Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-04-28
From the Boston Telegraph.
TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE.

Charles W. Elliott, of New York city, has re-
Gently given to the public an exceedingly interest
ing and carefully prepared Memoir Of Toussant
Loverture, the lIaytien Hero, the only great man
whom the West Indies have yet produced. 1t is
contained in pamphlet of SO pages, bearing the
imp.int Of j. A. Dix, 10 Park Place, New York.
Mr.. Elliott thinks that life Of Toussaint is de-
sirabe for two purposes:
One is, that it may, in some degree, weaken
that bitter prejudice of color, which denies the
blacks the rights OF citizcns-which drives them
away from the communion table-and will not let
them enter an omnibus, nor, if it can pr vert it
into Heaven.
The other is that it may encourage the blacks to
deserve respect and honor-as ne dd-by growing
industrious, and rich, and intelligent, and brave,
and noble, and strong, and SO prove their manhood
against all nldels, North and South--in the church
and out of it,"
| About the year 100, says Mr. Elliott, 1fayti or
as it was then called, st. Domingo was II tropical
paradise. The planters were deeply in debt
nearly every estate heavily mOrtgaged-yet they
got large returns and paid heavy interests; the
merchants treightcd their ships and made rich
commissions; France found places for her favor
ite courters, and ready market for her wares
Travellers were delighted with the balm of the at
mosphere the hospitality of the planters, and the
gayety of the negroes. Every evening"" writes
one of them "the slaves of both sexes were to be
seen dancing in festive circles, and the sound of
music and the voice Of gladness were heard on all
Sides"
Happy slaves! simple traveller. exclaims Mr..
Elliott. The traveller the surface below was
II volcano which was soon to burst out into the
most fearful social and political eruption of mod
ern times The whites and mulattoes stood upon
the thin crust of the crater under their feet were
half Il million of negro slaves.
The volcano had been in full play for two years
when Ioussaint came upon the stage. lie was the
son IF an African chief, with drop Of white blood
in his veins, and had been the born slave of the
Count de Breda, by whose manager or overseer
he had been well treated. With religious aspira-
tons, an nhexible integrity, an inquiring mind
he had been valuable slave, and had been raised
from field hand to be the coachman of the man
ager. When the rebellion broke out he did not
join it, but assisted the manager and his family to
escape TO the United Sta tes and afterwards sent to
them rich cargo for their support.
Toussant then fifty years old. He decided
to join the revoted blacks, and having some knowl-
edge of simples, was made physician to the army
Of one of the leaders lie soon became a good
sold,o,- and was distinguished for humanity and
I,naness n NO. whites. His prudence patience
courage and determIn.H Hton made hlm useful to the
generals, while his justice a..d mercy maze MN
popular with the men. lie was uiTen with the
other negro chiefs to take refuge in tho Spanish
part of the island the governor of which, the Mar
quis Hermona, discerning his merit, made lin
a Colonel IN the Spanish army. His regiment in
short time surpassed all the rest in discipline.
| lie acquired great influence over all with whom he
came into contact. and it is recorded that the Span
/ ish governor said of him--"there exists on eart
no purer soul.D
Toussaint in 1894 returned to the French ser
! vice. st. Domingo was In the utmost confusion
invaded by the English, the Spaniards, and distrac
ted by bands Of insurgents. Toussaint at the head
of the blacks set himself the work of restoring
order, lie drove back the syauiards, in four days