The joy in Hayti was reported by Seth Webb, Jr., our Commercial Agent at Port-au-Prince.
“We all admire the way you steered the recognition through the Senate, and can only hope for as good a pilot in the House.
“The news of the passage of the Recognition Bill through the Senate was received here about the same time with that of the taking of Yorktown and Williamsburg, and diffused real joy among all classes. The American residents illuminated their houses, and had a good time generally.
“Your speech on the passage of the Recognition Bill attracts great attention here, and, when printed in full, will be extensively read.”[289]
Hon. Benjamin C. Clark, an eminent merchant, acting as Consul of Hayti at Boston, wrote with the feelings of an American citizen, as well as of a Haytien representative.
“The passage of the bill under your thorough exposition of the subject will be a big white stone in our pathway as a nation, and a gravestone to the vampires and Vandals who have left nothing by the wayside but works of treason leading to bloodshed and desolation.”
The feelings of the Haytien people were communicated by the following letter.
“Consulate of Hayti, New York, 26 April, 1862.
“Sir,—I have the honor to express my high appreciation of the important services you have so untiringly rendered to Hayti, for which you receive the gratitude of all liberal and benevolent persons who desire justice and political equality accorded to all men, and especially, in the present instance, to a people who, under many embarrassments, have nobly maintained their position, and are daily advancing in intellectual culture and in the refinements of civilized life.…
“My despatches announcing the recognition were forwarded yesterday by a vessel sailing directly for the Bay of Port-au-Prince, and duplicates of my despatches will be sent on Monday by a fast vessel for Port-au-Prince.