238] 
tinguished as whites, and people of 
colour, without’ possessions, we 
would sayto them, that ina frae 
state, all hands ought to be employ- 
ed; that everyone ought to make 
a choice of a kind of labour which, 
inconcurring to the general wel- 
fare, would procure to the labeurer 
not only existence, but the conve- 
-biencies of life; that the colonial 
ystem being altered, they must no 
more establish their hopes of for- 
tune on sLAVERY, for it is FoR 
EVER ABOLISHED on the whole 
territory of Franée. Let every one, 
therefore, make the best of his in- 
dustry, devote himself to agricul- 
ture. Let not any ill founded 
shame keep him _ in inactivity, 
which is as dangerous to himself, 
as it is ruinous to the common- 
weal. Let him be convinced, that 
no occupation debases man ; let 
him know, that with the wisest 
people of antiquity, agriculture 
was considered as the first of all 
occupations. Let them, therefore, 
yenounce that state of vagrancy 
which the laws of the republic will 
punish. 
In fine, we would repeat to 
them, that asall the inhabitants of 
the colony from this instant will 
form but one class, every citizen 
will have the same rights, aud 
enjoy the same advantages; and 
that the republic establishes no 
other distinction among them, 
than those of virtue and vice, of 
talents and ignorance. 
In the name of the republic, in 
the name of humanity, in the name 
of the sacred love of our country, 
we invite all citizens to concur 
wiih us in the restoration of, order 
and agriculture; we invite them to 
forget their respective wrongs and 
quarrels 5, to makeit now theirysole 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
business to expel the enemies of 
the republic from the territory they 
have invaded, and soon to repair 
the evils and devastations which 
have been occasioned by hatred, 
passion, and civil war. 
Done at the Cape, the 25th Flo- 
real (May 15) the fourth year 
of the French Republic ; one 
and indivisible. 
The president of the commission, . 
SANTHONAX. 
The general secretary, 
PascHat. 
Proclamation of the Executive Dis 
rectory to the Armies of the Sam- 
bre and Meuse. 
New cries of war are heard on 
the banks of the Rhine. What 
rageis it thus goads on our cruel 
enemy, who, amidst his disasters 
and our triumphs, has the temerity 
of breaking an armistice which he 
himself demanded, and you granted 
him, in hopes of a speedy peace ? 
—Guided by the ferocious English, 
he receives their gold and con- 
tempt as the price of hissubmission, 
and of the blood of his bravest 
warriors. Let then the republican 
bayonet reach the tottering thrones 
of the monsters coalesced against 
the human race, and strike terror 
into their bosoms ! let your irresis- 
tible valour within a few days put 
a period to that struggle of the li. 
berty of the people against tyranny, 
which has lasted but too long ; and 
let the haughty despots, who still, 
dare to fight against that liberty, 
at last bow submissive at the aspect 
of the republican banners ! 
May 29. 
Proclamation by General Buonaparte 
and commissary Salicetti, dated 
the 30th of Floreal (19th ee 
i 
