An Account of Some of the Principal Slave Insurrections, - and Others, Which Have Occurred, or Been Attempted, in the - United States and Elsewhere, During the Last Two Centuries. by Joshua Coffin
page 30 of 50 (60%)
page 30 of 50 (60%)
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all been set free, continued to be their laborers.
Gen. La Croix, who published his "Memoirs for a History of St. Domingo" at Paris in 1819, informs us that when Santhonax returned to the colony in 1796, _"he was astonished at the state in which he found it on his return."_ This, says, La Croix, was owing to Toussaint, who, while he had succeeded in establishing perfect order and discipline among the black troops, had succeeded in making the black laborer return to the plantation, there to resume the drudgery of cultivation. But the same author tells us that, in the next year, 1797, the most wonderful progress had been made in agriculture. He uses these remarkable words:--_"The colony marched as by enchantment to its former splendor; cultivation prospered; every day produced perceptible proofs of its progress. The city of the Cape and the plantations of the North rose up again visibly to the eye."_ To effect this wonderful improvement, many circumstances conspired, but principally the fact that the negroes, being free, had a powerful motive to be industrious and obedient. The next witness is Gen. Vincent, who was a colonel, and afterwards a general of brigade of artillery at St. Domingo, and was there during the time of Santhonax and Toussaint. He was called to Paris by Toussaint, when he arrived just at the moment of the peace of Amiens, and found, to his inexpressible surprise and grief, that Bonaparte was preparing an immense armament, to be commanded by Le Clerc, for the purpose of _restoring slavery in St. Domingo!_ Against this expedition, the General remonstrated with the First Consul, telling him that, though the army destined for this purpose was composed of |
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