Mr. Peck to Mr. Seward
Sir: In a despatch, (No. 19,) dated February 23d, 1867, I informed you that a grave attempt to assassinate President Geffrard, and to overthrow this government, had been made in this city the night before, (February 22.)
I write this to bring the history of succeeding events down to date.
Convinced by what he saw on the night of the 22d—that the troops on whom he had relied for safety were utterly disloyal—the President at once set about using means which should calm the public mind and secure strength for himself.
These means were as follows:
I. A change, radical both as to men and principles, in the cabinet.
II. A radical and formally-announced change in the public policy—the following things, among many others, being promised by the change:
1. The correction of abuses in the collection of the customs.
2. Economy in the use of the public funds, as, for instance, a cutting down of the salary of the President from $40 000, with perquisites amounting to nearly $20,000 more, to $20,000 with no perquisites, and an honest submission of the budget to the chambers.
3. A reduction of the standing army by at least one-half.
4. The freedom of the press.
III. A general amnesty for all political offenders, only Delorme, Salnave, andSalomon being excepted.
But even these important measures failed to bring quiet. There was feverish excitement on all sides. The army gave alarming signs of growing and dangerous defection. It became clear that nothing short of the abdication of the President could bring peace and order, and there was great danger that a delay in the use of this last alternative would invite fearful anarchy.
The President at last seemed to comprehend “the situation,” and on Saturday last he issued an order for the convocation of the senate on Saturday next, and his friends did not hesitate to acknowledge that the first business presented to the senate when it should convene would be a resignation from him.
Even this final measure did not calm the public mind, and the peace of the city has been kept to this moment only by extraordinary military measures.
Meantime, insurrection has been breaking out in the north. Saint Marc was the first to revolt, and intelligence which has just come to hand shows that Gonaives, Escaobe, and other arrondissements have followed suit. The crisis is thus greatly and alarmingly aggravated.
If the President should quit the country to-day, the revolt in the north might, and probably would, at once expire. But if he remains even 24 hours, an obstinate standing-out of the north will be apt to follow, and then a permanent division may be entailed on the unhappy country.
In speaking of the departure of President Geffrard as I have done, I do not mean to say that that expected event will certainly bring permanent quiet. The social and political evils which are now in suppuration are too deep-seated and have too little to do with President Geffrard’s personal character and with his policy to be fully healed by his abdication. There is reason to fear that when, in a month or two, the people have got rid of President Geffrard, but have not got rid of their financial and other troubles, they will be more excited than they now are. Still, there are some things which are very encouraging. 1. The public mind is now better instructed than it ever was before as to the causes of the unhappy condition of the country; and, 2, out of this improved public knowledge of affairs has grown the excellent programme of the new ministry, the best programme on which a Haytien cabinet was ever organized.
[Page 306]3. The present cabinet is made up of the best men the country could furnish, and will be able (if any body of men would be able) to carry the republic over the frightful dangers of the transition period.
That these things do augur future good, and that they are so accepted by the public, is proved by the fact that the government currency is not depreciating, but rather improving in value, notwithstanding the events which are occurring.
But it is safe to say that Hayti is in a most critical condition.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.