1874, May 9–21: (Nissage Stands Down: Domingue’s Army and the Transfer of Power): As Nissage’s term neared expiration, the underlying question — masked by pa…

1874, May 9–21: (Nissage Stands Down: Domingue’s Army and the Transfer of Power): As Nissage’s term neared expiration, the underlying question — masked by parliamentary jousting — was simple: who would be the next president? Nissage was committed to Michel Domingue, while the Liberal majority in the legislature wanted Momplaisir Pierre, candidate of Boyer-Bazelais, and waiting in the wings in Jamaica was Salomon, denied passport but a formidable candidate of great power and influence. In February 1874, Bassett reported that Nissage had set his cap at staying on past his constitutional term of May 15, observing that it did not appear to run in Haitian blood voluntarily to renounce authority once obtained. On May 9, Domingue rode uninvited into Port-au-Prince from the South at the head of a large escort, producing the greatest consternation, but the National Palace remained silent. On May 12, with three days remaining, a committee headed by Thomas Madiou waited on the aging president — Nissage at first refused to listen and conducted himself so boisterously that all were about to retire except Madiou, who with perfect self-command insisted on fulfilling his mission, telling the president he must retire at the end of his term. Facing facts and mindful of Domingue’s army, Nissage appointed Domingue commander-in-chief and submitted his immediate resignation, bypassing the legislature. On the afternoon of May 21, looking much worn and haggard, Nissage left the National Palace accompanied by citizens, marched arm in arm with Domingue through long lines of military, and at the seaboard took affectionate leave before embarking for St. Marc aboard a Haitian war steamer — a voluntary retirement that, as Bassett noted, had never before transpired in the history of Haiti.