Salnave to By the President: N. Rigaud, August 15, 1868

Decree.

SYLVAIN SALNAVE, PRESIDENT OF HAYTI.

Whereas a few ambitious persons, regardless of the responsibility of causing disorder, pillage, arson, and other crimes in the state, have excited a rebellion and seized the two national war vessels, Sylvain and Liberté, to commit depredations at sea as they are doing on land, by using those vessels to rob innocent vessels, to their own advantage, and to the damage of general interests;

And, considering that it is necessary to make known the injury those vessels are doing to commerce, and to retake them as soon as possible;

Announcing that the laws punish piracy by death, and the law of nations sanctions every measure for the suppression of such crimes;

By the advice and counsel of our cabinet, we decree as follows:

Article 1. Let the vessels Sylvain and Liberté, now in the hands of the rebels, and used against the government of the republic, and in depredations on our coast, be seized wherever found, and punished as pirates.

Art. 2. Every armed vessel is authorized to attack and capture them as lawful prizes.

Art. 3. The present decree shall be published and promulgated by the secretary of state, and the minister of war and marine is charged with its execution.

Done at the national palace, in Port au Prince, this 11th day of August, 1868, in the sixty-fifth year of independence.