D o c . N o . 3G.
109
Although the law prohibiting all trade with the island of Saint Domin go has expired, and vessels are regularly cleared under the authority of the United States for the ports of that island ; yet, as the present existing rival P o w e r s are not recognized by our own Government, or by other na tions, as legitimate, the ordinary course of demanding and obtaining r e dress for wrongs seems to be impeded. If this consideration should become an obstacle to the usual mode of proceeding, your memoralists would respectfully suggest that the case here presented appears to afford just cause for granting letters of marque and reprisal; but, whatever measures the wisdom of the Government may dictate, your memoralists are fully persuaded, from their knowledge of the temper, Strength, and resouces of this chieftain, that the presence of a few frigates of the United States would be the means of obtaining indem nity for past injustice, and of securing the lawful commerce of the coun try from future violations. Confiding, however, fully in the disposition of the constituted authori ties of the country to protect the rights and interests of its own citizens, your memoralists respectfully leave the remedy for their wrongs, and the mode in which it is to be pursued, to their wisdom and e n e r g y . E z r a Davis John W . Quincy G e o . Burroughs, J r . Samuel Cooper J n o . Low, by his attorney W m . Matchette Jeremiah Stinson
To the President
Ezra Davis
of the United
Oliver Farwell Thomas Capin Benj. W . Lamb H e n r y Burroughs James Carter Stock & McKinstey A n d r e w C. Dorr.
States.
T h e undersigned memoralists, citizens of the United States, in behalf of themselves and others, respectfully r e p r e s e n t : T h a t , in the prosecution of their lawful concerns, they have sustained a pecuniary loss to a considerable amount, by the arrest, seizure, and actual confiscation of their property, by H e n r y Christophe, lately styled Presi dent, but now King of Hayti, as fully and particularly appears, and is e x emplified by the enclosed papers, marked A. B . and C . T h e printed paper, marked A , shows that American property was ar rested on the alleged ground that the Haytian chief's agents in Baltimore had defrauded him, and that ours was seized because the owners w e r e Americans and their property was in his power. T h e paper marked B shows the actual confiscation of our funds by the King of Hayti, by his requiring the resident merchants to pay therefrom $124,955 19 into his treasury. T h e enclosed affidavit of Mr. Abel Marple, marked C, proves that the papers A and B , above referred to, are authentic, and that, so far as the mercantile house of which he was a partner, w e r e concerned in the trans action, the order B was actually complied with, and there proportion paid into the treasury as required. W e also k n o w , and the fact is susceptible of proof, that all the par