Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-21
ToUssAINT L'oUvERTURE,

\ I, Sa''.oi \" ! ToUssAINT L'oUvERTURE m
The inquiries we have recently .instituted in re-
gard to the questions that have been raised respect
ing the extraction Of Hannibal and the nationality
of Othello appear to have suggested in the mind Of
. correspondent in Ohio some doubt with regard to
the race Of Toassaint u Overture. To this effect
asubscIiber in that State writes IS follows:
oai aRUssIA, (LoRAN CO., ONO APRIL 10, 1864
MEssRs EDITORS Having read your article on Othel-
TO- in which you made perfectly clear to my mind point
regard to which had before been in doubt have
been constraned to ask your indulgence and kindness
INFORM US ~ regard TO another character as to whose
historians differ Please give information the
to which Toussant LOuverure belongs and confer a
favor who socits only for information and obige
ono who for thirty six years has been
The sources of information respecting the ma
tionaity Of Toussaint leave no room to doubt that
he was negro of pura blood. His great grand
father, according to the concurrent testimony Of
the best authorities, was an African chief of the
Arradas, powerful tribe of negroes, distinguished
for their martial qualities, in Western Africa. In
plundering expedition undertaken by neighbor-
ing tribe son of the Chief Of the Arradas by
name Gaou- Guinou, was made captive, and, being
sold to the save-trade,s, transported to Hayti,
where he became the slave of the Count de Breda,
sugar manufacturer residing about two miles
with great kindness by his master. He was al
lowed to employ five slaves to cultivate for his own
benefit a portion of land which had been assigned
to him. The eldest Of biz sons was Toussaint,
born in Hayi, some time between the years l743
and HAS as near as can be ascertained, for there
is no record Of his nativity.
At first Toussaint was set to tend the focks of
his master, in which capacity he attracted, by bis
fidelity, the attention of M. Bayou de Liberals;
the humane manager of the Count de Breda's
estates, and by whom he was promoted from field
labor to the Office of position. He remained
slave, remarkable for his docility and industry,
until he was about fifty years old. According to
the testimony Of bis son, Isaac, Toussaint when
boy had learned something of Latin and geometry.
He wrote and spoke French with fuency, if not
always with the propriety of an Academician.
Among the books which occupied conspicuous
place in his library, according to Rainsford Gan
English traveller in Hayt during the wars that
ravaged the island,) were the lScriptores de Re
Militari, Caesars Commentaries, in the French
translation of De Crissc, Des Claison's History of
Alexander and Caesar, D'Orleans'. History of Re-
voutions in England and Spain, Marshal Saxes
Military Writings, Guischards Military Memoirs
of the Greeks and Romans, the writings of Hero
dotus, Plutarch, Cornelius Nepos, &c. &c. &C.
In the civil administration of Hayt he sur
rounded himself with men of letters and science,
giving the preference to whites, on the score of
their superior intelligence, as Mr.. Elzur Wright,
a noted anti-slavery leader of Boston, and contri-
butor to the Boston Daily Advertiser on financial
topics, now gives precedence to Frederick Douglass
for the next Presidency of our country on the
ground that his intellectual qualifications are Gu
perior to those of his white contemporaries. To
this effect Mr.. Wright says:
To view Of the poverty of white intellect as exhibited
in this war, general rule from the President down.
word should rejoice to coloed man, Frederick
Douglass for example, placed in the Presidential chair"
And again. .a n&
IL have often passed for black man where have been
known only by my writings. This have considered
rather complimentary to my moral character and Of
years have to consider it compliment to my intel
ec,ua cslibre, also"
The most admiiing of all Toussaints biographers
is undoubtedly the Rev John r. Beard, ID.
[See his Life of Toussaint IOuverture. London.
1851 He thus sums up the historical place Of
the Haytian hero:
IL the world has to thank God for great men,
with special gratitude should acknowledge the divine
60 dness in raising up Toussant Overture Among the
privileged races of the earth the roll Of patriots legislators
and heroes long and well filed As yet there Is but one
Toussant L'Ouverture. Yet how many Of the highest
qualities of our nature did that unite in himself But
HE best claim to respect and admiration consists the
entire devotion Of hs varied and lofty powers to the re-
demption of his color from degrading bondage and its
elevation into the full stature Of perfect manhood
IL do not intend to paint the Hayan patriot az perfect
Moral perfection appeared earth 1t is not
likely TO have appeared second time among the slaves of
Hayt Tousaaint has been accused Of hardness and
cruelty am not prepared to affirm that the charges
without foundon But is equally true that his enemies
have done their utmost point out stains in hs character
Unfortunately the for thorough investigation
wholly wanting"
rrrr $780,