No. 350.
Mr. Langston to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Port-au-Prince, March 31, 1883. (Received April 14.)
Sir: On the morning of the 27th instant Hon. J. B. Damier called at this legation and advised me that on the 25th instant one hundred and six Haytian exiles had quitted Inagua upon a small steamship of [Page 578] 200 tons, flying the flag of the United States, ostensibly for Port Antonio, Jamaica. Thanking him for the information given, I assured him that I should take good note of such intelligence. In the evening of the same day the news reached this capital that such exiles had, early in the morning of the 27th instant, landed at and taken Miragoâne. The report proved to be true, and at once the Government entered upon special arrangement for transportation and adjustment of its troops for attack and rout if possible, of such insurgents. During the 28th, 29th and 30th instant, while considerable excitement prevailed in this city generally, the Government moved steadily though leisurely forward with its preparations. Up to this time it is reported that the Government has sent forward some twelve hundred men, and that to-morrow morning it will make an attack by land and sea, hoping thus to crush this rebellious movement in a single well-directed general effort.
I have the honor to inclose and transmit herewith a copy and translation of a dispatch of Mr. J. B. Damier, dated the 29th instant, in which he dwells upon the purposes of the Government as regards this subject, in which he advises me to bring such purposes to the attention of my citizens, as well to those resident at Miragoâne as those temporarily there with their ships. He expresses the hope that our consular agents, as well as our captains of ships, will be instructed not to give protection to the insurgents should they be defeated, and closes by tendering, in the assured conviction that he has interpreted correctly the judgment of our Government in his communication, his most exalted consideration.
I have this morning acknowledged simply, in a brief note, a copy of; which is herewith transmitted, the receipt of Mr. Damiers dispatch.
What will be the result of the struggle at Miragoâne between the Government and the insurgents under Boyer Bazelais no one can say. It looks, however, that although the insurgents are well armed, are resolute and are well fortified, the Government would, with its great force, crush them at once.
So far the country generally seems to be entirely peaceable, while no popular disposition has discovered itself in any quarter outside of Miragoâne to rebel against the Government.
I am, &c.,