The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-13
THE REPUBLIC OF HAYTI.

body to talk about the ct. Domingo HAS
sacre, and to speak of the refugees from
that Island, who sought an asylum in
New Orleans and Norfolk when the
slaves rose in Instruction, and gained
their freedom, and subsequently, estab-
lished their independence, still the his
tory of the Republic of Hayti, SO re-
Gently recognized by the United States,
is comparatively unknown in this coun-
try. There are some of the st. Domingo
refugees still living in this city. The
following interesting sketch of Haytien
history we clip from the Herald:
Haytien was discovered by Columbus
in January, 1868, and here at Isabella,
on the north shore, was founded the first
Spanish colony in the New World. ST.
Domingo was settled in 1896. For nearly
half a century these settlements re-
ceived much attention and rose to great
prosperity; but as other parts OF Amer
lea were discovered the population was
drawn of, and, the natives having been
extirpated, the island again became
almost q waste. The buccaneers now
settled on the island of Tortuga, oppo-
site Cape Francis, and also on the north
western coast, and placed themselves
under the protectorate of the French
king, who sent them out Il governor. In
1897 the inhabitants had greatly multi
piled, and, the Spaniards being unable
to cope with France, thewestern portion
of the island was ceded IN full to that
Power. cultivation was now rapidly
extended, and French Hayti soon be-
came the most valuable of all the foreign
possessions in the West, and toward the
end of the eighteenth century supplied
Europe with ohe-half the sugar con-
sumed by its people. In the meantime
the east or Spanish portion made little
or no progress. In 1890 the population
of the Western colony numbered about
900. 900. of which number $500 were OF
E,lropean origin and $3.50 free people
of color. the remainder being Negro
slaves. The free people of color were
mostly mulattoes, and some of them had
received liberal education in France
and possessed large estates. Still they
we're excluded from all political privi
leges, and were not eligible to positions
of authority or trust. The great revolu
ton i'm France was heartily responded
10 Nv llG WuttCS vi III lCOIuihSot w IN
sent deputies to the national assembly a
Paris, and proclaimed tbe adhesion o
the colony to the principles of liberty
equality and fraternity then invogue in
| the mother country. The application o
those principles, it was intended, shoul,
be codfned exclusively to the whites
The mulattoes, AQWever, demanded
their extension to the free people o
color-that is, to themselves. Their de
mand was rejected with contempt apt
wat9Asaigte.a rof r,FeAselttQJeat9ed -GtAeolm9l
Iature of the colony petition askin,
far his class the rights of citizenship
aud white planter, M. Ba4diere, wa
torn to pieces by mob for Offering
similar petition on behalf at tn
mulattoes. Some of the leading mu
lattoes now resolved to resort t
arms. One Of the post distinguished G
them, Vincent Oge, who had been edu
Gated in Paris and associated there OF
terms of equality with Lafayette, Bris
sot, Gregoire and other eminent men
raised an instruction with about tire
hundred followers in October 1890. HI
was defeated, captured, and with hi
brother broken on the wheel in the mos
cruel manner. Twepty one of his fol
lowers were hanged. When the new
ofthese executions reached Paris mucl
indignation was expressed against tn
colonists, and, by the influence of tn
| friends of the backs-the famous so
ciety of Les amis DIES nOir-the Nationa
Assembly, May Is, 1871, passed deere
declaring that the people of color borl
of free parents we've entitled to all tn
privileges of French citizens. This de
cree did not touch slavery or meddl
with the slaves, but 1t excited to tn
highest pitch the jealousies and appre
tensions of the planters, who forced tn
Governor of the colony to suspend ii
operations until they eonld appeal to tn
home government. This refusal Of tn
rights granted to them by express Law
caused much commotiOn among the mq
lattOes, and civil war between them an,
the whites appeared inevitable, when
third party, little considered by eithe
of the others, unexpectedly interfered
| The slaves on the plantations rose in in
surrection, August IS, 1871. The while
| in alarm consented (September II, t,
admit the mulattoes to the civil right
granted them by law, and for tim,
there seemed some prospect of the resto
ration of peace. But on September24, th,
National Assembly at Paris, moved by
| the remonstrances which had been re
| ceiyed from the whites Of st. Domingo
repealed the decree of May i6. Whei
| the news of this repeal arrived the mu
lattOes flew to arms. and the civil wa
continued with increased ferocity on al
sides for several years. Commissioner
were repeatedly sent from France, bu
could effect nothing. The whites them
selves were divided into hostile factions
royalist and republican the French
part of the island was invaded by thu
by the Spaniards and by The English
and insurgent blacks and mulattoes, un
der able chiefs, held strong positions il
the mountains aud defied all efforts t.
subdue them. The French Commiss
toner's, involved in difficulties on every
hand, at length decided to conciiate the
blacks, and in August, 1913, proclaimed
universal freedom, in apprehension o
an English invasion, which took place
in the following month. In February
1874, the National Convention at Paris
confirmed the act of the commissioners
and formally guaranteed the freedom o
all the Inhabitants ofthe French colony
Meantime The English conquered tn,
whole western coast of the island, tool
the capital. Port au Prince, and besieget
the Governor, General Laveaux, IL
Port de Paix, the last stronghold of tn,
French, who were reduced To exiremi
ties by famine and disease. At THU
juncture the blacks, led by Toussoint l.
Ouverture, relying, on. the proclamation
| IL. Il - l.