The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-03-07
THESE. DOMlNasD MASSACRE.

Va It'S S'i'l pew IS liz IaAC VI NHS IIppN
lace knew 70 limits. Mons. Dubois, pro
curr"r general, who had publicly advoca
ted the abolition Of slavery wa, arrested
bat, by the interposition of the Governor
released and sent out of the country.
: magistrate na,nel Ferrand de Ecaudierr
who had drawn NJ 4 memorial to the paro
chial committee in the name Of the mul. t
toes, whcrcin they expressly claimed th'
full hc"ctit Of the national d, claration o
Rights was committed to prison, but was
forcibly taken thence by the populacc ant
Instantly killed.
In the meantime the trading and manu-
featuring towns in France became alarmed
at he intelli crcc from st. Domingo, ant
petitions AID remonStrances from various
quarters implorcd the National Assembly
to adopt measures for the tranquility of the
coloniStS and for the preservation to Franc,
Of the c~o'onial dependencies. On the Stl
of March 1890 the National Assembly b,
a large majority voted that lit was revc,
the intention of the Assembly to comDre
bend the interior government of the colo.
MES in the Constitution which they had
framed for the mother country, or to subject
them to laws incompatible with their local
establishments; they therefore authorize
the inhabitants of each colony to signify to
the National Assembly their sentiments
and wishes concerning that plan of %int'rior
legislation which would be most condu-
Give to their prosperity" TO this decree
was annexed a declaration "That the Ma
tional Assembly would not cause any inno-
walton to be made, directly or Indirectly,
in any system Of in which the
colonies were concerned"
Nothing could equal the clamor which
this decree raised among the colored resi-
dents of France, and in the society of Les
1mis des N0irs- 1t was even said that the
declaration concerning me was a
tacit sanction of the slave trade.
The General Assembly of st. Domingo
met on the 10th Of April, 1890. One of
their first measures was in favor of conces-
slous to the mulattoes. The Assembly,
however, having e%vinced, in the opinion of
Governor Peynier, a spirit Of too much in
dependence towards the mother country.
he issued a proclamation dissolvins the
same, and denourcinG the members as 'rait-
orS, and enemies of the nation. Several
skirmishes ensued, but bloodshcd was pre-
vented by the sudden and unexpected de-
termination of the General Assembly to 90
in a body to France and justify tn, if con-
duct to the king and the National Assembly
in pers'n. Eighty five Of the members
accordingly embarked for France amid the
tears and prayers of the populace. \ mo-
%nentary calm followed. The parties in
arms appeared mutually disposed to sub
NIT their differences to the king and the
National Assembly.
1t is noteworthy that during this cx-
citement the $50, 900 negroes We're perfect
ly quiet the 3 1000 mulattocs only were
turbulent,
Shortly afterwards young mulatto named
James Ngc, born in St. Domi-o, but re-
then in France, being Introduced to
Amis des Noirs by it's leading men,
bcrs, Robespierre, Grcgoirc and Brissot,
and by them initiated into the popular doe
tr'ne ~ofequoHty and the rights 0 t'mun, com
~2i"sclf, the destined libcrator oftte
color'd race in the French colonies. His van
ty and..enthusiasm were a. fully stimulated.
Like John Brown he was led to believe that
he entire colored population Of the French
stands were ready to rise up against their
and that they wanted nothing but
! leader. 10 lull the suspicious of the
french Government his associates furnished
lin with money to by arms and ammunition
n the United States, and he left France for
New England q in July 1890. Notwith-
landing these precautions Oge'sproject was
:nown at P"ris previous to his departure,
nd an account of his scheme, with a por.
raft of himself, was sent to st. Domingo,
ong before his arrival the e. lie affected
secret landing on that island, from an
IVerican s!oop, on the 18th of October
$50, and succeeded in conveying his arms
ammunition, purchased in the Uniten
tates, to a place previously prepared by
is brother for their reception.
The first notice of his IL rival to the whit@
Inhabitants came from himself, in a lett& i
Governor Peynicr, in which he H. l
demanded that the mula1es s
lot Pie 4SO, 600 negroes should eni@a s
lie fprivileges of the whites; annoySEing
as the protector If the formA and =
ntenA on t2sredress their grievdW es by
OF a%1t necessary. OgeN career 2
brja Ffter some terrible xrmi,ies&
ghis they were surrounded by
lar troops, and the &hpe
! ! : } ;
q militia, and Wife
pss. Oge, A r