716 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



eases, plague, famine, conflagration, 

 poison, are his constant attt^ndants. 

 But why calculate on the assistance 

 of the climate and of the elements ? 

 Have I forgot that I commanded a 

 people of no common cast, brought 

 ■up in adversity, whose audacious 

 daring frowns at obstacles and in- 

 creases by dangers ? Let them come, 

 then, tiu'se homicidal cohorts ! I 

 ■wait lor them with firmness and with 

 a steady eye. I abandon to them 

 freely the sea shore, and the places 

 "where cities have existed ; but woe 

 to those who may approach too 

 near the mountains ! It were bet- 

 ter for them that the sea received 

 them into its profound abyss, than 

 to be devoured by the angor of the 

 children of Ha^ ti. — " War to death 

 to tyrants !" this is my motto ! " li- 

 berty! independence!" this is our 



rallying cry Generals, officers, 



soldiers, a little unlike him who has 

 preceded n)e, the ex-general Tous- 

 saint Louvcrture, 1 have been faith- 

 ful to the prpmise which I made to 

 you when I took up arms against 

 tyranny, and whilst the last spark 

 of life remains in me I shall keep 

 juy oath — " Never again shall a co- 

 lonist or an European set his foot 

 upon this territory with the, title of 

 master or proprietor." This reso- 

 lution shall henceforward form tlic 

 fundamental basis of our consitu- 

 tion. — Should other chiefs, after 

 nie, by pursuing a conduct diame- 

 trically opposite to mine, dig their 

 own graves and those of their own 

 species, you will have to accuse only 

 the laws -of destiny, which shall 

 have taken me away from the hap- 

 piness and welfare of my fellow 

 citizens. May my successors follow 

 the path 1 shall have traced out 

 for them! It is the system best 

 adapted for consolidating their pow- 

 3 



er ; it is the highest homage they 

 can render to my memory. — As it is 

 derogatory to my character and ray 

 dignity to punish the innocent lor 

 the crimes of the guilty, a handful 

 of whites, commendable by the re- 

 ligion tbey have always professed, 

 and who have besides taken the 

 oath to live with us in the woods, . 

 have experienced my clemency. I 

 order that the sword respect them, 

 and that they be unmolested. — I 

 recommend anew and order to all 

 the generals of departments, Sec. to 

 grant succours, encouragement, and 

 protection to all nt>utral and friend- 

 ly nations, who may wish to esta- 

 blish commercial relations in this 

 island. 



Proclamation hif Dcssalines, dated 1 

 at the Cape, Maij 8, ISOi ; Jirst 

 Year of Independence. 



Scarce had the French army been 

 expelled, when you hastened to ac- 

 knowledge my authority : by a free 

 and spontaneous movement of your 

 heart, you ranged yourselves under 

 my subje<5^ion. IVIore careful of 

 the prosperity than the ruin of that 

 part which you inhabit, I gave to 

 this homage a favourable rcco])tion. 

 From tliat moment I have consi- 

 dered you as my children, and my 

 lidelity to you remains undiminished. 

 As a proof of my paternal solicitude, 

 within the places which have sub- 

 mitted to my power, I have pro- 

 posed for chiefs none but men chosen 

 from amongst yourselves. Jealous 

 of counting you in the rank of my 

 friends, that I might ^,i\e you all 

 the time necessary for recollection, 

 and that 1 might assure myself of 

 your iidelity, I have hitherto re- 

 strained the burning ardour of my 



soldiers. 



