Mr. Fish to Mr. Bassett
Sir: Your dispatch No. 64, of the 25th ultimo, has been received. The assurances offered to you by the Haytian government as to its disposition to keep wholly neutral in the contest between the Dominican parties, severally headed by Baez and Cabral, do not seem to be expressed in a way to inspire perfect confidence in their sincerity. If it be borne in mind that, for a considerable period, both the Spanish and French parts of the island of San Domingo were under the sole dominion of Hayti, that it has been the policy of that government not only to oppose the independence of the Spanish part of the island, but to prevent its occupation by a foreign power, the difficulty of lending entire credence to any assurances which that government may give as to its indisposition to interfere in Dominican affairs will be apparent. The protest of the Haytiens against the recent attempt of Spain to regain her foot-hold in that island is fresh in the recollection of the public.
* * * * * *
It may easily be understood that the Haytiens, being mostly descended [Page 567] from those of African extraction, who, once held in slavery, won their freedom and independence by expelling their former masters, should be reluctant to allow any nation tolerating slavery to acquire dominion in San Domingo. This feeling should not now, however, include the United States, especially in view of the fact that the equality of races here before the law is signally exemplified in the person of our diplomatic representative accredited to them.
I am, &c.,