United States Vce-commercial Agent at Saint Marc to Bassett, March 21, 1872

Mr. Jastram to Mr. Bassett.

Sir: I have the honor to report to you that on the 20th instant I was called upon by a messenger from Madame Batraville, aîné, with whom I am in commercial relations, asking me to call at her residence without delay. I arrived immediately, and found her house surrounded by a military force, and asked to see said Madame Batraville, which was accorded. I went up stairs, and met there Mr. De Lande, Her Britannic Majesty’s vice-consul, in company with General Batraville, aîné, who addressed me these words, “See my position,” to which both Mr. De Lande and myself replied that we were not in a position to protect him. We then retired from the residence of the said Batraville, it being then business hours, and proceeded together to my office. Shortly after said Batraville, aîné, appeared before my store, and coming towards me entered my consular office, and claimed, in the name of humanity, protection of the American flag. Following the example of my predecessors and colleagues under the same circumstances, I accorded freely such protection as my consular office afforded. I must not omit to mention that another man, who, I believe, accompanied through the streets to my office the above-named refugee, and under whose protection it appeared to me he came there—since, if he was conducting Batraville to prison, it was unnecessary to come through my street—immediately thereafter claimed of me the surrender of the aforesaid refugee Batraville, aîné. This I refused to do without first communicating the facts to you and hearing your decision on the case. After repeated threats and menaces against my person and flag, I felt it my duty to insist that this man should leave my premises, threatening to treat him as a trespasser. He retired, but immediately returned in command of a file of soldiers, and after again demanding the surrender of the refugee, and my again refusing to sur-sender him, this armed mob forcibly entered my office, seized me with violence, and dragged me therefrom to and through the public streets, leveling at me their loaded rifles, without showing any order or authority for my arrest. I protested against these indignities on my person and flag, but it was of no avail. Mr. Lota, the French vice-consul, who was sent for by me, and who was proceeding to my office, met me in the undignified position above related. He expostulated, remonstrated, and protested against the indignities to which I had been and was still subjected, and it was only after my colleague actually rescued me from their hands that I was allowed under his protection to return to my consular office. On arriving there a letter was handed to me from the commandant of the department No. 39, which I inclose herewith, demanding—after he must have known of my own arrest—the surrender of Batraville, aîné I did not reply to this letter, because I was suffering from nervous excitement, caused by my ill treatment. Shortly after, the “assemblée générale “was beaten and all the citizens were under arms and surrounded my office. Then the secretary of state for justice called and requested me to surrender the above refugee. I replied to him as I had replied to others before him, that I did not feel authorized to deliver up a refugee without first communicating with and receiving instructions from your legation. Upon this refusal the secretary ordered the general of the arrondissement, then present, to search the premises and arrest the man, which, notwithstanding my formal protest, was successfully accomplished in true Haytian fashion by an unruly soldiery in pres-of the French vice-consul.

I must also inform you that, during the time the above facts occurred, my consular office was surrounded by armed men, and that the general of the arrondissement, after having made threats against the British and French vice-consuls and myself, ordered his soldiers to load arms and threatened to fire upon us. He was only prevented by General Mentor Nicolas, ex-commandant of the arrondissement, who told him that in acting thus he violated not only the laws of nations, but Haytian laws, and advised him to be more prudent. Immediately thereafter I forwarded to the commandant of the arrondissement a written protest against the violation of my premises by Haytian soldiers and insult to the flag.

These indignities decided me, Mr. Minister, to leave my post of duty immediately, to communicate with you, as it seemed to me that our flag cannot again float with honor until it be fully vindicated.

The French and British vice-consuls, who showed me much sympathy and attention, communicated the facts of my arrest and the violation of my consulate to their respective chargés d’affaires. The French vice-consul, Mr. Lota, had struck his flag on my departure from Saint Marc.

The archives are under seal, as also my place of business, being a commission merchant, and having American interests under my care.

I am, &c,