Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-27
TRANsLATIoS.
CLAIMS OF ANCIENT COLONISTS OF ST. DO.
MINGO.


MINGO.
Mr.. S. Uante TO Mr. Br0,Cn.
PANS, 23d December, 1925.
The President of the Board created for the execution
of the Royal Ordinance Of LIST September, 1925
SIR: Although am not, a, present, in an
official character, to reply to the inquiries
which form the object Of the letter which you
did me the honor to address 10 me on the Goth
Of this month, / think, in the latitude OF the
duties which have undertaken, that l can sa-
tisfy them; nevertheless, your Excellency will
attribute to the effects of my zeal, the degree
of confidence which my motives alone deserve.
The Board of provisional instructions, with
the direction of which the Minister has en-
trusted me, has not until now required; accord
ing to the intimation which you may have OBJ
served in the Moniteur Of 5th September,
published under the authority Of the Commits
sion, created by the Royal Ordinance OF the
st Of the same month-the Board, say, has
only required of the ancient colonists claiming
indemnity, previous declaration, the forms OF
which have been regulated by this commission;
at present that is the information necessary for
the preservation of the rights of the colonists
to their country and city property. The COM
mission has also authorized me TO receive de-
clarations of individual property, that is, OF
slaves attached to the manufactures OF art or
industry-to the trades OF carpenters, joiners,
masons, carriers, sailors, boatmen, in Short TO
professions which have no direct relation to ag-
riculture These, sir, are the three distinctions
of property which throw light upon the right
to the indemnity. Ii may not be without use
to observe, that every indication relative TO loss
es of movable property, in whatsoever con-
sisting, would be useless and without effect.
In case your Excellency should Judge it use
full to send to the United States the forms of
these declarations, have the honor of sending
to you fifty copies for country property, and
twenty five for city property. AS to the indlvl-
dual declarations, the form has not yet been
agreed upon; it is sufficient that the proprietor
designate by their names, if possible, but at
least by their number, with absolute precision,
by their trade or profession, the slaves which he
possessed in 1889, or 1890, and that he give
exact information Of the time Of his departure
from the Colony.
To the various questions contained in the
uote which you addressed TO me, the answers,
which think can furnish; without pretend
ing to give them an official character, are as
follows:
lst. presume that the ancient colonists of
ST. Domingo, who have not renowned their
quality OF SUBJECTS OF the government OF
France, will be admitted to claim indemni6ca-
ton for the property which they prove either
to have been in their possession, or to which
they prove their right, in the direct line, as
cending or descending.
I'd. In the absence of titles or proofs of pro-
pcrty in possession of claimants, those who pre-
tend to have eventual rights therein ought to
wait till the law, which will be proposed by the
Government TO the Chambers, determine the
means of supplying the loss of said titles,b
particular acts, by inquests, or by other means.
Sd The proofs of identity of claimants might
as appears to me, be obtained by declarations,
judicial attestations, and afidavits, which, to
avoid expense, may be received by the Consuls
Of the French Government in the different ports
of the United States.
4th' In case of the death of the colonial pro-
prietor or Of the claimant, the heir direct will