The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-04-25
Execution Of Gen'l. Moyse in
st, Domingo, E.'.,52

&C.,
/ General Toussaint Louverture, during
his reign over st. Domingo, the execu-
! tion of his nephew Moyse, a young man
| of excellent promise, may properly be,
\ casscd as the most atrocious.s When
. Toussaint was made governor, most of,
the French planters had left the Island;
but by, proclamat:ons, suggested no
doubt by the English abolitionists, and
full of words of kindness and promises
of strict and impartial government, it
was sought to lure them back, and the
cndeavor was crowned with complete
success. AS roussaint was surrounded
and counselled dy officers sent from
France, tor the protection ct'p!antea's,
what trcachcry, could they suspect?
But the scquei will show that .hese.
French officers were more british and
acorsc enemies Of the French planters,
than the uncducatcd slaves themselves.
At the period Of the tragical occur
renee which we are about to narrate,
{! Toussaint Louvcrture was in the very
zenith ofhis fame and height ofhis cri-
minal career. Age, with its stealthy
step was crawling over him, and, with
CIT impairing his ability or weakening
his system, was gradually confirming
his mind in blood and guilt. All those
softer traits Of character Of which, in his
Younger days, he had not bccn entirely
destitute, were now passing away, lcav-
ing but the dark shades Of misanthro-
py and blood -thirstincss carefully hidden
under the mask of virtue and religion,
by the most dcyilish hypocrisy. In
! pcrsonhc was slightly under the middle
size, not very well shaped, and the few
wrinkles which time had placed on his
brow, were dccpcncd by toll and care.
He had lost all his teeth, and cat moth
ing but sponge cake, which was made
for him in every town as soon as it was
! publicly announced that he was APP
proaching. Such was Toussaint Lou
! venture, about 1898. I'D.
His nephew, General Moyse, was
almost the counterpart of this. He
WAS Il dark mulatto, Of handsome face
and person, and dcscrvcdly renowned
for courage and humanity, the exercise
Of which last excellent quality cost him
his life, at the hands of his dctestable
uncle. The circumstances of his mur.
der, for sach only it can be called, were
rs tom o.!."5s::
The imhuman policy of .roussaint
Luuvcrturc' 5 government was worthy of
4 Nero. Invrlcr to destroy the unfor-
tunatc planters with dispatch and sccu-
rity, lie divided his army into two bod
les, one Of which he took the command,
while that Of the second lie gave to his
nephew. Moysc had private orders to
march on and attack a certain point,
which he consequently did. while Tous-
saints corps dmmee remained station
! cd at some distance from the scene of
action. When the news OF the attack
WAS brought toToussaint he wor'l fall
into terrific passion, swear We. ,cancc
on thc disturhcrs Of the public peace,
and set out with his troops to deliver
the attacked town from the oppressors.
These, previously notified of his ap-
proach by spies set for the purpose. va
Gated the place i'll time to prevent coils.
ion with Toussaint, who thus arrived
too late, though Of course, loaded with
praises and blessings for his efficient ac-
ton i'll The premises by the unfortunate
inhabitants Of the distressed place.
Here it was that he would receive in
formation Of an attack made on another
quarter, and march forth again with the
avowcd intention Of chastising the rcb.
els, but, in reality, with that Of leaving
this and other places unprotected, to the
tender merccs Of the savage horde up-
der the command Of Moyse. This was
what Touissaimt called, IN the negro
dialect, "Fair Ia ,ondc moin."
The operations Of Moysc were highly
unsatisfactory to his uncle, from the fact
Of the humanity Of the former spaling
many who were hated by the latter, and
who we're consequently marked for dcs.
truction. Hence tho resolution of Tous
saint, following the bloody instinct i'm
planted in the breast Of every man,
whether III a civilized or 4 savage state,
to destroy Morse by force or fraud. as
soon as fortune might chance to throw
the means in his power. These, unfor
tnnatcly for Movsc, were soon forth
coming, and the power of ToussaiN! was
equal to the task putting all his bloody
I projects into hl0ulicr execution. VII