No. 352.
Mr. Langston to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

No. 543.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit as herewith inclosed the correspondence passing between the Haytian Government and this legation in regard to the bombardment of Miragoâne.

The dispatch of Mr. Damier, a copy of which, with translation, is transmitted, announces that, after a notice of twenty-four hours accorded to the insurgents there assembled to surrender, the city of Miragoâne will be bombarded with all the rigors of military law; that the President, having taken all the precautions to spare the country new evils, will leave the consequences thereof to whom it may concern; that notice of the blockade of the port has already been given; that in his care to protect foreign interests located in this country the President has directed the secretary to give notice of the ultimatum addressed to the insurgents, in order that our citizens may take the usual precautions in such case; that such citizens be made to quit the port with their ships, their proximity to the wharf rendering their situation dangerous; that orders have been given the commandant of the Haytian fleet to render assistance in such behalf, notwithstanding the blockade; and that after said notice all risks will be taken by those exposing themselves.

Then the secretary takes occasion to announce that shots have been fired from foreign vessels in the harbor of Miragoâne at the troops of the Haytian Government, and he concludes by stating that a steamer of the Government leaves the port of Port-au-Prince in the evening, and that the captain has been ordered to carry any packages addressed to our citizens or agents at Miragoâne.

My dispatch dated the 4th instant, a copy of which is herewith transmitted, while reserving all rights which may pertain to any Citizen of the United States being or residing at Miragoâne under the circumstances, acknowledges the receipt of the dispatch of Mr. Damier.

[Page 581]

Further, it is denied in my dispatch that any shots have been fired from any American vessel in the harbor of Miragoâne at the troops of? the Haytian Government.

It will be perceived I did not receive Mr. Dander’s dispatch till 12 o’clock at night, too late, if I had been disposed to do so, to take any special action in the premises, and too late for the steamer of the Government to deliver packages addressed to our citizens or agents in Miragoâne.

I am, &c.,

JOHN MERCER LANGSTON.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 548.—Translation.]

Mr. Damier to Mr. Langston.

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform you that a truce of twenty-four hours has been accorded to the insurgents who occupy Miragoâne to make their submission and surrender the city to the legitimate authority. At the expiration of this truce bombardment shall be proceeded with in all the rigors of military law.

The Government, having done all that its duty requires to spare to the country new misfortunes, leaves to the responsibility of whom it may concern the disastrous consequences of the painful necessity to which a culpable obstinacy reduces it.

Already you have been notified of the blockade of this port.

In his solicitude to protect foreign interests established in this country, His Excellency the President of Hayti has ordered me to advise you of the ultimatum addressed to the insurgents, in order that you may take, in favor of your citizens and their ships, the precautions usual in such cases.

You will, then, Mr. Minister, in the twenty-four hours’ truce accorded in the ultimatum, cause your ships to quit the port, their proximity to the wharf rendering their situation particularly dangerous.

Orders shall be given in consequence to the commandant of our fleet to let them pass, notwithstanding the declaration of blockade. At the expiration of the truce, those ships which obstinately remain at the wharf will encounter all the risks of war, and the Government, by such flagrant violation of international regulations, will consider itself completely relieved from all responsibility for any damage to which those contravening should voluntarily expose themselves.

I take advantage of this occasion to inform you, Mr. Minister, that shots have been fired from foreign vessels in the harbor of Miragoâne against our troops. I need not N impress upon you the gravity of this occurrence.

A Government vessel leaves this evening. The commandant has orders to place himself at your service and take charge of any packages which you may have to address to your citizens and agents.

Accept, &c.,

DAMIER.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 543.]

Mr. Langston to Mr. Damier.

Sir: While reserving all rights which may pertain, under the circumstances, to any citizen of the United States being or residing in Miragoâne, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, at 12 o’clock last night, of your dispatch dated the 3d instant, in which you announce the purpose of your Government to bombard the city of Miragoâne after a notice of twenty-four hours to the insurgents there assembled.

As at present advised, Mr. Minister, I am of the opinion that no shooting as indicated by you has taken place against the troops of the Government of Hayti from any American vessels lying in the harbor of Miragoâne.

I am, &c.,

JOHN MERCER LANGSTON.