tional forms we would do them in truth a deal of good, and prevent many unjust atrocities. Those reports that I have received from northern parts indicate that peace and order reign; in fact, it seems that the depredations to persons and property on land and sea meet with more encouragement hereabouts than elsewhere on the island. The National Assembly of Constituents, considering that all free and independent countries have the right to close to foreign commerce one or several of its ports, decree: Article 1. The ports of St. Marc, Gonaïves, Port de Paix, and Cape Haytien are provisionally closed to outside commerce. Article 2. The right of changing ports granted to Grand Saline, Mole, and Fort Liberty are supressed. Article 3. The present decree shall be executed at the diligence of the counselor of the department of finances and commerce and that of foreign relations. Given at the palace of the National Assembly of Constituents at Port au Prince the 10th of December, 1888, eighty-fifth year of the independence. CLERIE, President of the Assembly. G. LABASTILLE, Secretaries. In the name of the Republic the chief of the executive power orders that the above decree of the National Assembly of Constituents be printed, published, and executed in the whole extent of the Republic. Given at the palace of the chief of the executive power at Port au Prince the 11th of December, 1888, eighty-fifth year of the independence. By the chief of the executive power: F. D. LÉGITIME. A. ROSSIGNOL, The Counselor of the Department of Finances and of Commerce. The Counselor of the Department of Foreign Relations. Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard. No. 237.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Yesterday afternoon it came to my knowledge that a crew under one Captain Williams were on board of the Atlas steam-ship Arran, which arrived in this harbor Tuesday, the 18th instant, and that there seemed to be something mysterious about such crew. Later I learned the crew were destined for the steamer Haytien Republic; that great secrecy was given to the matter; and through a gentleman that left New York for Kingston, Jamaica, with the above-named crew and transferred there with them to the Arran, I found out that it was by some scheme of Mr. Stephen Preston with the Atlas Steam-ship Company that this crew were sent here by special steamer from Kingston. From items picked up here and there it seems as if designs to recapture the vessel or to clandestinely take her from this harbor to New York; arrived there, place her in the custody of our courts. Imagining what Mr. Preston's sentiments regarding such steamer must be, and not knowing what means under cover the Atlas Company might consent to take against this rival company, and hearing it whispered that during the night such vessel was to be taken out of the harbor with the connivance of the authorities here, I deemed it necessary as a precautionary measure to take a hurriedly prepared dispatch to the counselor of foreign affairs. I transmit herein copy of such dispatch, that holds the authorities responsible absolutely in the premises. There was a plot of some kind, and from present indications, since it was frustrated to-day, I believe it will be fully exposed shortly. I have, etc., JOHN E. W. THOMPSON. [Inclosure in No. 237.1 Mr. Thompson to Mr. Margron. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: It has come to my hearing that a plan of some kind with designs on the American steamer Haytien Republic is on foot, and that something may occur to that vessel detrimental to her or to her owners or contrary to the decision of the United States Government pertaining to her; therefore I, John E. W. Thompson, minister resident of the United States of America, do by the present hold the Haytian authori ties responsible in the premises for any displacement or any damage or removal o such vessel from her present position in the harbor of Port au Prince until she has been duly delivered to the owner or owners thereof through this legation; and I hereby inform the Haytian department of foreign relations that I hold by the present document not only that they be responsible to the United States for damages in case of any wrong, but also pecuniarily responsible to any sum that the United States Government will request should such vessel be removed from her present moorings before as aforesaid properly delivered to the custody of this legation. I have, etc., JOHN E. W. THOMPSON. Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard. No. 239.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Received January 9, 1889.) SIR: Early on Thursday morning, the 20th instant, the two United States ships, Galena and Yantic, of the North Atlantic squadron, and under command of Rear-Admiral Luce, came into this port. The former anchored in the outer harbor, the latter ran alongside of the American steamer Haytien Republic in the inner harbor, and was prepared to tow out such steamer. Lieutenant Griffin came up to the legation, and I immediately, after reading my dispatches, went on board the Yantic, the rear-admiral being there. It was determined that I go to the palace and request the immediate surrender of the steamer Haytien Republic, and if they refuse to give her up, to demand her by 3 o'clock that aft ernoon. In company with Lieutenant Meigs I went to the palace. We met Mr. Margron, minister of foreign affairs, whom I requested to see alone. On explaining to him my mission he left us to consult with President Légitime. Returning, he said they refused to give up the ship without being forced so to do. Mr. Margron again left us to consult with President Légitime, and returned with the proposition to refer the case to the diplomatic body at Port au Prince. This I informed him as unworthy of a second thought after the prior decision of so high an authority, and further declined to talk in that manner on the subject, saying I was ready to meet the president and the ministers. General Légitime came in with his ministers, and after some discussion they decided to give up the steamer, but reserving all rights to place the matter in a court of admiralty in the United States for adjudication. Inclosure 1 is a translation of Mr. Margron's dispatch on the subject. They were not apparently satisfied with the decision rendered by the President of the United States, as shown in conversation during an official visit the 21st instant, and wished to appeal therefrom. They ap | peared to have an idea that in leaving the question to be decided upon by our Government that the Senate and House of Representatives, should have taken it up, and although it was explained to them, as Chief Magistrate, the President of the United States answered for the Government, and, as far as it was concerned, such decision was final, still they could not be convinced but that their case should be appealed. Referring to my dispatch No. 237, it has been ascertained that the crew that were brought here on the Atlas steamer Arran were here for the purpose of carrying the Haytien Republic to New York, there to place her case in our courts for decision. Regarding indemnity, Mr. Morse claimed $200,000 for the detention of the vessel and $150,000 for the officers, passengers, and crew, making a total of $350,000. In reply to this request, they appeared to understand from the decision that the question of indemnity was one for later investigation. The ship was towed out by the steamer Grande Riviére, one of Riviére's coasting-boats, and was duly handed over to Mr. B. C. Morse, the agent for the owners, by Rear-Admiral Luce, on Sunday, the 23d instant, as per copy of dispatch herein inclosed. I have had interviews on this question of indemnity, with a view of settling the case satisfactorily to the owners and without the delay that usually follows international claims when partially settled, but at present, owing to the amount of indemnity requested, I have been unable to do anything. If Mr. Morse will accept a compromise doubtless the af fair can be finished in a few days. If such a settlement by compromise was affected the owners of the vessel would escape further legal litigation which may entail expense in the future, as the authorities here would doubtless consider the affair finished. I have, etc., JOHN E. W. THOMPSON, [Inclosure 1 in No. 239. Translation.1 COUNCIL OF SECRETARIES OF STATE, Mr. MINISTER: On account of the relations of friendship that exist between the Republic of the United States and the Republic of Hayti, the Government decides to make to the admiral the remise of the merchant steamer Haytien Republic, which was captured in the waters of St. Marc. Nevertheless, the Government makes its reserves in what concerns the judiciary action to which it can have recourse before the Amer SIR: It gives me great pleasure to turn over to your keeping this day, in as good order as it was practicable to make her, the steamer Haytien Republic. Respectfully, S. B. LUCE, Rear-Admiral, U. S. Navy, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. No. 240.] Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, December 26, 1888. (Received January 9, 1889.) SIR: I have received to-day your No. 140, of the 13th instant, and in reply must acknowledge the oversight of not informing the Department of the notification at this legation, on the 30th of October last, that the ports of Jacmel and Port de Paix were decreed under blockade. Such decree never took effect at Jacmel, which remains, as are all the other ports on the southern coast of Hayti, viz, Miragoane, Petit Goane, Jeremie, Jacmel, and Aux Cayes, open to foreign trade. I have, etc., JOHN E. W. THOMPSON. Mr. Bayard to Mr. Thompson. No. 141.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your No. 237 of the 20th ultimo has been received, and I have pleasure in approving your prompt and energetic protest addressed to Mr. Margron on hearing of the arrival at Port au Prince of a crew destined for the steamer Haytien Republic and of a scheme to take the vessel out of Haytien jurisdiction and turn her over to a court in the United States or elsewhere. The departure of the crew in question from New York by a steamer of the Atlas Line was generally reported here a few days before the sailing of the Galena and Yantic, and while the proceedings in that city were surrounded by an air of mystery, much the same as at Port au Prince, it was intimated that the purpose was to tender the Haytien Republic to the Government of the United States, subject to a renewed proposal for adjudicating the legal status of the vessel. A more logical inference, however, was that the object in sending this crew to Port au Prince was to put them on board as a prize crew and carry the vessel into some neutral port and attempt to secure there a judicial decision recognizing her status as a lawful prize. It is probable that your latter dispatches will show the true character of the proceeding. There was, however, in the step so taken by Mr. Preston, or with his cognizance, enough to excite apprehension lest any delay in the arrival of our national vessels at Port au Prince might give an opportunity to carry it into effect and thus add complications to the case. Your protest of the 19th ultimo appears to have been most timely in preventing action on that day, and the arrival of the Galena and Yantic early the next morning ended that phase of the case by the prompt delivery of the Haytien Republic to her owners. I am, etc., T. F. BAYARD. No. 249. Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, Hayti, January 16, 1889. (Received January 30.) SIR: The U. S. S. Ossipee left this harbor 5.50 p. m., yesterday en route for Kingston, Jamaica, taking in tow the steamer Haytien Republic. The U. S. S. Galena steamed from here at 9 o'clock this evening, bound for Key West, Florida. I have, etc., JOHN E. W. THOMPSON. No. 156.] Mr. Bayard to Mr. Thompson. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 27, 1889. SIR Recent advices from Hayti, received from sources both official and unofficial, induce me to call your attention to the proclamations by General Légitime of a blockade of certain ports of Hayti, which blockade the evidence in the possession of this Department tends to show has never been continuously or effectively maintained, and has now been practically abandoned. A review of the evidence shows that the blockade of the ports of the Cape Haytien, Gonaïves, and St. Marc was decided upon October 15, 1888, and notified to you on the following day, and from that time on the authorities at Port au Prince have refused to clear vessels of the United States and vessels chartered by American citizens for those ports. With regard to Cape Haytien, it appears that the blockade was attempted to be established by a Haytian man-of-war, on October 28, no prior notice having been received by any of the residents of the town of the intention to establish such blockade. During the next twenty days a merely formal attempt at a blockade seems to have been kept up, a vessel remaining in the neighborhood of Cape Haytien and cruising between it and Fort Liberté, distant about 24 miles to the eastward. During this time the cruiser never remained off Cape Haytien at night, and eight sailing vessels entered the port. These facts were certified by the |