The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-20

ny, the French obtained possession OF The west emu
of the island-AfIican slaves were introduced. ana
the cultivation of the sugar-cane renewed. FROM
the middle TO the close Of the 18th century, me
French colony was very prosperous and the com
merce fourshing But an insurrection OF the plaeks
broke out in the French colony in 1871 which hnal-
y sasamed the character Of an organized reyoln-
sa Gnd Me white inhabitants were either slaughl-
I,eu lnu'STraanately, or compelled TO escape from
.he lsiaha ne na,st celebrated negro chiefs, dur
,ng me sargu,na,y Ioa.as. from 1871 10 l79s, were
En@lsh maSs "a at,e@pi 10 is and Rgsud The
compelled to abandon II, after great losses of men
in l796. Hayli was declared independent, in 1901
Bonaparte First Consul of France, sent an arny Of
10000 men to the island in 1901. Toussoint was
taken prisoner and carried 10 France, where he died,
in 1901.
Dessalnes, black chief, then took command OF
the Haytian forces. The remnant OF the French
army having been reduced by disease and The sword,
surrendered 10 an English squadron, In lSO3 In
1904 the chiefs renounced all dependence on France,
aud appointed Dessanes governor for life, who az
terward assumed the title of jacques l., Emperor of
Hayti. Alter short reign he fell victim TO
conspiracy, In 1906 One Of his chiefs, Christophe,
assumed the administration Immediately after his
death but his authority was disputed by Potion,
another chief, and a war commenced between the
two competitors Finally, the latter was defeated,
in 1907, and Christophe was appointed chief magis-
trae for life. In 1911 he took the title OF king,
under the Of Henry l., establishing an heredi-
manned from 1910 to 1920 under the two rival go
vernments of Christophe and Potion. The former
held the north part, and the latter established re-
public in the south. Potion was mulatto, and
wise and vrtuous chief He was elected president
for life, which Office he continued 10 hold until his
death, in 1918, when he was succeeded by Boyer as
president. Christophe was black of considerable
talent, and was born slave, in l767, in either the
Island of Grenada or St. Christopher t is not GER
tain whicb.) He distinguished himself in the early
part Of the Haytian revolution by his bodness deci
sion, and activity, in the of the blacks. His
government was military despotism, and his name
stands conspicuous 10 the annals OF avariee and
cruelty. He reigned with great pomp; initiating
the style of European sovereigns in many respects,
taking Napoleon for his principal model. In 1920,
an insurrecton broke out among part Of his troops
who, being assisted by Boyer declared the abolition
Of royalty, and Christophe shot himself TO avoid
falling into their hands, October, 1920 His widow
and daughter were protected by Boyer, and retired
to Europe with large fortune. The Spanish colo
ny, in the east part OF the island placed themselves
| under the government of Boyer, in 1921, who thus
became president of the whole island. In 1925,
Charles X, King Of France, acknowledged the in
dependence Of Hayi, in consideration Of stipula-
ton on the part Of Boyer to pay to France l5OO
600 francs, indemnity to the former colonists
for the loss OF their properly.
The present form Of government is republican;
the president who exercises the executive power,
commands the forces, and appoints all officers, is
elected for life by the senate. He receives an an
nual salary OF S4OOUO. Inc legislature CONSISTS OF
Senate and House of Representatives The for
mer is composed of "a members, who are chosen for
nine years by the representatives, from list pre-
scented by The president The House Of Representa-
tves is elected by the people, once in FIVE years, AMI
consists of one from each commune, three from
Port au Prince and two for the chief town of each
department. The code of laws is similar to the
French, embracing trial by jury. The island is di-
vided into departments, subdivided IN % COM
munes, and SO parishes The principal towns are
Port au Prince Cor Port Republican,, the capital /;
| Cape Haytien, st. Domingo, aid Jacquemel. The
French language is generally spoken, being used by
the government and the people, except in the eastern
part, where Spanish is spoken In 1924, the popula-
lion ofhe island was 953 335-nearly all blacks and
mulattoes; the regular troops 10000; the militia,
$4,000. The revenue was 100000.
The education of the people has received much
attention from the government. college Is esta-
blished at Cape Haytien, and schools in all parts
of the island The Catholic is the established reli-
| gion, but all sects are tolerated -..
On the LIST of February, 1888, new treaty of peace
was concluded at Port au Prince, between the Re-
public and the Kingdom of France. The balance
due from Hayt TO France was fixed at 100000 fr.
TO be paid by annual instalments from 1888 to 1868
We believe that Jean Pierre Boyer, who, in 1920,
appointed for life, is still President The go
vernment is sometimes spoken of sort of military
| democracy