330 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



But the joint debate that was held on the sixth of March, came to 

 nothing, and a week later the Haytian Minister gave his definitive 

 answer to the original demands, stating that Ilis Majesty would 

 summon the Haytian Chambers to submit the proposition to them, 

 and would have the agents notified of their decision as soon as 

 possible.^') 



This was far from the categorial answer that the agents had de- 

 manded, but they were unable to do anything but fume over it. 

 Faustin had evidently seen that the Powers did not intend to make use 

 of force against him, and had realized that he could play for time with 

 impunity. The public threats failed to move him. The private 

 scoldings of Walsh, and his intimations that filibusters from the 

 United States might follow a refusal, had the same result. The 

 proposition of the Powers was referred in due form to the Haytian 

 Chambers when they convened on the 27th of March. ^^^ 



In the chambers went on for three weeks what Walsh called the 

 "solemn farce" of debating what the Emperor had already decided. 

 Early in April came a rumor that Faustin would send his own envoys 

 abroad and transfer the negotiations to foreign soil. Finally on the 

 19th came the definite answer rejecting both of the demands of the 

 allies.(^) 



The intervention was at an end. Walsh took passage on the 

 French war steamer Crocodile and went to San Domingo, whence he 

 shortly returned to the United States. The demands of the three 

 greatest powers in the world had been rejected by an insignificant 

 negro republic led by an illiterate negro military chieftain. The war 

 was not resumed, but the disgrace of yielding to their dictation was 

 avoided. As an extreme partisan of Hayti described it "vain men- 

 aces, vague threats, the blockade, and the solemn declarations of the 

 three great Dictators, fell like snowflakes on the sea."'*' 



(') Dufrere to Agrents. Mar. 11, 1851, Walsh, 25. 



(2) Walsh,2G. 



(3) Walsh to Webster. April 23. 1851, Walsh 34. 

 (*) Clark. Remarks, 25. 



