Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-12-28

o BE sELF.EVIDENT, THAT
R MONT, THU RSDAY,
lcations. An anecdote, Ebich exhibits Il
character of Toussaint isss ses sesspsfsSable sfsS lig'
that we cannot refraipssss lI.a a1niNit, is rela
ted in reference to tis H. career
General Maitland, VIII Sritis
forces, before he finall dc
sirous that an intery.a v he
ween himself and tfg ~ hi,
purpose did not hesi W. e.
thus place himself
those with whom he y
ennity. Nothing q
perfect confidence
which confidence the
black General had I'd
French Commissioner, a\
take this opportunity of )lH
at home, By seizing the 49, 1.ish
officer, who, while on his way ~, had
some intimation of this. He proasstsc neverthe-
less, and having reached Toussa;1t.s quarters,
he had to wait some considerable time before
the black chief appeared. When be did 50, he
bore in his hand two letters, which se erequested
General Maitland to read. One was the treach-
crous proposal from the Commissioner, The other
the answer to it, just written, and containing
an indignant refusal to act in so base manner
" am" he said in conclusioa Iiiss,asIisnlly de-
voted to tho Republic, but VII e it at
the expense of my conscience honor" :"
1t was not long after this thai his two
sons, Isaac and Placide, to it they
might be educated there un1 Q Of the
Directory, and serve as host lis good
faith and fidelity. What ret lev with
for bis misplaced confidence / ,ns were
employed to attach these yoqf1 Interests
of France; and when B0na;l = partly J,
by the msreprcsentations'of y smies of
Toussaint and the blacks, who had been obliged
to leave St. Domingo, and partly, it seems more
than probable, by jealousy of a growing great
ness that might one day overshadow his own,
determined on sending an expedition against the
island, these sons Of the negro chief were sent
with it, as instruments to be used in any way
that might hest conduce to the overthrow of
their fathers power and influence. Twenty
five thousand men, the flower of the French army,
were embarked on board tho squadron, Of more
than fifty sail ; and the leader of the expedition,
lie Clerc, seems to have been fettcred by no just
feelings nor honorable scruples in his dealings
with the ruling powers of the colony. He had
proclamations for the people, full of fne-sound-
ing words which meant nothing and false rep
reSentations of the good intentions of the home
government towards the colony and the negroes.
He had Others for the Generals to whom Tous-
saint had entrusted the defence of the various
divisions Of the island, some Of whom were in
duced to betray the trust reposed in them, and
As last resource, he had well-traired blood
hounds, for hunting down such OF tho negroes
as could neither be threatened nvr cs9oled into
desertion Of the cause az freedom.
Whether the idea Of a, separation from the
mother-coantry was entertained by Toussaint,
cannot be determined, al least he never gave ex-
preston to such u wish. In 1901, however
rumors reached the colony that Bonaparte, WHO
had not condescended to answer, except by vague
messages, the several letters which Toussaint
had addressed to him, contemplated the re-cs-
tablishment Of slavery in St. Domingo, and then
we have the first hint of an independent govern
mcnt An assembly Of representatives from all
parts q the country was convened, and the dritt
Of constitution carefully drawn up and pre-
sentcd to them, by which the whole executive
civil power, and the command of the forces,
was to be placed in the hands OF Governor
General. Toussaint was IS hold this Office for
life, and to nominate the first of his successors,
whose term of rule was to be limited to five years
This constitution, which gave to St Domingo
virtual independence under the guardianship
of France was proclaimed on the ls6sMay, 1901
1t was perhaps the news OF this movement in
the direction Of freedom which at once deter
mined Napoleon to crush the power that threat
ened one day to interfere with his ambitious
designs.
assured Toussaint Of the diets, ior Of Bona
parte to crush himself and erents; and
bitter. indeed, was the dig aent to his
noble heart to find that one ,om he had
looked as the champion Of twhose me-
tcor-like career he had wt1 fifth intense
admiration-and to whomt Esd repeatedly
sent fraternal greetings AM Es of service
and devotion--that he, ab( pers, should
put forth his powerful arm Sdssh to the earth
the cup of liberty, of which the long-oppressed
African had just begun to taste--this was Sc.
we're blow to Toussaint yet was he neither
uu"ieoN W ~, 'ioi piScu ~ -Nho HichaoiiS us
pect Of this new danger into any acts of rash.
ness or cruelty towards the whites in the island
His strict injunction to his emancipated coun
trymen had ever been, i" No retaliation for for
mor wrongs and sufsrings ID his severes
! !. !. . . !. . ! !. !. : ; ! |.
punishments had fallen 4 Sc of his fol
lowers who disregl y. rhi
was the man whom had il
vain endeavored, omacy
to deceive or in tlaw
obliging him I pmil,
among the mo Bland
where, surrouH nd fol
lowers. he nigh e who,
power of the \ climate
which was maxi hg them
had wrought for n !iverance
i After the war bu for som