No. 229.
Mr. Langston to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Port au Prince,
Hayti, August 21, 1884.
(Received Sept. 5.)
No. 662.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit, as herewith
inclosed, copies of the correspondence which has up to this date passed
between this legation and the Haytien Government with regard to the abuse
and maltreatment [Page 324] of Rev. C. W.
Mossell, on the 23d day of September, 1883, and his demand therefor.
You will find among the inclosures hereof first a copy of the dispatch of
Hon. B. Saint Victor, dated July 29, 1884, with its translation, in which he
acknowledges the receipt of my dispatch of the 15th ultimo, already
transmitted to the Department, and, after regretting that this matter had
not at once been brought to the attention of his Government, expresses his
willingness to investigate it properly, and do that with respect to
reparation in the premises which may be sanctioned by international law.
You will find next among the inclosures of this dispatch two dispatches,
dated respectively August 7 and 13, 1884, addressed by me, according to
their dates, to Mr. St. Victor. In the first I acknowledge the receipt of
his dispatch, thank him for the kindly spirit he exhibits with regard to the
investigation of the case, remind him that he has already the statement of
Mr. Mossell, as presented in my first dispatch, on the subject, but promise
that he shall hear from me more fully with respect thereto at an early day.
Accordingly, on the 13th instant I write him my second dispatch, in which I
set out, in precise and detailed manner, the character and standing of Mr.
Mossell and his family; their relations to and Christian benevolent labors
for the community 5 their success in the building of a church in Port au
Prince and establishing a school; claiming that their loyalty to the present
administration of the government and country cannot be denied, nor their
presence and influence in Hayti be regarded as any otherwise than desirable
and beneficial; and, after stating quite at length the abuse and
maltreatment of Mr. Mossell and his family at their home, along the streets,
to the very doors of this legation, I refer Mr. St. Victor to persons well
known in this city with whom he might confer, should he desire, with
reference to the facts of the case as presented.
As I have investigated this case, and I have done so with great care, I have
been led to regard it in the light of the facts pertaining to it as an
aggravated and outrageous affair, for which the Government of Hayti, under
the circumstances, should be held to strict and thorough accountability, and
generous and liberal reparation.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
662.—Translation.]
Mr. Victor to Mr.
Langston.
Department of State of Foreign Relations,
Port au Prince, Hayti, July 29, 1884.
Mr. Minister: You advise me for the first time
of your dispatch of the 15th July, No. 274, about ten months after the
events took place at Port au Prince, in September of last year, that the
Rev. C. W. Mossell, a citizen of the United States of America, had been,
with his family, insulted, outraged, assaulted, maltreated on the
afternoon of the 23d of September by the irritated populace and the
authorities of the place up to the doors of your legation, where he
found refuge.
I ought to regret, first of all, that this notice should have come so
tardily to the Government, being persuaded that an immediate inquiry
made the next day after the events would have been more efficacious than
that which you demand now.
Nevertheless, Mr. Minister, I am entirely disposed to occupy myself
thereof, for it alone, according to my judgment, is able to establish
after an impartial manner the nature, the sum of the damages, and the
amount of a just reparation, if there be any to be accorded by
international law.
[Page 325]
Every amount fixed without such previous examination, resting upon no
foundation, appears to me to be arbitrary.
The Rev. C. W. Mossell is able, without doubt, to put us in the way to
indicate, for example, the persons to question upon the bad treatment of
which he complains, to furnish us so the first and principal elements of
an inquiry which my Government is ready to prosecute to the end, in
order that light may be cast upon the facts which interested passion
never ceases to exaggerate in moments of civil troubles which aggravate
a country.
Before, then, giving you upon the question an opinion, I have the honor
to ask you to question the Rev. C. W. Mossell upon the points which I
have indicated to you above, and to accept at the same time, Mr.
Minister, the assurances, &c.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 662.]
Mr. Langston to Mr.
St. Victor.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Hayti, August 7, 1884.
Sir: Acknowledging the receipt of your dispatch
of the 29th of last month, received on the 31st, I have the honor, after
thanking you for the kindly spirit in which you would seem to meet me in
the consideration of the matter of the maltreatment and abuse of the
Rev. C. W., Mossell on the 23d day of September, 1883, to advise you
that I shall at an early day, have occasion to communicate with you
still further with regard to such matter. Meantime I beg to remind you
that in bringing to your attention the statement of Mr. Mossell, with
regard thereto, which can be abundantly substantiated, his case as far
as his demand is concerned is pratically made.
Renewing to you, &c.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 662.]
Mr. Langston to Mr.
Victor.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Hayti, August 13, 1884.
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 287,
addressed to you on the 7th instant, having reference to the case of
Rev. C. W. Mossell, I have the honor, in accordance with my promise, to
state further in regard to such case that Mr. Mossell, a Christian
Protestant missionary, residing and laboring in the city of Port au
Prince and the neighboring country as preacher and teacher for the past
eight years, supported entirely by Christian friends, residents of the
United States of America interested in him and his work in this country,
has, not only by his devoted and laborious earnest missionary life among
your people, but by many special patriotic acts of self-sacrifice, shown
himself the intelligent and constant friend of the present
administration of your Government and the country. A man of sound and
general education, of rare christian culture and devotion, he found his
desires and aspirations satisfied in his labors, freely and graciously
given, even under the most difficult and trying circumstances at times,
for the religious and educational elevation and advancement of such of
our people and youth as happen to come within the circle of his
influence. Thus he found himself laboring in his own house, with his
wife, a pious, cultured, devoted, self-sacrificing person, remarkable
for her efficiency and success both as a teacher and missionary, when,
on the 23d of September, 1883, his home, in which the family of the late
honorable Edward Pinckombe, had, at the time, found hospitable, cordial,
Christian shelter, was entered again and again, first by officers and
soldiers and policemen of your Government, who in rudest manner,
demanded to know who was there, searched in every part to find out who
was there, and, for the considerate and respectful treatment accorded
them by Mr. Mossell and his family, who declared that they were all
Americans and friendly and loyal to the Government of the country,
insulted, threatened, and maltreated them. And finally when the
Pinckombe family, well known to be in Mr. Mossell’s house, had been sent
for some three times by officers of the Government and others, and was
at last conducted thence by an aid-de-camp of the President, as he
stated, in obedience to his orders, such officer refusing in positive
and offensive terms protection or aid to Mr. Mossell and his family,
even to his wife, at the time in the most delicate, feeble, and helpless
condition, though demanded, implored, especially for his wife in the
condition indicated, and his child, the house was entered, in the
presence and through the influence of officers of your Government, by
armed soldiery and police, who abusing and maltreating, as it would seem
with renewed [Page 326] devilish,
purpose, Mr. Mossell and his family, not sparing his wife nor his little
girl, threatening to shoot and kill them, and to such end using their
pistols, guns, and swords in the most frightful barbarous way against
the person, the face, the head, and body of Mr. Mossell and in the midst
of the family, finally throwing kerosene oil about the floors,
stairways, doors, and woodwork of the house, set it on fire and thus
with smoke and flames and threats of violence drove Mr. Mossell and his
family out of his house, from the gallery of which floated at the time
his American flag, into the street, where as he attempted to make his
way with his wife, whom he sought specially to protect with his family,
to this legation, he and they were still abused, maltreated, threatened,
assaulted, by the same parties, even to the very doors of the legation,
where Mr. and Mrs. Mossell, after some two hours of desperate struggle
over every inch of the way, with their child and other members of their
family lost from them, arrived, escaping barely with their lives through
the energetic and manly conduct of one or two friends, who were good
enough to aid them somewhat on the way, and Mr. Garrido on their
arrival.
The facts, in this case Mr. Minister, are imperfectly stated by me; the
aggravation and torment of the incidents so causeless and outrageous,
connected with it, cannot be described.
The parties, too, Mr. Minister, to this case are well known both by their
good name and labors in this city and country. And when we consider the
work which they have already accomplished among your people in the
erection of a modest but excellent church structure, situated in the
southwestern part of this city; the maintenance and conduct of a large
and respectable congregation of orderly worshippers assembling regularly
therein; and the establishment and support of a flourishing day-school,
numbering at the time of the occurrence of the sad events referred to,
quite one hundred pupils, all taught free of charge, and without
distinction of any sort, we may not doubt as to their loyalty and
devotion to your Government and country, nor as to the value and
influence of their presence in your midst.
But I do not dwell upon such considerations. Mr. Mossell and his family
are American citizens residing in this country, pursuing an honest,
orderly manner of life; and instead of abuse, maltreatment, threats,
assaults, and outrages, they are entitled to due consideration,
respectful considerate treatment and protection certainly from officers,
soldiers, and policemen of the Government.
The statements made, Mr. Minister, as regards this case are, as you must
perceive, susceptible of the easiest confirmation. I have indicated to
you herein already sources of information with relation thereto. Mr.
Mossell and his family were outraged, as stated, on the afternoon of the
23d day of September, 1883, at his house near the corner of Rue
Bonne-Foi and Grande-Rue; and as they left there along Rue Bonne-Foi to
the house of Mr. Etheart in the Rue du Center, which they entered for a
few moments, but in hopeless protection against their pursuers; thence
they were forced to return and go up Rue Bonne-Foi to Rue de la Croix,
along the last named street to Rue des Miracles, down this street to Rue
du Center, and thence to this office; making their way as best they
might in the presence of and against a large and formidable concourse of
people. The outrage upon them was perpetrated in the presence of a
multitude.
Mr. Mossell himself, Mrs. Mossell, their friends, Messrs. Thomas M.
Brown, George L. Brown, Francois Brown, Miss Y. G. Brown, Mrs. J. Puzo,
and Miss Alice Bordie, and Messrs. Van Bokkelen and Garrido, not to name
others, who were eye-witnesses of the occurrences mentioned, know all
about the insults, abuses, and outrages, experienced as stated by this
Christian missionary American family.
I hope, now, Mr. Minister, that this case will command the immediate
serious and just consideration of your Government, and that its definite
just solution and settlement may be concluded without unnecessary
delay.
Renewing to you. &c.,
