328 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



foreign protection. Baez, his rival, was favoring an annexation to 

 France/') To prevent this latter action and to save the republic 

 became the policy of the American agent. And the policy was suc- 

 cessful even after Baez had forced San tana out of the government and 

 taken his place. 



As a southern man, Green sympathized with San Domingo in 

 the struggle. The real question, he wrote home on 24th October, is 

 whether black or white shall rule.(^) And he thought that if a 

 recognition by the United States would help the feeble white repub- 

 lic, that that recognition should be promptly extended. The admin- 

 istration, while it felt that no maritime state should command the 

 Isthmus, (^) felt also as Green did, and was ready to take reasonable 

 steps to check the power of Faustin. It had opposed a foreign pro- 

 tectorate, but when, in February, 1850, San Domingo asked the 

 three powers to intervene jointly in her behalf^*) Clayton did not 

 long withhold his consent. Upon the return of Mr. Green, he re- 

 plied, for the commission of the agent was about to expire, his corres- 

 pondence and the name of a charge d affaires would be submitted to 

 the Senate, and '• if the nomination should be confirmed, the Presi- 

 dent would be prepared to co-operate with the governments of Eng- 

 land and France."^^) 



With the understanding that the United States would co-operate 

 in the work, the British consul was instructed, late in the fall of 

 1850, to act with the French charge and the United States charge to 

 San Domingo. The war was to be stopped. The Emperor was to 

 be " menaced " by the agents with any punishment up to a blockade. 

 Beyond this point the intervening powers were not yet ready to go. (•*' 



But the death of General Taylor in July, 1850, changed the 

 complexion of the administration, and Daniel Webster the new. 

 Secretary of State, was not so sure as Clayton had been that the time 



(•) Britannicua, 29. 



(2) Green, 11. 



(3) Taylor's 1st Annual Measaee. Richardson, Messages, V, 16. 

 (*) Green, 16. 19; Feb. 22, 1850. 



(5) Senate Executive Document, Vo. 113, Thirty-Second Congress, First Session. Quoted as 



WaUh. Clayton to Bulwer. May 20, 1850. 

 (*) Instructions to T. N. Usher, December, 1850, Walsh, 8. 



