Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part I

No. 665.
Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince Hayti, October 17, 1888. (Received October 26.)

No. 213.]

Sir: I have just received from General Légitime a private letter informing me that by a decree of the national assembly of constituents yesterday, the 16th instant, he has been elected “chief of the executive power.” Of the eighty-four constituents representing all parts of Hayti there were but thirty-three that have remained on arriving at the capital, since the affair of the 28th ultimo. I inclose herein copy of the decree with translation marked, respectively, A and B. It is to be observed that the second article expresses the object of the provisional executive powers, in view of national defense. This act of yesterday will be as fuel to the fire of rage that those in the north have for General Légitime, whose candidature, since the death of General Thélémaque, they have openly protested against, in order, they affirm, to prevent civil war. War is inevitable; already the frontier of St. Marc is guarded by troops from the north, and the chief of the “executive power” will in all probability attempt to subdue them. Vengeance is the cry of the north. The future is indeed gloomy.

I have, etc.,

John E. W. Thompson,

[Inclosure in No. 213.—Translation.]

Liberty. Equality. Fraternity.

republic of hayti.—decree.

The National Constituent Assembly.

In view of the deposit by the Provisional Government of the power with which it had been invested;

Considering that the gravity and the necessity of repressing as soon as possible the criminal insurrection of the cities of the north and of the Artibonite, command urgent measures, that may satisfy the public opinion and answer to the expectation of the nation;

Considering that the circumstances exact a new organization of the Provisional Government,

decree.

• Art. 1. The constituent assembly retakes the full powers that have been confided to the Provisional Government of the Republic.
• Art. 2. The executive power is delegated provisionally, in view of national defense, to General F. D. Légitime, who shall act under the control of the constituent assembly in surrounding himself with a council of five members of his choice, for the regular service of the divers ministerial departments.
• Art. 3. The present decree shall be published and executed in the whole extent of the Republic.

Given at the National House at Port au Prince, October 16, 1888, the eighty-fifth year of Independence.

The president of the assembly, Clérie; the secretaries, Jérémie, G. Labastille.