Madison E. Hollister to Delorme, May 6, 1868

Mr Hollister to Mr. Delorme.

Sir: I have the honor to represent that, according to my instructions, I have observed the most strict neutrality in regard to all political matters in this country. It is true that from what I had heard of the valor of the President, and of his struggles in the field, I came here inspired with great admiration for him, and prayed for his success. I had a further motive to desire such success from the fact that he had associated with him at the head of affairs a gentleman not unknown in Europe or America as a writer, scholar, and civilian, worthy to represent the sentiments expressed in that noble essay which you sent me a few days ago. I have looked forward from day to day, hoping to find an end to the disturbances in the streets of this city; but I have looked in vain. Things kept growing worse and worse. Only a few days before the return of the President a young girl was horribly mutilated in the street, and after that other outrages followed of a worse character.

When the chief arrived I expected, of course, a demonstration, and it passed off quietly.

Yesterday morning the representatives of the four great powers, the United States, England, France, and Spain, waited on you by your special appointment, and received such representations as to the protection of the rights of our respective nations, and of the citizens generally, as made us well assured of the future. I left the office of legation and went to my country seat with perfect confidence that all would be well. Still, I had observed a large number of soldiers walking about the city during the day in a lawless manner, many of whom were intoxicated. They were armed, and I am informed that ammunition was dealt out to them yesterday by the government in quantities sufficient to enable them, if they chose, to commit the outrages which followed.

About 8 o’clock in the evening a mob of soldiers gathered at the quay, and a musket was fired, and after that, others. At this time the presence of a single policeman or officer of the guard could have put an end to the disorder. So far as I know, not a single refugee has escaped from the asylum that he had chosen, although we had a right, under the arrangement made with you yesterday, to turn them all loose in the street at any moment.

It was at the will of your government to put an end to the disturbances in ten minutes. Yet this mob of intoxicated soldiers was allowed to have full range of the city for about two hours. During this time the most brutal excesses were committed— excesses not to be tolerated by civilized nations. Stores and warehouses were broken into and robbed. The sanctities of home were violated, and men were shot defending their property. There is now under my roof a respectable merchant, a native of Virginia, suffering from the agonies caused by a wound which he received defending his own dwelling. I refer to Mr. Hepburn, one of your oldest and most enterprising citizens.

The house of Mrs. Hamilton was assailed, and one bullet, at least, passed through her bedroom and near her bed. Several other houses and stores were broken open and robbed, under cries of “Viva Salnave.” In some of the houses thus entered, little children were taken from their beds and thrown upon the floor, and the pillows upon which they had slept carried off by the robbers.

Not even national flags were respected. As this armed rabble passed the house of Mr. Hubbard, consul for Brazil and Bremen, and an American citizen, they saw his flags flying, and cried out, “You may hang out your flags, and we will trample them under our feet.” Not even my own house of legation was respected. The soldiers stopped in front of it; one of them struck the gate with his sword, and another with some other weapon. It was proposed to fire on it, and I have reason to believe that this violence would have been done had not some one in the crowd called out to them to forbear.

They did fire off a volley near the back gate, but not at the house. Of course, in this condition of things, all business here is at an end. Many parties are taking refuge on shipboard, or fleeing into the country. Now, sir, with all kindness, but with all frankness, permit me to say that these violences must not be repeated.

If national flags have ceased to be the symbol of safe citizenship and free commerce, guaranteed by treaty, it must be understood that there is a nationality behind every flag. As regards myself I have no fears. It is for the citizens of the United States that I speak. If the city is constantly embroiled in this way, no matter whether the houses or stores of American citizens are invaded, still their business is ruined. If the goods of Haytien merchants are burned or stolen, who are debtors to the Americans, the parties who are robbed are not Haytiens but Americans. This is a small city of about thirty thousand inhabitants, the seat of authority, and having within its limits a large military force. A little care would have prevented all this crime and destruction of life and property.

I know you are in a state of war, but this makes it all the easier, armed as you are, to keep up a police adequate to the demands of the hour. Anticipating evil on my arrival here, I wrote for two or three ships of war to defend the rights of the citizens of the United States in the ports of this country. I expect one here soon. If the authorities cannot keep the peace here, so that persons under my charge shall be safe, I will undertake to do it, and have no fear but that I shall succeed.

The claim that the mob of last evening resulted from the opening of the prison cannot be sustained. Nor did it grow out of the escape of refugees from my house. Not a single refugee has left the shelter of the legation.

The house is filled with defenseless women and children, and the few men who came have remained. As to the receiving of refugees in the exceptional way practiced in this country, you know it is not for the benefit of the United States, but grows out of the unsettled condition of affairs in this country. Haytiens of all parties and factions have always received the benefit of it—we only the trouble and blame.

I shall forward a copy of this communication to the Secretary of State for the United States, and beg an early answer.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your obedient servant,