Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-09
No. II.
PoRT-AU-PRINCF, Oct. 6, 1916. }
18th year of the


To the Commissioners Of his most Christian
MGesty to tie RepSbiic Of Hayti.
GENTLEMEN-We have, indeed, de
Tended the French flag with much brave
ry and with unbounded devotion In
doing so, we were very far from foresee-
ing what would be the conduct of these
who have forced US TO lay it aside; it is
without example in history that
epoch, the institutions, the manners, the
character, the advancementin knowledge,
the fruits of experience, the circumstan-
ces of the citizens OF this republic, have
made them new people. They had al
ready commenced their career, and meri-
relation TO foreigners, and by the glory Of
their arms, when peace was restored TO
Europe by the unanimous concurrence OF
the soyereigns, and it was determined,
that his most christian majesty should re-
ascend the throne of his ancestors
necessarily expected, that this great
epoch would also be that in which We
were about to appear, III our turn, before
the tribunal OF opinion on searching our
hearts, and Judging tavorably of men, UNI
der the happy relations of morality, JUS
tIce, philosophy, and enlightened rcli-
glon, we were not alarmed We had no.
thing with which TO reproach ourselves in
respect TO his most christian majesty
hIs character, known before the reyoln-
ton, hls moderate principles, his singular
misfOrtunes, those of his own family, a
struggle as long as it was cruel and san
culinary, the uncertainty of his fate, which
was only decided by slow and extraor-
binary events, our taclt association TO the
coniederacy that supported him, all led
us to think, that we would be particular
exception in the ideas of a wise politician
we also explained IN our favor the efforts
and the immortal success ola distinguish
Ell government, which had pointed out
the hldeous nature. and the contrariety
III the spirit OF christianity of the trade i'm
human beings and which had satisfac-
tory evidence obtained that the sugar and
coffee colonies could prosper without re-
course TO that shameful and barbarous
measure. Whatever was theweakness of
our, conceptions, then, we have seen
through the veil and the most simple
reasoning has explained TO us that fthere
were no slave-trade, there would be no
slaves. This plan is not yet realized
because 10 good thing can be effected
hastily and without reflection but the
means are preparing and are directed by
the wisdom OF men, the benetactOrs of the
human race, who are employed in 1t; it
will be accomplished.
What have we TO iear2 the malice Of our
enemies and our prosecutors of Obslin-
ate men, the real authors of their own mis-
fortunes, and whom nothing has been a
BILE TO correct; the difference OF our skin.
which, i'm the eyes Of the colonial system.
asslmIlateS us TO cattle: the prOyisO made
by his most christian majesty fO contin-
tie the slaye-trade for five years tue cIa-
mour OF tie former proprIetOrs of the
country - the writings, tiic inceudary
libelS issuing from the presses Of the king
dom, placed under tue eyes even of the
king himself very soon pointed oni 10 us.
how completely our happy presagcs had
vanished, aud We thought Oi nothing bat
| tOprepare ourselves for war, although de-
string peace, and TO furnish our ~. gazines
with arms and munitions of war, as IL we
were on the point of being invaded. We
were even permitted 10 believe, that our
cOnlectures were well founded, and that
an armament was preparing, when Ma
| poleon, for short tune, re-appeared In
| France.
In this interval, gen Dauxion I.avavsse
| arrived at jamaica, and assumed the cha-
ractcr OF commissioner OF the king. 4
writing, pub!shedundcr his influence. ap-
peared to be brand OF dscord hurled ioi
the purpose OF disuniting us, to separate
the chiefs from the family, OK the idinils
from the chiefs moderate slavery VA.
| uainfed in sDcciOus colours fbe ucOD;,