taries of state for war, and marine, and for the interior, each in that which concerns him. Done at the national palace of Port au Prince, the 18th May, 1874, the seventy-first year of independence. No. 310.1 No. 378. Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, May 21, 1874. (Received June 20.) SIR: Asking your reference to my No. 299 of the 17th ultimo, and to my No. 305 of the 9th instant, I have the honor to state that late in the afternoon of the 9th instant, Her Britannic Majesty's gun-vessel, Sea Gull, carrying three guns and one hundred men, under command of Commander Stubbs, came into this harbor, where she still remains, in response to the request of my colleague of Great Britain for the presence in these waters of a war-ship during the public irregularities and inquietude prevailing here; that in answer to a similar request from my colleague of France, the French steam-frigate, La Magicienne, carrying thirty guns and five hundred men, under command of Post Captain Guepart, Rear-Admiral Thomasset being on board, cast anchor in the bay of Port au Prince on the morning of the 10th instant, where she remained until day before yesterday and then left for Newfoundland; and that on the 15th instant, a day behind time, my colleague of the German Empire received an answer to his request for the presence of a man-of-war of his government pending the uncertainties of the public situation in Hayti, by the entry into this port of the German corvette, Augusta, which carries ten guns and two hundred and thirty men, under command of Baron von Goltz. She left the 19th instant, for Jamaica. While lying at anchor here La Magicienne and the Augusta exchanged civilities with the authorities of this government and with each other. Although the presence in these waters of war-vessels of their respective governments has, as is thus shown, been judged desirable by the representatives of the great powers, the United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany, I venture for myself to hope now, but am by no means yet quite certain, that any actual necessity which may have existed for such friendly armed presence has begun for the moment to disappear. But I learn from Her Britannic Majesty's minister resident that as the Sea Gull will probably leave in a day or two, he has asked for a national vessel of his government to come to the harbor of Port au Prince on or about the 7th proximo, and to remain during the elections and the choice of a President of Hayti, two important prospective events which are alluded to in my No. 309 of even date, and my colleague of France, the Count de Lemont, informs me that he expects here about the same time and for the same purpose the French corvette, Duchayla. I am, &c., EBENEZER D. BASSETT No. 312.] No. 379. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, May 25, 1874. (Received June 20.) SIR Referring to my No. 309, of the 21st instant, I have the honor to state that late in the afternoon of that day Ex-President Nissage Saget, looking much worn and haggard, left the national palace, and, accompanied by a large escort of citizens, marched on foot, arm in arm with General Domingue, through long lines of the military drawn up to do him honor, to the landing-place at the seaboard, where, after taking an affectionate leave of many of his intimate friends, he embarked for his home at Saint Marc on board the Haytian war-steamer Mout Organisé, with his family and all his personal effects, amid the roar of saluting cannon from the neighboring forts and the expression of many good wishes for his future personal welfare. No such fact as the voluntary retirement of a chief of state and his open embarkation for his home amid the plaudits of his countrymen has ever before transpired in the history of Hayti, and I hope that the precedent established in this instance may prove a salutary one for the future of this, in some sense, sorely afflicted country. I am, &c., EBENEZER D. BASSETT. No. 314.] No. 380. Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, June 6, 1874. (Received June 20.) SIR Referring to my No. 305, of the 9th ultimo, I have the honor to state that the United States steamer Kansas, having accomplished her surveying mission on the southern coast of Hayti, returned to this harbor during the forenoon of the 26th ultimo. It so happened on that day that considerable anxiety began to be felt here, because reports had gained circulation that Gen. Nord Alexis, commander of the department of the north, whose position had all along been regarded as questionable, was unwilling to acquiesce in the line of policy adopted at Port au Prince, and had decided to appeal to arms. This rumor was strengthened by the fact that the mails from the north were already three days behind their usual time of reaching the capital. I communicated these rumors to Commander Reed, and suggested to him that if I should find later in the day that they had caused any serious suspicions or anxiety to those in authority here it might be well for him to remain with the Kansas until definite intelligence could be obtained from Cape Haytien. Thereupon I called upon the minister of foreign affairs, Generals Domingue, Lorquet, and others, and found that they all shared in the apprehension that there was a possibility of some truth in the unpleasant rumors. And late in the afternoon I addressed a note (see inclosure) to Commander Reed, recounting the result of my visits to the officials above named, and telling him that, in my opinion, the prevailing uncertainty as to the public situation seemed to demand that he should keep the Kansas in the harbor of Port au Prince for two or three days. He readily consented to accede to my wishes in this particular. Happily, on Thursday, the 28th ultimo, authentic information reached us that Gen. Nord Alexis had at last, and it is said with some reluctance or hesitation, accepted the situation, and fully consented to lend his aid in carrying out the policy inaugurated at the capital, and on the following morning the Kansas weighed anchor for Cape Haytien, the harbor of Monte Christo, where Commander Reed was to make a survey, and Key West. I am, &c., EBENEZER D. BASSETT. [Inclosure.] Mr. Bassett to Commander Reed. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: After having had full conversation with the minister of foreign affairs, Generals Dominigue and Lorquet, and other prominent persons here, in regard to the somewhat critical situation of affairs, I am confirmed in the opinion which I expressed to you this noon, that it seems desirable for you to remain with the Kansas in this port until at least Friday morning, the 29th instant. It is currently reported that there is an armed uprising in the north, and no one of those in authority here appears to know to the contrary. Without wishing to be considered in any way responsible for belief in this report, I venture to say that I think your remaining here for two or three days may be demanded by the uncertainty of the present public situation in this country. I am, &c., EBENEZER D. BASSETT. No. 316.] No. 381. Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, June 6, 1874. (Received June 20.) SIR Referring to my No. 309, of the 21st ultimo, I have the honor to state that the elections for members of the Constituent Assembly have been progressing quietly during the past two weeks in the different communes of the republic, and that there now seems scarcely a doubt of General Domingue's prompt election to the presidency on the assembling of that body the 10th instant. So far as I have personal knowledge of those chosen by these elections for the important work of providing "for the election of the President of Hayti" and of making "a constitution in accord with the customs and aspirations of the Haytian people," I feel bound to say that they are of the most respectable and intelligent of the citizens of this country. For instance, of the six chosen from this arrondissement, five are ex-secretaries of state, and the other an ex-senator. Indeed, I begin almost confidently to hope now for peaceful times and improved prosperity to the republic of Hayti in the near future, though it must be said that the drift and end of political action in this country are often mysterious and almost past finding out. I am, &c., EBENEZER D. BASSETT. No. 320.] No. 382. Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, June 16, 1874. (Received June 27.) SIR Inviting reference to my No. 316, of the 6th instant, I have the honor to state in brief that the Constituent Assembly met and organized on the 10th instant; that, as predicted in my said No. 316, the assembly promptly and unanimously elected General Michel Domingue President of the republic of Hayti "for a period which shall be determined by the new constitution," and that on Sunday, the 14th instant, before the assembly, the diplomatic and consular corps, and an immense throng of citizens and foreigners, he took the prescribed oath of office "to fulfill faithfully the office of President of Hayti; to cause to be respected the national independence and the integrity of the territory; to observe, and cause to be observed, the laws of the republic." Yesterday he issued a decree appointing a provisional ministry and a proclamation setting forth his programme of action, which is one of conciliation and promise, and in which no party, as far as I have yet learned, seems to be able or disposed to find cause for dissatisfaction. By the very next opportunity I shall not fail to forward to you a full statement of all that has occurred touching this important event in the history of Hayti, and touching also what has transpired here relative. to the treaty between the two republics of this island. I am, &c., EBENEZER D. BASSETT. No. 321.] No. 383. Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, June 23, 1874. (Received July 20.) SIR: In my No. 320, of the 16th instant, I had the honor to convey to you intelligence of the election on the 11th instant, and the inauguration on the 14th instant, of General Michel Domingue as President of the republic of Hayti "for a period which shall be determined by the new constitution," and also to refer to a proclamation which he made to the Haytian people on the 14th and 15th instant. It has occurred to me that it might be well to forward to you in the present dispatch the text in full of both the decree (inclosure 1) of the National Constituent Assembly and of the proclamation (inclosure 2,) and to submit briefly an observation or two upon these documents and the circumstances to which they have reference. The new constitution referred to in the decree is the one which the present Constituent Assembly is charged to make, and it will be, I think, the eighth one which Hayti has seen fit to adopt since she proclaimed her independence, somewhat less than seventy-one years ago; thus true is it that constitutions and laws become mere empty forms when they are too far removed from accord with the customs and aspirations of a people. It is thought that the presidential term will be fixed by the new constitution at seven years, and that the most difficult point to be determined by it will be that of defining clearly and well the relations which the executive and the legislature shall bear to each other and their respective spheres of action and authority. In the Constituent Assembly are several of the most distinguished, intelligent, and experienced men of the nation, although the opposition party, whether to their credit or otherwise, generally abstained from presenting themselves at the polls during the voting for members of that body. To a large committee of the assembly has been referred the important task of drawing up the instrument which is to be the fundamental law of the land. It is probable that they will finish that work within the present week, and that the assembly will close its labors sometime during the coming month of July. President Domingue's proclamation, (2,) which was really his inaugural address read on the occasion of his being sworn into office, and published throughout the country afterwards in the form of a proclamation, is in the original expressed with considerable precision and elegance of language, and breathes the spirit of patriotism, conciliation, good faith and a regard for the considerate opinions of others. I think it will be regarded as reflecting credit upon him, and that up to this point it quite justifies what is said of him in my No. 284, of the 23d of February last. The inaugural ceremonies took place on Sunday, the 14th instant. They were attended by an immense throng of citizens, foreigners and soldiery. After the President had taken the oath of office and pronounced his inaugural before the Constituent Assembly, an imposing procession was formed in the street fronting the Assembly building, the diplomatic and consular corps being assigned a station of honor. Through long lines of the military the procession marched to the Cathedral where what were probably intended to be suitable religious services were held; his grace the archbishop making to the President an address to which the latter offered no reply. These services were felt by all, I think, to be exceedingly tedious, especially as the weather on that day was fearfully hot. But they being ended, the line of march was again taken and directed to the national palace. The President here presented to the diplomatic and consular corps his compliments, which I as the dean of that body briefly acknowledged. In the evening there were displays of fireworks and illuminations. Throughout the day and evening the utmost good feeling seemed to prevail, and perfect order was every where observed. President Domingue, of whom I send herewith inclosed a small photographic portrait, upon the back of which he has put his autograph, is a man of pure African blood, about seventy-four years of age, he having been born amid the bloody scenes of the first revolution. Years, however, sit easily upon him. Even his gray hairs and a slight stoop in his shoulders are scarcely an indication of his more than three score years and ten. In stature he is a little under the usual height, not corpulent, but solidly, compactly built, is now and always has been a man of abstemious habits, and consequently of perfect health and vigor. He is always neat and careful, but never extravagant, in his dress. His toutensemble would, I think, strike a stranger favorably. Dignified and reserved, but after all affable in his manners, he never appears to be elated or depressed, or indeed changed at all, by any bodily condition or outward circumstance. French he speaks with ease and general correctness, though with his intimate friends he sometimes seems to prefer to drop into the easy and flexible creole; in all cases, however, seeming to weigh with care every word before he utters it. I have found him a |