New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-25
Fmperor Fnu-tIn 1. Of Hayti, and hI, Palace

We translate for The Tribune the following interesting
account Of Fsusn l. (soulouque) Of Hsyt which we fad
in late number of tho Journal dss Dsbat'
PoRT-AU-PRINcE, March l5
Having reached this city, my first care was to
request M. Ray baud to present me to the man
whose name is at this moment in the hundred
mouths of renown. After several days the French
Consul announced to me that he had arranged the
desired interview. We betook ourselves to the
palace. This edifice, which served as habitation
to the old Governors of st. Domingo appears rather
imposing when compared with the mean houses
of the city, although it has but single story
raised several feet above the ground ! barred
courtyard, where the Emperor holds review
every Sunday morning, vaguely recalls that of the
Tuilleries.'
We entered a hall Of waiting, which examined
with curiosity The floor is of marble slabs; the
furniture is of black hair cloth aud straw On a
richlywrought table stands fine bronze clock, re-
presenting the arms Of Hayti-a palm, surrounded
with bundle of ances and surmounted with
Phrygian cap. Two handsome portraits serve as
pendants to each other; one represents the Able
Greeoire, the celebrated conventionist, the other
the reigning Emperor. The first is the work of a
European pencil-the second does honor 70 the
talent OF mulatto artist, Baron Colbert / should,
perhaps, have noticed other particulars if the step
Of his Majesty had not been heard in the adjoining
hall which contains portraits OF the great men OF
Hayti and serves for grand receptions We al
vanced to meet the Emperor, who wears green
uniform of an ire proachable cut epauettes OF god
adorned with twelve silver stars, plate on his
breast sword at his side, and his chapeau In his
hand
He commenced by giving US cordial shake OF
the hand, then seated himself on fsuteuil, and
awaited with a certain timdity for NJ Raybaud
to commence. w e seated ourselves. The Consul,
in announcing my name, said that had come TO
visit the Empire as traveller, and would not will
lingly have departed without the honor oil having
been received by His Majesty Sire, 1t is the
only aim of my voyage" said ], half rising. The
Emperor initiated my movement, thanking me
al have already had the pleasure of seeing Mon
sieur at the review on Sunday" he added, gracious
w. 1t was now my turn to thank him. The con
versation continued in this tone about twenty min
utes When we rose TO take leave OF the En-
peror he shook hands again. Three salutatons
on our part, and three on his, completed the cere-
mony.
Faustin Sououque is entirely black, but his fea
lures have by no means the savage and hideous
expression which has been ignorantly attributed TO
the purely African type His look might be called
handsome, and his smile is quite agreeable. Aged
about GA years, he does not seem 10 be more than
| so OF a medium hight, he has very full chest
/ large shoulders and broad hips. On horseback he
has a stately air. and is one OF the best horsemen
have ever seen. On foot, his corpulence makes
him appear small. Although naturally not much Of
talker, he always exhibits perfect propriety and
dignity in his words. Here it may be well to rec.
tiiy the rumor " hich has attributed 10 him a COM
plete ignorance OF the French language. In my
presence he expressed himself very correctly and
without the least mixture OF Creole dialect He
has also been accused Of knowing neither how to
read nor write. The truth is that be signs his name
legiby, writes even letter If need be, and reads
every evening without the aid Of Secretary, the
new History of Hayti, which is now being publish
ed by a talented native, NJ. ModiOn, recently ere
eted Baron. The caricatures and squibs Of the Pa
risian press have annoyed him profoundly. In thu
respect he possesses an incurabe susceptibility.
The birth Of Soulouque was very humble; be
was born as a slave on the plantation OF ~ Wallet
THIS white, who has been pointed out to me, sue
ceeded in stemming the revolutionary waves which
have agitated the Queen of the Antilles, and &C
! tually lives at PoTtau-Prince at present Son
louque, meeting him lately, said; Although En-
peror to everybody else cannot help still regard
ing YOU as my master" "And ], sire, conside
. myself your subject" replied III. Wallet: ltt
dialogue which indicates how marvellous are tn
reverses Of human destiny
On the evacuation Of the French the freed slav
entered the army OF Dessaines as a soldier, an
aiterward under Potion, fought against Christopht
From step TO step he came 10 be Colonel at tn
time oil the ial OF Boyer, an event TO which be cor
|. tributed In no way. His tacinlrnity-a quality G
defect which, among the blacks.is considered as
. mark Of profound discretion-caused him to be az
q mitted to the confidence Of the different subter
mean trains which succeeded each other from isl
l. TO ls47. Created General Of Brigade by Richie
!, be owed bis election to the Presidency to IN
/ chance which pronounced his name in the Seaat
r when opinions were about equally divided betxee
two candidates, neither Of whom could obtain Il
necessary majority. He was favored by both pa
o ties: by the blacks, on account Of his ebony ski
and by the Creoles, because they hoped TO use hi
a. their plant tool. The sequel showed how muC
; they were mistaken Ttey had chosen a nnssse
n