The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-10-19
TRANSLATION.

Claims ofthc ancient Colonss of ST. Domingo
PARIS, "a Nag, 1896.
The Secretary in chief of the commission of
liquidation created by the ordinance of9 May, lS26
SIR: You have made so bencgolent use, for the
ancient colonsts of st. Domingo, refugees in the u
nited States of the letter which had the honour TO
write to you the 23d December, of last year, as
well as of the documents which had othciously en-
closed that think 1t my duty to express TO you my
individual thanks.
Now that the government has given me, in the IL
quotation OF the indemnity in favour of the colonsts,
an official character, hasten to address to your Ex
celoncy, three copies of the bulletin of Laws Nos.
80 and 81 they contain the law OF the Both April,
and the ordinance of its execution of the 9th of this
month, which fix the basis of the indemnity to be Ii
qudated in favour of the ancient proprietors, their
heirs assigns: as well the forms and the manner
IN which they must pursue their rights to the in
dennity.
Ipray your Excellehcy to give to these laws, the
publicity which the interest Of my countrymen re-
quires for it s important for them to know as soon
possible, that their previous declarations remOln IN
the bureaus of the commissions under the title OF doc
uments and that it is necessary:
lst. To form them hereafter with precision and
eructnesS conformity to the models annexed to the
ordinance of execution
ply. To choose domcil at Paris that those en-
poweredby them may give to, and obtain from, the
commission OF liquidation the information which may
be judged useful
3y. To produce, in consequence, all the letters
which they may have in support of their demands
only to take the precauton OF getting them recorded
in the consuates of their places of abode, If they
too distant from thence with other public officers
authorized by the law TO give authenticity TO similar
declarations.
The precaution of recording them seems demand
ed by the danger OF the loss of these titles from
cdcnts at sea, which cannot always be avoided, mp
on transmitting them to France.
After the msfortunes Of which the colony OF ST.
Domingo the theatre some notaries and many OF
the colonsts, dispersed through the States OF the u
ion, remained became trustees, voluntarily or BY
compuslon, of titles, papers or documents which O
ten interest their counrymen, who do not Know them
and who are thus rendered unable 10 make out the
proofs required by the law | could earnestly wish
for the sake of Justice and misfortune, that they
would not delay to deliver up titles of no to them
and which are become SO precious to their compan
ions in misfortune.
His EXcellency the Minister of France and the
consuls aud vice consuls might receive the charge OF
these titles, by retaining the analytic mark and
transmit them in original to the commission of liqu
daton through the office of foreign atfars and of the
marine.
BY this disposition, thus concerted, many of the
colonsts in absolute privaon of documents, will OBJ
tain an indemnity, which would escape them for
want of producing these titles forgotten, or lost to
them.
1t is owing to the interest which your exceIlency
has shewn in favour Of my countrymen, and the graf
itude which that interest inspires, that submit to
your cXcelency my idoas upon this point. You will
appreciate their motives end intention; your wisdom
will Judge better than !, the use which may be made
of them.
pray your excelency to accept the renewed as
surances and expression of the old and respectful
tachment with which have the honour to be, sir,
Your most humble and
most obcdient servant.
(Signed.) S. WANTE.