SANISAINE, Vice-President of the Committee, and ten others to William H. Seward, September 30, 1868

Mr. Sanisaine to Mr. Seward..

Committee of public safety of the district to his excellency the secretary of state for foreign affairs at Washington:

We have the honor to send you with this packet, copy of a protest which we have made known to the consul general of the United States at Port-au-Prince.

We expect justice from the great nation which is at the head of the civilization of the New World.

You will blame, no doubt, the unheard-of act which has been committed by a ship of war under the American flag, against a city of the republic, which by the ties which connect it with the great American nation, by the sympathies which exist between the two countries, has a right to its entire protection.

Your excellency will not allow the flag of the noble nation, your care of which is well known to all, to cover the misdeeds of General Salnave, who, notwinistanding the strongly expressed will of the majority of the Haytien people, tries by all means to keep in power.

We are your excellency’s very humble servants,