,” new fruits of the bombardment of Cape Haytien by the British in November, 1865, are ripening. I propose to narrate to you in this despatch two late events having connection with that, to the history of. Hayti and indeed of the whole West Indies, memorable affair.
On the arrival of General Salnave at Cape Haytien. about the 10th of April, one of his first acts was the ordering of a grand mass in honor of Captain Walker, United States navy, who commanded the United States steamer De Soto at the Cape when the bombardment occurred, and who brought General Salnave and his officers away from the Cape after that affair, and of whose death the general had not heard until his arrival at the Cape. The solemn ceremony occurred on the. 15th of April. It was accompanied by orations in eulogy of Captain Walker, and expressive of the deepest gratitude to him and of the utmost gratitude to our nation.
[Page 315]The occasion is represented by our naval officers who took part in it as having been exceedingly impressive and interesting.
I send with this a copy of the “Supplement of the Messager du Nord” of April 15th, in which the events of the day are reported.
Since his arrival here General Salnave has personally expressed to me the most tender and grateful respect for the memory of Captain Walker, and the greatest regard for our people and government.
A second event, growing out of the Cape Haytien affair of 1865, appears in a correspondence which this government has opened with the British government respecting Spencer St. John, esq., her British Majesty’s charge d’affaires in Hayti, who, as you will remember, ordered the bombardment of the Cape.
The substance of the letter, which has been forwarded to Lord Stanley, is that the feeling of the people of Hayti towards Mr. St. John for his part in the bombardment of the Cape is very bitter, and that this feeling may break out in conduct towards him which the government, not having its new power well in hand, cannot readily control, and which may disturb the existing amicable relations of the two governments towards each other. In view of this fact, the recall of Mr. St. John from his place here is earnestly asked.
Mr. St. John was supposed, when this letter was written, to be in England, where he had been spending some months on furlough. As a matter of fact, he was on his way here, and he arrived here only a few days after the letter was despatched. Upon his landing here he notified the government of his arrival, and was presently answered that the government was gratified by his arrival, and that General Salnave would personally receive him on Tuesday next. But it presently transpired that Mr. St. John’s letter was received and answered by one of the general’s secretaries, without his (the general’s) knowledge, and that on learning of the appointment which had been made in his behalf he ordered the minister of foreign affairs to notify Mr. St. John that a mistake had been made, and that the minister of foreign affairs, and not the general, would represent the government in the reception.
The affair thus narrated is exciting here great feeling, which is by no means favorable to Mr. St. John, and the end is perhaps not yet,
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.