The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-08
From the Madisonian.

| CougFess ny tine presentation and reference OF
memorials on the subject, and discussion arising
our of being likely to interest the people more
or less, we have thought that n short notice of the
| history and condition OF the country, would he
| acceptable 10 all parties. We have compiled the
| facts without any reference TO the mer 8 or de
! merits the objects of the memorialists.
Bayri, or Haiti, the mountainous is the origi-
nal Indian name of n large and fertile island of
! the West Indies, Discovered by Columbus in
! 1852, and Ivy him named Els Janoa, (tiiSpaniolal
! The English and French called il ST. Domingo
AFTER, its capital city. This Island lies about so
| miles Sc. of Cuba, and two degrees east Of ia
macn, between latfde IL AZ and 10 SO N and
! longitude 6S "a and "a 35 W. Greatest length
$50 miles, breadth from 60 TO $50; containing
10000 square miles. The face of the country is
generally mountainous, instersperced with deep
valleys. The highest summit of the Ciboa Noun
taIns, whirh cross the island from cast To west
are 5000 feet above Tire level Of the spn.--There
are numerous rivers which water the island, and
the soil is very fertile, producing great variety
tropical fruits, and many OF the uecessaries of life
The climate varies according to the location OF
diti erent places being fatal TO people OF northern
countries in some Of the towns, while the noun
famous parts are healthy. Sugar cane, coffee
roca aud cotton, grow luxuriantly, AMI form the
principal exports. Indigo is not much cult
waited rs fnrmely, Mahogany.s satin wood and
iron wood and oak, found in the forests some
OF which exported.
The Commerce of this island is very conSid-
erahle and grandualiy increasing. II most
! Furnishing when part of the island sub ect
TO the Frenrh.-In 1871, over 68 millions of lbs
| of coffee aud l63 millions of sugar only were
exported; whereas, in 1924 under the present
government, 81 100000 ll's. OF coffee, and 1885,
o, lbs. OF sugar. only were exported.
notice OF the History of Hayti is deemed
important before giving view of the present
government aud stale vt the country. The first
European colony WIS established by Columbus
on his first voyage in 1892. at the Bay OF 81 Mich
olas, being The first European settlement made
in America. He forued n second town at I~jl-
bella, in 1893. In 1893, his brother BarrhoIo-
NEW removed the colony the south side OF
of The island and founded the city of st. Domiu-
CO.
The Spaniar,is compelled the natives to labor
at the mines and on th& plantations; but these
miserable Indians soon dwinded away uu-
der the accumulation of hardship, and became
npnrly extinct IN less than century. During
the I7th century, the French Obtained posses
sion OF the,west end ofthe isIand--African slaves
were Introduced, and the cultivation of the sugar
cane renewed. From the middle TO the close
of the the 18th century the French colony was
very hourishing. But insurrecIion of the
blacks broke out in the French COLONY in 1901,
which finally assumed the character ofan or
gnnized revolution. and the white inhabitants
were either slaughtered nGiscriminnteIy, or com
PEELED to escape from the ;saud. The most
celebrated negro chiefs, during t.re san culinary
contest from 1871 TO 1898, were Macava
Toussnint, Louverture, and Rigaud. The Eng
fish made an attempt TO take the island, and were
compelled Ia abandon IT, after great losses OF men
in 1898. HHyt declared independent in
1901. Bonaparte, FIRST Consul OF France sent
an army of 20.t 90 men to the lsland in 1901
Toussant was taken prisoner, and carried to
France, where he died, 1901.
Dessalmes, black chief, then took command
OF the llaytian forces. The remnant of the
French army having been reduced nv tlisense
MI
ron, in 1903. In 1904, the chiefs renounced all !
dependence on France, and appointed Dessalines |
governor for life, who afterward assumed the ii. |
tie of Jeques L., Emperor Of Hayti. After a
short reign he fell victim 70 n conspiracy in |
1906 One of his chiefs, Christophe, assumed
the administration, Immediately after his death
but his authority was dlsputedhy Potion, another
chief and war com meuced between the two
competitors. Finally the latter was defeated in
1877, and Chrstophe was appointed Chief
Magistrate for life. In 1911 he took the title of
king, under the mime of Henry L., establishing
an hereditary monarchy. The French part OF
the island remained from 1910 to 1920, under
the two rival governments of Christ ophe and Pc
non. The former held the north part, and the
latter established Il republic in the South. Pc
ton was mulatlo, and n Use and vrtuous
chief. He was elected President for lite, which
office he continued TO hold until his death in
1910, "hen he was succeeded by Boyer, rs
Pres'dent. Chrstophe was black ofcousider-
aoie talent, anu was born slave, in 1907, IN
either the Island OF Grenada. or St Christopher,
az IS not certain which.l He distinguished him
sell IN the early part of the Hayrian revolution
by his boldness, derision, and sactiVty, in the
cause of the blacks. His government was
military despotism, and his name stands couspi-
cuous in the annals of avarce and cruelty. He
reigped wrh great pomp initiating the style Of
European sovereIgns in many respects. raklug
Napoleon for hs principal model. In 1920, an
instruction roke out among part of his troops
who, being assisted by Boyer decnred the abo-
iitlon OF royalty, and Christophe shot himself to
avoid falling into their hands, October, 1870
Ills widow and daughter were protected by
Boyer, and retired to Europe with a large for
tune. The Spanish Colony, in the east part OF
the island, placed themselves under the Govern
pene OF Boyer, in 1921, who thus became Pres
dent OF the whole island. In 1925, Charles X,
king OF France, acknowledged the inlepen s
dence OF Hayti, in consideration of stipulation
on the RnNar 10 QQl QQQ