Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-08

V" SaP'aih Rogers snip corId scarcely
:, understand him, for he seemed to speak
e his words by halves. Hsdied in 1928
mate OF his majesty's ship Weymouth.
! he bequeathed his property, which
was considerable, to female friend
{, near Plymouth, whom he had married.
He had no manuscripts. The story,
, therefore, of his having been defrauded
OF them by De Foe, is untrue.
Il This island was unknown in history
until the discovery of COLUMBUS in
1892, and on it he established the first
European settlement in America,
small colony Of about 80 Spaniards.
The original population was estimated
at 100000, which were, by the ava
rice and cruelty of the Spaniards, in
less than century almost extermina-
ted. The whole number Of Indians,
in l5l7, did not exceed $4,000 and by
the middle OF the same century scarce.
ly $50 could be enumerated. The first
efforts Of the Negroes, (who were
brought to the island in 1895 to work
on sugar plantations, towards liberia
ton from slavery, were made in the
French colony, 1896, which deluged a
part OF the northern province in blood.
The national assembly in 1892 pro-
Claimed the political equality of whites
and free people of color, in the year fol-
lowing the French commissioners de.
creed the emancipation Of all the slaves
in the colony. Macaye, a negro chief
with an army Of 5000 insurgents, COM
menced an indiscriminate slaughter at
Cape Francois, sacked the city and re-
duced half Of it to ashes. Rigaud,
mulatto, and Toussant L Overture, the
first commanders of the blacks after the
massacre and expedition fitted out from
Jamaica, took immediate possession of
the towns, which the English had de-
serted and also kept possession Of all
the northern provinces. except the
Mole and Fort Dauphin. The English
abandoned their Designs upon the l.
sland in 1898, and on July LIST, 1901, the
Negroes declared themselves free and
t Geul Leelerc, bro.heFlhill llssw to Napo-
leon Buonaparte, arrived at oamaha' q.
the head of the most numerous and ei-
fective army which ever crossed inc
Atlantic. The expedition failed, and,
so great was the destruction ofthe Oh
fcers and soldiers, from the contagioh
of the climate and the constant harras-
sing Of the blacks, that the greater part
Of them persisted. On the ARRIVAL
ofLeclerc, Christophe, afterwards King
Henry made a'vigorous resistance, but
on being forced to retire, he set hre TO
the town and then joined Toussant with
an army Of 5000 men. The latter was
taAen by the treacherous Leelerc ana
carried to France, where he died-Des-
salines was then invested with the gov
crnment, and he soon Obliged the
French to eyacuate the island, but was
killed in conspiracy not long alter
wards. On the demise Of Dessailnes,
Christophe was proclaimed President
and COMMANDMENT. Chief, and Petlon,
the second in authority, was appointed
to the command in the South. They
| soon became jealous ofeach other, and
quarrel ensued. Potion fixed his sta
ton on the south side Of the island, with
party consisting chiefly Of muis!tos,
and gave direction to the Republican
party, which was opposed to Chris
tophe. Potion, although beaten, was
never entirely defeated. In 1911, ne
collected force enough to regain his
former station in the South and estao-
| lish himself as an independent Prince
of Port.au-Prince. On the restoration
of the Bourbons to the throne OF France
measures were taken to regain posses.
sion of the colony. Private agents and
public ENJOYS were sent to ascertain
the feelings Of the people, but they soon
found that the popular sentiment
would not recognize the authority OF
France, upon any terms OF SUBMISSION
Preparatory measures were then adop'
ted 10 repel any hostile incursions that
should be attempted by their enemies:
The plan failed entirely on the return OF
Buonaparte in 1915. On the death ci
Potion, an attempt was made to unite
the two parties, but il was unsuccess'
full. The inhabitants Of the South pro-
ceeded to elect Boyer for their Presl-
dent, who Immediately engaged in the
work of perfecting the wise plans OF
his predecessors. and in amelioratlng
and improving the condition OF hispeo
pie. Emigration to the Republic was
encouraged by him, with a promise oil
peace and safety, and the full partieipa-
/ ton of all the privileges of the natives.
In 1920, King Henry was killed in a
general insurrection among his slaves,
Boyer took immediate possession OF
his late capital and thus acquired the
entire command Of the Island.
Better to bear theills we feel, thanHy
\ 20 othars that we know not OF.