The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-02-06
TOussaint L'Ouverturp.

Ignorance of the distinguished themc OF
his eulogy, induces us to present fuller
sketch than we usually have space to de-
vote to the public lectures of the day
Toussaint LOuverture is understood by
the multitude, even of those who are well
read in the history Of the world, to have
been negro of more than ordinary sa-
gaeity and achievements, but whether
his laurcls were won on the tented field
In the halls Of legislation, or in the walks
of some kind of literature, it is not So
well understood. The Haytian Chief
could not have desired an aber advocate
of his claims to hcroism, or a more faith
tul friend to the cause with which his
own life and death were identified, than
Wendell Phillips
Mr.. Phillips prcfaced bis lecture with
the observation, that while he other
great names in history had had the ad-
vantage of biographers among their own
friends, all our information of Toussant
l. Ouverture's character and deeds came
from the mouths Of his enemies. The
English, French and Spanish were sue
cessively at war with, and successively
defeated by him, and it is only through
them that We are placed in possession of
the facts which enable us to estimate his
greatness and worth. Toussalnt was the
sou of an African prince. He was
black" said Mr.. Phillips, with on cm
phasis and gesture, which lent startling
impressiveness to the simple enunciation
He was sent to Hayti and sold in the
slave market to the highest and best bid
der for cash. Until he was fifty years
ola he toilcd with gang of field hands
He was honest and exemplary, a kind
husband and father, and in all respects
model chattel. His fidelity to his mas
ter Interests, attached him to the over
seer Of the plantation SO much that that
functlcnary taught him the rudments of
a civilized education. When the French
revolution hurled the Bourbons from the
throne, and swept away the distinctions
of French society, Toussant was still
passing his slave life in the tranquility of
sugar estate, fifty years of age. iIayti
at this time belonged to France and Spain
the latter still retaining the city and
colony Of San Domingo. I!s population
consisted Of three classes: whites, mulat-
toes and blacks-the two former owning
tho wealth of the island, and holding the
other class in sub; ection by the same ten
ure which prevails to-day in South Caro-
= lima and Mississippi The overthrow of
the aristocracy in France woke up re
= sponslve echo among the mulattoes and
h poorer whites of Hayti. They sent a
deputatlon to the Provincial Assembly at
c Paris praying te be recognized ~ broth
{ ers in the great struggle for social deliy-
t erence. They were warmly welcomed By
= Robcsptcrre and the other leaders of the
/ revolution, and returned to Hayti with
! the clad news of equality and fraternity
e Is it to be wondered at that the cry Of
e the contending over their heads pcnctra-
? ted down to the degraded and enbruted
: masses who cultivated the plantations of
e liayt? The blacks revolted and o-ga-
T. nzed a revolution within a revolution
t and here begins the history of Toussaint
t ! L'Ouverture
e The events Of his life may be briefly
: reclted. lie assumes the command of
/ his ignorant, bcsUtted and unarmed coun.
trymen, and posted himsel in the natur-
"A al fortresses Of the mountains. General
5 Howe and an English army were sent
b against him. Howe surrounded him
Z with a Gordon of forts aud Toussaint
= opened them. Howe again surrounded
! him and again Toussaint broke through
e his toils-this time utterly defeating him
and driving him out of the country -
, Tousspint was thus placed in possession
p Of the Island Previous to the revolt.
= he had sent his master aud the family,
to whom he was deeply attached, in a
J vessel to Baltimore. Througout his whole
t career he provided crretully and tender
: ly for heir wants. When he became
# master Of the Island he proclaimed gen
5 eral amnesty, protected all classes from
II violence or indignlty and invited back all
c who had fled from the turmoil of war
$ Under his civil administration prosper
3 ity returned to Hayti Her plantations
# yielded more than over before and the
l.. arts of civilization returned to beautify
e the abodes of the people,
e In 1901 Napoleon sent 10000 Of tho
t veterans of Lodi and Mareugo, under the
It command of General LcClerc, to look IN.
y to the affairs of lIayti. with secret in.
II structlons to subjugate the island, and
|. bring Toussaint to France. When the
b feet approached Cape Francais, Tous
1t saint walked down to the shore. He di
y vined the object of the armament in al
# Instant. Clerc asked permission to land
c he received for his answer that his pro
|, gress over the Island would be marct
t. over smoking cities and desoated planta
lr tions. So it was. Wherever the French
Is advanced, the torch of the incendiary
1t preceded them. Toussaint never lost ;
t. battle. lie cut off dctachmcnts and out
,f posts of the advancing host, but was no
&C weak enough to risk general battle will
le the desperate odds at the command o
re the French General--soldiers who hac
he learned the art of war at Arcola and il
c. the Alps.
1t A. last. LeClerc, worried out with th
ID barren result OF the campaign, accom-
plished by artifcc, what he had failed 0
OF eiYccting by arms lie seduced the Hay
IS tian Chief to his camp under solemn
ID oath of protection, surrounded him will
II, a file Of bayonets, hurried him on boar,
ne a ship and sent him to France Bona
as parte dispatched him to clammy dun
IL geon on the confines of Switzerland
ny lilo wrote two digniied letters to the En-
I'll peror, demanding trial for his offences
Ill and receiving no reply, calmly awaite
his end