No. 351.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to
Mr. Langston.
Department
of State,
Washington, February 13,
1885.
No. 331.]
Sir: I herewith transmit for your information a
copy of a communication* from Mr. E.
D. Bassett, of the 13th ultimo, in regard to the case of Mr. C. A. Van
Bokkelen; also one from Mr. C. A. Van Bokkelen himself, of the 18th of
December last, in the matter.
I have stated to Mr. Bassett that although I bad given his letter attentive
perusal, I was disinclined to transfer to Washington a discussion of the
merits of Mr. Van Bokkelen’s case, and that your action in his behalf to
secure for him impartial treatment had received the Department’s
approval.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 331.]
Mr. C. A. Van
Bokkelen to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Port-au-Prince Prison,
December 18, 1884.
Mr. Secretary: The persistent refusal of the
Government of Hayti to grant my release on rights accorded by the treaty
and demanded by the Hon. J. M. Langston in the name of the United
States, and as against the rules of all civilized nations, will make me
liable at any moment to be thrown back into prison and probable death,
unless Mr. Langston is sustained by the Department in his demand that
the Articles 6 and 9 fully accord me the simple right of liberty of my
person, not a discharge from indebtedness.
My only resource will be to fly the country and seek justice on my native
soil, being obliged to abandon my interest here, all on account of my
nationality, which can clearly be proved to amount to thousands of
dollars in landed property and cash accounts. Even now being on the
ground and unable to have justice, what would my absence be? I have
already suffered; my credit and business ruined (also my health), which
cannot be paid by $100,000 and to which our minister here can
testify.
[Page 495]
I again ask that the Department inform me, by first occasion what its
intentions are in regard to having justice done me, that I may put my
life in security before the present administration leaves office; that I
may be in a position to continue to try and have justice done me.
I am, &c.,
