HAYTI.

From the Boston Journal.

HAYTI.

MR. SLEEPER—Since the return of Mr. Hogan from his secret mission to St. Domingo, a strong disposition has been manifested to learn the real state of Hayti.

The Washington correspondents of several northern journals, with a view of gratifying curiosity, have drawn heavily upon what they represented to be the substance of his report. These communications have generally stated that a favorable arrangement for 'mutual benefit,' is nearly completed with the Eastern part of St. Domingo. One writer expresses surprise that Mr. Hogan should have found Hayti to contain a population of 190,000, including 130,000 whites.

His astonishment is certainly natural, for the population of Hayti is about 800,000—not 190,000—and Kendal green.

According to a census taken in 1825, the eastern division contained less than 65,000, all told : at this time, it is probably numbered 80,000, including 5 or 6,000 whites.

Another writer, in allusion to the question, luxuriates upon the idea of annexing the whole island. He considers it the most delightful country which the sun shines upon, which has for twenty-five years went out of cultivation, and descendants philosophically living upon plantains and wild cattle, from which he might wring out of its soil. But before we proceed to take possession of Hayti, it would be as well to consult the history of this country. It will be found in the pages of the checkered history of St. Domingo, and learn something of the relations which should exist between us.

Possibly nothing injurious may immediately grow out of an alliance between the Eastern section and a foreign power; but that an effort will be made hereafter to bring, with the views of the secret agent, there exists not a doubt.

The writer to whom we refer, (a Washington, perhaps, draw 'a shining robe for Greece,' but describe a cause not tinged with romance,) we dip our quill in ink of a darker color, and present briefly some of the peculiarities which mark this business, and which should be considered in any negotiations which have been circulated in relation to an independent government, and a harmless and afflicted people.

In the first place, there is no good reason for the opinion, that the Dominicans were originally annexed to the government of the French part—except their poverty. That they were conquered, beaten down, trampled upon, and crushed, is untrue; but the direct reverse of this was the case, as we shall attempt to show.

In 1821, at the time of Christophe's death, Boyer succeeded in uniting the whole island under the Haytians. At that period, the Spanish part of the island was independent, but its situation was very precarious. The success which attended the revolted provinces in South America was at its height; the privateers which thronged the waters of the Caribbean seas were continually plundering the Haytians; and as there was no naval force to protect them, there were many persons in that division of Hayti, who were desirous of placing it under the protection of the patriots of South America—but by far the greatest portion were desirous of continuing the existing state of things at the commencement of Boyer's government. After maturely reflecting upon the difficulties by which they were surrounded, the feeble government of the Spanish part sought protection from Hayti; and the Haytian President was formally solicited by them to grant his consent to the annexation of the Eastern part to the Republic of Hayti. The request was complied with, and the Eastern portion became a part and parcel of that Republic, as much so as Massachusetts now is of this Union. Thus it appears that the Dominicans entered the Haytian Government, voluntarily, if not gladly, but joyfully. Shortly after this, the French (with an overwhelming force in the harbor of Port au Prince) demanded an indemnity for the property sacrificed in the Revolution. The people of the country had 'supped full of horrors,' and Boyer, to prevent further bloodshed and destruction of property, agreed to the payment of 150,000,000 of francs; the independence of Hayti was then acknowledged by France and other European powers. A vigorous attempt was made to obtain a similar acknowledgement from the United States; but the advocates of slaveholders prevailed against it, and nothing was effected.

About three years since, Herard was elected President of the Island. This was the signal to the Spanish part for a separation from the legitimate Government, and they declared themselves independent of it. It does not appear that this movement was caused by the election of Herard, or from a conviction that his policy would be a bad one, for what his policy would be was not known. It cannot, however, be denied, that Mr. Boyer's later or his worst acts were consequent upon the rebel movement in the Spanish part; for it is maintained by many that Herard's impolitic course was the great cause of discontent. If it were so, it may be asked why Herard, and Boyer, and all others who have been in power, have been unable to induce the Dominicans to return to their allegiance?

About two years since, agents were despatched from St. Domingo to the United States to ask for some support. The application was coldly received by Mr. Tyler; but Mr. Calhoun, under the influence by which he was surrounded, was somewhat more remarkable. After the death of Mr. Upshur, the application was renewed, and the representative of the Spanish part found a kindred spirit in Mr. Calhoun, the secretary of state. The latter gentleman has attained the distinguished honor of sending a secret agent to a country with which we are on terms of peace, to ascertain whether the dissolution of an Union, constituted under such circumstances, and where the proportion to nine-tenths of its inhabitants, was an act which this Government ought to encourage, in order to give a small fraction of the population, to maintain their rights even in their own country, if indeed they were possessed of any right whatever. To be sure, we are told of the advantages to be derived by this country from the French part of the island, if we acknowledge her independence—but who believes that a fleet of French vessels, sent by a government in this movement? The commerce of our country in his long had little of its care—had it been otherwise, millions of dollars might have been saved in our trade by making the slight concession to the Haytians, which have been so often recommended by the administration of General Jackson. It is notorious that for the last twenty-four years, goods imported into Hayti in American vessels have been subject to and have actually paid an extra duty of ten per cent, beyond that charged by vessels of other nations. The interest of the country has been sacrificed to the real or fancied interests of our Southern brethren. 'Aristocratic England' could extend protection to the Spanish part of St. Domingo, encompass an immense trade, which naturally belonged to us—but 'Democratic America' for 'a peculiar institution,' to which the commerce of the country was made subservient. Does any one imagine the prospect of future business with eighty thousand Dominicans induced the secret mission? Why, an untrammeled trade with one million of Haytians, under a regular government, had not been deemed worthy of the slightest consideration. But we are told that the Haytians are cruel, blood-thirsty and barbarous—Christophe is held up as an evidence of the fact. It is true that the black chief was a great ruffian—so was Napoleon, in about the same way; the former, however, merely directed the avenue to his citadel with blood, to perpetuate his rule in his own country, whilst the latter waded through seas of slaughter to subjugate other nations. Napoleon was of course the most popular man, for it is a great and philanthropic truth that

'One murder makes a villain—

Millions a hero.'

The Haytians universally hold in utter detestation the memory of Christophe, whilst the refined French almost forget Napoleon in the remembrance of the past.

The successor of Christophe, as has been stated, was Boyer, the first President of the Island. It does seem to us to have required a degree of stupid anomaly, to speak of the Government of the Island. The truth is, that during his administration of twenty years, there was less taking of responsibility on the part of the Executive, fewer executions of criminals, less plundering of the treasury, and a more steady adherence to standard principles, than in any other country during the same period. Why, then, it may be asked, has not the island prospered in a higher degree? Why is not the French indemnity paid entirely? Let it be remembered, that the island was forced to pay millions to France, to meet its obligation to the French honorably. They did not repudiate as some states of the Union, the debt was contracted; but, since that period, the produce of Hayti has fallen off, it is said, one or two-thirds. Moreover, the losses, (both public and private,) by fires in the principal towns, have been immense. In Port au Prince, the late fires almost destroyed it, and completely destroyed the Cape, and if the whole island had been taxed to its utmost, it could not all have been avoided. The President might, perhaps, have avoided many of the evils brought upon the island, and preserved the finances, but he could not prevent the late fire.

On the score of indolence, the Haytians may be justly chargeable, but in no greater degree than the inhabitants of other tropical countries. If we look within the tropics, amongst the children of the sun, whether in Mexico, South America, or the East, and the Soolooan. It is very true that the capabilities of Hayti have not been developed, but if the resources of such countries are never fully developed except by foreign labor, why should we expect the Carolinians 'wring' from their swamps with their own hands?

There are, however, other, and more important attributes of the people, in the interior, (who have been represented as living on wild cattle,) which might safely be affirmed that the peasantry of the Island, (for the lower classes are peasantry) compare favorably with the cultivators of any country, for mildness, order, and quietness. They have not had the opportunities, however, for religious and moral teaching have been slender—circumstances beyond their control.

But our missionaries have gladened nearly every benighted spot,

'It is Greenland's icy mountains

To India's coral strand.'

But it is a melancholy fact that Hayti has been neglected by all. No less than seven missions at one time have been permitted to grope in comparative darkness. How far this neglect is to be attributed to the contemptuous tone of our Government towards them... we leave to those who are familiar with American missionaries.

If a missionary had been sent to Hayti, a disposition on the part of the United States to aid the Dominicans would lead to difficulty. Not only would such an act be wrong in itself, but on the miserable score of policy, it would provoke perversity and be dangerous in the extreme. It is well known that there has long existed a prejudice in the minds of the Haytians, and that the most liberal intention on the part of the United States would be lately been greeted with him, with the kindest expressions of good will. France will not allow us to interfere, and any attempt to do so, under an ill-timed, impertinent interference with another power, would subject us to a severe rebuke for our pains. A difference with the French, however, would be preferred to an alliance with the South, which would attach itself to the neck of a great portion of our citizens, to protect a very insignificant portion of its territory.

B. C. C.