Year: 1859

man, noble being, having even some majestic
traits in his character; but the slave is mere
thing the mere living goods and chattels of anoth-
er. But it is not true that lIayti had retrograded
1t was to be remembered that after they mad drv-
en- out the thirty thousand soldiers sent to the
island by Napoleon, they had yet to live under
arms, for France still had its eye upon them. The
whole nation was one vast military camp, but they
have resolved never again to submit to the yoke OF
slavery If the course Of this people was narrowly
watched, it would be seen that, notwithstanding
they were necessarily a military people, ard living
under military discipline, they had gradually or
ganized their civil institutions and their systems
Jurisprudence, of and took the forms Of civilization;
andall this wthFrance eagerly watching for the mo-
ment to seize upon the island as her prey Hayti had
not retrograded Her various constitutions, her
codes of law, were proof of both mental and NOR
al stamina in her people, to extraordinary de-
gree 1t was true that the people of Hay had not
prospered with thatrapidi,y that their friends could
have wished, but the matter to be looked at in
the light of reason and common sense


He had been asked great many times since he
came to this country-'Do you really think that
those ITayticns are men of capacty-that they are



zion, after twenty years of experience among that
people, had perfectly astonished him. If any one
wished to know what the intellectual character
and capacity o! the Haytien people were let him
read their laws and constitutions, 60 into their
courts of law and jurisprudence, developing the
principles of right and exposing the wrong-reas-
oning with power, energy ability, intelligence ell
loquence. Let him look at their system Of com
merce at their government dispatches, at their in
ercourse with England France, and with all the
world, and he would find what the intellectual
character of the Hayt tien is 1t would be found
that he is sound grammarian, that he is capable
of becoming as able mathematician as ANYBODY
else, that he is as capable of becoming correct
and thorough historian as anybody else. Those
who wished to know anything about the ntelectu-
al character Of the black men of that land should
simply take the trouble to inform themselves Of
the plain, straightforward everyday facts that
are seen there in the general movements Of life,
just precisely as everywhere else. My conclusion
is, said Mr. Bird, formed upon twenty years ex-
perience, and upon close observation and inspec-
ton, that the IIaytan is exactly like other people
find him to be no better; do not find him
any worse. l find him to be the same wicked sim
ner that We all are capable of all that education
and all that Christianity can do for him. am
perfectly and entirely satisfied with regard to these
matters


Mr.. Bird then spoke Of the many revolutions
which had occurred in the island, which arc some
times referred to as evidence that the people do not
possess the capacity to govern. lie reviewed the
history of the several revolutions, and showed that
they proved not an incapacity to govern, but de-
termination, the part of the Haytiens, that the
nation should progress in dignity, prosperity and
Intelligence, and a resolution to overthrow every
government that hindered such progress. In refer
ence to the Empire, under Soulouque, Mr.. B. said
he wished it well understood that this form of gov
ernment not, and never had been, in harmony
with the feelings of the educated portion of the peo-
pie of Hasti. Soulouque, having risen to power
in consequence of domestic quarrcls, feeling him
self supported by thirty thousand bayonets,
thought he could do what he pleased; and in fact,
played a great many fantastic tricks, and acted
very foolishly and ridiculously. The result was
that the people, when they found he was not car
rying out their plans, overthrow Soulouaue, cap
sized his empire, broke his crown to pieces, and
sent him about his business. daughter and ap-



plause.)


Hayti, said Mr.. B. has plenty of intelligence /;
Hayti has.great and noble minds; Hayti thrsts for
knowledge; Hayti longs to move on in the path Of
progress with the human race. But, after all.
something has been wanting in Hayti; this must
TO admitted. Now, my friends, am in the habit
of viewing man as moral as we'll as an intelec-
tual being. l believe that man has moral as we'll
as intellectual capacities and have long been
convinced, that whatever may be the degree of in
telligence that men may possess, however
broad tho grasp of their minds. however
capable of following the stars in their courses or
unfolding the secret laws of nature, still, there
must be the moral ballast there must be With all
this knowledge Of those eternal laws aud princi-
Piles of right which emanate from the fountain Of
all righteousness and truth and do not hesitate
to say, that however weldeveioped the mind and
tho intellect, If there be not that moral compass,
the ship will 60 adrift; immortal man will be like
the planet that has lost it's centre, and will be in
danger of Ainging himself into moral perdition.
am under conviction that in this will be found
the secret Of oil that we have to regret in IIayd
No want Of mind there no want of intelligence
there, no want Of capable men there; but there is
a want Of moral principle, want of moral truth
Nor need any one be surprised at this. The con,
diton Of the slaves is to he remembered-be
ers IN feiohie,, and all tho other superstisons pc
culiar to their forefathcrs. Then, again, remem.
Der that there is nothing in Popery that tends to
sanetifS the nobler faculties of the human mind
and heart. l WOULD here say that the people OF
Hayti have never recognized the power Of the
Pope; they have always considered the power Of
the Court OF Rome as nimical to And incompatible
with their national liberty there they have never
recognized the authority of the Court of Rome.
nor have they ever allowed Bishop of thatChurch
to reside in their capital. The natural oonse-
quenes has been, that whatever of purity whatever
of good may belong to the Church Of Rome has
been excluded from Hayti. Therefore, let no one
be scandalized when express myself as have