The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-25
4FEA1Rs IN ,MARTINIoUE.
Revolt of the Negroes-A Black Republic
Proclaimed.
"A correspondent OF the New York World,
writing from Havana onFthe 9th instant, says: :

"A correspondent OF the New York World,
writing from Havana, ontthe 9th instant, says:
The troubles OF unfortunate France have reach
ed her West india possessions. Cable dispatches
from here must have. told you on yesterday or
the day preceding OF negro tnsurrection In Mar.
tiniuue. From aFrench gentleman just arrived
from St.. Pierre, the principal toWn OF shs Island,
ton that may well prove OF interest," so Ishasten
to give them. g.. .,.--.=-,z...
lantique, which touched tatt Franoes scapi'
tai OF Martinique, on the 2lst ult, brought the
news OF the French disaster at sedan, the lall OF
the Empire, and proclamation OF the Republic.
The Governor, Bonapartist, OF course, who has
been on the island and In ONCE not more than
Two months, and the other leading officials, gra.
clously submitted to the changes operated ID
their country, and on the 22d q proclamation was
Issued BY them to the people, informing them
that from that moment Martinique ceased to be q
possesslon OF the French Empire, and became Q
part OF the Republic Of France, to be governed
With liberal Republican laws. The next day, or
on the 23d the most unexpected response OF the
blacks OF the eastern portion Of the Island was
the PROCLAMATION OF the: Republic OF Martinique,
the African element to predominant In the gov.
ernment; after the fashion OF Hayn and Santo
Domingo. The leaders OF the movement are 8ll
OF the same family--an old negro planter, who
has had many difficulties with the French
authorities about matters criminal a3 well
well as political, and his nine sons The principal
worthy OF their African natures, consisting In
firing the mills and buildings Of sngar planta.
tatlons, and when my Informant ielt 81. Pierre
twenty-eIght plantations had thus been laid
waste Only three OF the owners and oVerBeers
had. however been killed, and they because OF en-
deayors to resist the work OF destruction OF the
blacks; 1t Is remarkable that only private plan:
tati0ns the properties Of whites and llght'colored
mulattoes, have been attacked. tne large mus MUS
mainly grind canes purchased by the weight
from the small planters. generally negroes,
having all been spared, although hall dozen or
Tne leaders declare that these mills are to. belong
TO the Republic OF Martinique when it shall be
established and; therefore, must not be injured
or burnt by the soldiers Of that as yet in embryo
republic. ,,,,s
the authorities unpossessed OF the military forces
necessary for its prompt suppression, 80 tnat IL
had to be allowed to spread Tor q Few days unop-
posed and thus quickly gathered SnSa stTeng.a
mant left St. Pierre, three thousand 70 I'VE thous.
and men, but few, however, armed with guns,
the great mass having only pixies or cane Knives.
In regular az anG ga aetdn ess
than four hundred men; 80 he had TO call upon
the people for volunteers, and In response some
six hundred men, mostly whites have been 1ur'
nlshed and armed, st. Pierre ior lts SNARE Supply
ing over two hundred men. The regular force and
volunteers were, as fast as possible, sent 70 tne
reyolted parishes, and 1rst engagement and first
victory, for the French had occurred some tWefVe
miles from the plantation on which the revolt
started. a French captain with detachment OF
sixty men surprising aome one hundred negroes
whilst they were plaging o handsome planta.
tion residence. In the ensuing fray the captain
WAS killed and this 80 angered his mel tnat tney
were not satisfied with having Killed aud wound
ed dozen negroes, but IN further revenge snot
ali the prisoners they had taken, twenty elgnt IN
number. Other encounters had taken place, ana
INV informant heard from French omcer an
hour or so before departing from st. Pierre that
fully one hundred negroes had been killed 70 9
half dozen Freuchmen. and that the SO called
OF the revolt was leaving the east OF the is-
land before the vigorous attacks OF the
french. moving towards the north, where
II. wonld. no doubt, receive many recruits.
the blacks being most numerous there.
Notwithstanding this recruiting my lnlor-
mani believes the revolt must and will be
soon conquered, provided the west and south 90
moi sustain 1t. But there's the rub. In the en-.
ylrons of st. Pierre which Is In the west, the ae
groes are nearly all more or less dissatisfied with
Erench rnle. and the same is said to be the case
with the negroes OF the south. Should the revolt,
then spread to the whole Island. as 1t well may,
there is for sure no telling how 1t Will terminate
France az present being unable to send troops to
the island. With the probability Of such spread
the French residents are according to my lnfor'
ant. naturally apprehensve as to what the future
has In store for them, and one may well account
for their apprehensions remembering the sad en-
nerIeuce and terrible misfortunes that bele their
countrymen from the negro revolt OF Hayti at IN e
close Of the last and commencement. ol tnis CEN
tury.