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Updated: June 22, 2025
Polverel, did I not say rightly that General Toussaint is the Napoleon Bonaparte of Saint Domingo?" "Yes. General Toussaint also is making for us an opening everywhere." Toussaint heard the words, but they made a faint impression at the moment of his imagination being fixed on the young artillery officer.
The great massacres and conflagrations, which have made so frightful a picture in the history of this unhappy island, had been all effected before the proclamations of Santhonax and Polverel. They had all taken place in the days of slavery, or before the year 1794, that is, before the great conventional decree of the mother country was known.
Henceforth, the city, the colony, the island, and, after a time, all Europe, rang with the name of Toussaint L'Ouverture. When Toussaint heard the cry from without, he started to his feet; and his hosts rose also, on seeing the fire in his eye brighter than during the deeds of the morning. "The general would address them," said Polverel. "You wish to speak to the people, General Toussaint."
The slaves were soon unsettled, however, by the news of what was being done elsewhere, and Polverel was convinced that emancipation could not be delayed and that for the safety of the planters themselves it was necessary to extend it to the whole island.
In the face of these events the Conventional Assembly rescinded its order, then announced that the original decree must be obeyed, and it sent three commissioners with troops to Santo Domingo, real authority being invested in Santhonax and Polverel. On June 20, 1793, at Cape François trouble was renewed by a quarrel between a mulatto and a white officer in the marines.
It is, however, usually called the Proclamation of Polverel or of Les Cayes. It came out in September 1793. We may now add, that in the month of February 1794, the Conventional Assembly of France, though probably ignorant of what the commissioners had now done, passed a decree for the abolition of slavery throughout the whole of the French colonies.
This was the first proclamation for the freeing of slaves in Santo Domingo, and as a result of it many of the Negroes came in and were enfranchised. Soon after this proclamation Polverel left his colleague at the Cape and went to Port au Prince, the capital of the West. Here things were quiet and the cultivation of the crops was going forward as usual.
With respect to those emancipated in the South and West by Polverel, we are enabled to give a pleasing account. Colonel Malenfant, who was residing in the island at the time, has made us acquainted with their general conduct and character. There were, indeed, estates which had neither owners nor managers resident on them.
These who brought them, however, had given out that some posts had been surrendered, without a summons, into the hands of the French. This was certainly the case with Marmalade and Plaisance; and others were confidently spoken of. "Offered to our hands just when our hands are tied, and we cannot take them!" said Polverel.
A boat was sent off, in due form, to bring Commissary Polverel home to Government-House. Toussaint himself went to the prison to bring out General Laveaux, with every demonstration of respect; and all presently wore the aspect of a jour-de-fete. Hour by hour tidings were spread which increased the joy of the French, and the humiliation of their foes.
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