Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-30

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vengeance upon each other, called in the ald Of
their respective slaves And as 10 the insur-
gent negroes of the north who hlled that part
of the island so often with terror and dlsmay'
II appears. according TO Maleniaut, that they
were originally set In motion under the auspices
offhs youniisfs then slaves, to strengthen their
own cause and to put doWn the parhzdns 81 me
French yeuolution."
Il appears, therefore, that the emanclpated
blacks conducted themselves with degree Of
moderation and propriety that could not have
been expected under circumstances so exceed
ingly unfa,o rable, and it becomes subject oil
interesting enquiry what we're the means MADE
use of 10 attain so desirable an end. we are
informed by the work before US, that The COM
-missioners Immediately after issuing The decree,
ssdrew up short code Of rules TO be observed
upon the plan,ations,'' which were published
and ordered 10 be read to the negroes upon eve
nv estate at particular hour once week.
".rhe preamble 10 these regulations insisted
upon the necessity Of working, without which
every thing would 60 to ruin" Among the
articles. the most worthy OF our notice were
that the laborers were TO be obliged TO hire them
selves to their masters for mol less than gear, a!
the end OF which (Sepiember), bm mol before,
they might quit their service and engage WIN
others; and that they were TO receive h'rd
mart of the produce Of the estate as reward
for their labor" These two were fundamental
articles. AS to the minor, they were not alike
upon every estate. This code OF the commis-
sioners subsis,ed for about three years."
When roussant came into power, he modi-
fed this code, or adopted "a new one upon SINH
lar principles. "IIe thought It unwise to allow
the laborers, in the infancy of their liberty, 10
get notions of change and rambling at the end
of every year. He ordained, therefore, that they
should be attached TO the plantations, and made,
though free-laborers, sort of adscripH gie6a Tor
FIVE years.
But he took away from the masters all power
Of arbitrary punishment, and ordered that all
laborers not fulfilling their contracts, or offend
ing against the plantation laws, should be tried
by magistrate, and punished by civil officer.
And every master offending against these laws
was to be summoned, on complaint by labor
er. before magistrate, who was to examine in
to the case, and act accordingly.
He also changed the rate of compensation 10
the laborer, thinking that one third was too
much, when another third was claimed by the
government. He, therefore, ordered one fourth
TO the laborer, who clothed and maintained him
self; where he, did not do this, his master was
to make deduction for board and clothing.
"The above" says our author, "is all have
been able to collect Of the code Of Toussant,
which, under his auspices, had the surprising
effect Of preserving tranqu iity and order, and
Of keeping up spirit Of industry on the plan
tations Of st Domingo, at time when only an
archy and idleness were to have been expected.
III was in force when Leclerc arrived with his
invading army, and il continued in force when
the French army were beaten and negro liberty
confirmed From Toussant il passed to Des-
salnes, and from Dessalines TO Christophe and
Potion, and from the two latter 70 Boyer; and
it is the code, therefore, which regulates, and
believe with very lile variation, the relative ST.
tuaton of master and servant in husbandry at
! this present hour"
This concise view ofthe revolution in St Do
mingo, we shall submit to the public with very
little comment. The facts speak for them
selves.-the circumstances under which the
slaves there were emancipated, were the most
unfavorable that could be imagihcd-it was
done suddenly, without preparation, and in the
mids, Of political dissen,ions. With how much
more safety and ease could the same work be
accomplished iE our own country, and at the
present peaceful period, by pursuing judicious
course OF gradual emancipation.
COMMUNICATED.
Fuf,car Skip,oith 10 the Editors ofMe Richmond
Enquirer.
MoNTEsANo, May Is, 1927.
Gentlemen: I take the liberty TO request admis-
sion to your columns, Of the papers here enclos-
| ed, containing General Jackson's attack upon
my conduct and character during the late war,
together with my reply Should II be inconve-
nient TO you to publish those papers and this
letter, request them 10 be transmitted, for pub
ication, TO the EDITORS Of the National Inteli-
gencer at Washington, paper, as we'll as yours,
which have taken and read with great inter
est since FIRST they were published.
| In the days Of my youth had the honor to
be one Of the defenders Of my native State, as a
| volunteer soldier in the ranks, at the Siege OF
York. which gave independence to this grea, Re-
public. In my old age have had the honor,
at New Orleans, TO array myself against the