Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-13
From the 81. Lo..is Democral
From he 81. louis Democrat.
Hayti Inviting the Free Negroes of
the United States.

The fact may not be generally known that
two agents of commissioners of the Emperor
of Hayti, are now travelling through the coun-
try for the purpose of learning the sentiments
of the free negro population in reference to
emigration to that island. Their names are
Paul Emile Desdunes and Mr.. Montfout. The
former is Colonel in the Haytien army. and
has position close to the Imperial master.
The other is the head of commercial house
at Port-au-Prince. They visited the Demo-
crat Office yesterday and explained their bust
ness, and gaze us some important information
touching the condition and prospects OF the
country. We may remark that they are mu-
lattoes of light color, and are gentleman.y
and polite in their manners and department.
The French language is their vernacular.
Except in color, it would be difficult to dis
criminate between them and educated French
men; and if they represent the average cul-
ture and civilization of the commercial and
military classes of their country, then it is ev-
ident that that the social condition of Hayti
is very different from what it is reprepresent-
ed to be. Their mission is two-fold, first to
urge upon the merchants of New York and
Boston the advantages which American COM
merce would derive from the establishment of
a line of packets between Port-au-Prince and
either of these cities, and second, to ascertain
the sentiments of the free negroes and the
American people generally, with reference to
Desdunes, who is the principal commissioner,
is not prepared to specify the inducements
which the Emperor may offer to attract iml-
grafton TO his dominions He will, however,
await instructions, and report in the mean
time upon the best mode of accomplishing the
design of Soulouque.
1t will be remembered that strong desire
has been recently expressed in high quarters
in Jamaica that the negroes of Canada should
IL - - hoo stxy
on the part of the Canadians toward the
negroes has also manifested itself Bearing
these circumstances in mind, together with
SoulOuque's project, we should not be
surprised to see an exodus of the free negroes
of Canada and the Uniled States to the West
India Islands at no distant day. There they
would have ample scope for developing what
ever capacities nature has endowed them with.
Here, as the intelligent portion of them well
know they must always remain an inferior
and condemned race. for the whites will never
admit of their participation in any but the
lowest vocations, and will refuse them not
only political equality, but political status
of any kind. In Hayti they would have no
superiors socially and politically, except the
aristOcracy of wealth and talent which are
inseperable from the most radical forms of
society, and which would be as accessible to
them as to the natives. Indeed, 1t is a fair
presumption that the energy and manual
skill which they have acquired by severe
training and by their contact with American
energy and skill, would elevate them rapidly
in their new sphere. Mr.. Montfort assured us
that Hayti is thoroughly republican, and that
the imperial system will die with the reign
ing Emperor The island is now enjoying
undisturbed peace. Its imports and exports
are increasing annually; and as may be seen
from Mr.. Blair's COLONIZATION speech it is a
larger consumer ofAmerican commodities than
Mexico or Cuba. Its great fertility is known
to every boy who has read his geography;
and taking it altogether, it must be a
d srable place for our free negroes who
would add immensely to its produc1iveness,
and thereby contribute to the increase of
American commerce, and to the Americaniza-
ton of the tropical regions of the Western
hemisphere.