Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 8, 1885

No. 350.

Mr. Langston to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Legation of the United States,
Port-au-Prince, Hayti, February 4, 1885. (Received Feb. 23.)

No. 712.]

Sir: I have the honor to advise you that, after no little amount of corresponding, and several protracted conferences with the President himself and the secretary of state of foreign relations, with regard thereto, the claims of Mr. Mossell for injuries to himself and wife, and of Mr. Garrido for maltreatment, on the 22d and 23d days of September, 1883, in this city, were settled in an amicable adjustment on the 3d instant.

For Mr. Mossell I accepted, after full explanation from and to him, to his entire satisfaction, as his letter, a copy of which herewith inclosed will show, the sum of $10,000 in American gold, or its equivalent, which I have received and paid to him upon his receipt, which is on file in this legation.

For Mr. Garrido I have accepted in settlement of his claim the sum of $2,000 in American gold, or its equivalent, which has been paid me, whereof I shall notify Mr. Garrido, and upon his demand at once pay him the money, placing his receipt therefor upon file.

I have the honor also to report that I am pressing the adjustment of all the claims for the property of American citizens destroyed on the days of September, 1883, mentioned, with the prospect now of their early settlement.

I am persuaded that you will approve my action, in connection with the reclamations already settled, when I advise you that so far in my entire conduct, while I have in no wise given the least offense by my persistent and positive presentation of the demands of our citizens, I have promoted our influence with the Government and the community.

I am, &c.,

JOHN MERCER LANGSTON.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 712.]

Mr. Mossell to Mr. Langston.

Port-au-Prince, Hayti,
February 4, 1885.

Dear Sir: We tender you our thanks for the manner in which you have presented, managed, and settled our claim against the Haytian Government, founded on abuses perpetrated upon myself and family 23d September, 1883, by officers and soldiers of the Haytian Government.

Mr. Minister, the results, which are accomplished facts, are entirely satisfactory. We have been thoroughly vindicated by our Government, and in view of the facts so ably and truthfully presented by you, the Haytian Government, after making willing confession of wrong doing, paid an indemnity of $10,000 in gold, which amount we have received.

According to our notion the settlement includes both a fair transaction and moral triumph, the far-reaching consequences of which cannot be estimated by dollars any more than the outrages perpetrated upon myself and family can be paid in dollars.

We have been able to note already some of the moral effects of the settlement, c’est à dire, our Christian influence has been augmented, our sphere of usefulness enlarged, and we have been placed on good and easy terms with his excellency, the President of Hayti, and the authorities of the Republic.

Mr. Minister, in closing this letter we beg to assure you of our thanks, our sympathies, and our congratulations; and we are happy in the opinion that; our Government, in whose interest you have so assiduously and successfully labored, will graciously accord you its most distinguished approval.

Yours, &c.,

C. W. MOSSELL.