56 Ethel Lee Howie 



colonies, the property of the colonies, and the maintenance of 

 their workers with the abolition of slavery and the traffic, there is 

 no colonist who would not quickly give proofs of his humanity 

 and patriotism."-^- Garat contrasted the distance that the San 

 Domingo deputies were from their constituents with the distance 

 that the deputies of France were from their constituents. The 

 French deputies, because of the rapid and continual comm.unica- 

 tion between all parts of France and Versailles, could easily be 

 under the eyes of their constituents while those of San Domingo 

 could not be thus watched. It was, therefore, necessary, perhaps, 

 to admit a greater number of delegates from the colony in order 

 to be assured of their integrity.^^^ Due Choiseul de Praslin on 

 July 4 stated that his cahier demanded a representation from 

 San Domingo and asked how a representation could be refused 

 when riches were immense and their commerce flourished in every 

 country.^®* 

 The discussion on the negro problem and on riches as a basis 

 for representation was practically ended on July 3, but the num- 

 ber of deputies to be accorded had not been decided. The ques- 

 tion was taken up for discussion in the bureaus on the even- 

 ing of July 3-^^ and the debate was renewed in the assembly 



^^~ Point du jour, I, 107; Assemhlce nationale, I, 335, says that M. 

 d'Arsy said regarding the relation of population to taxation, " La popu- 

 lation, et c'est ici vraiment Tarticle le plus interessant, s'evalue par les 

 impots, par les richesses que la colonic verse dans le commerce; or toutes 

 nos colonies versent a peu pres soixante millions, et Saint-Domingue y 

 entre pour cinquante; elle supporte plus de neuf millions d'impots directs 

 et indirects." 



"^^^ Courricr de Provence, I, i6th letter; Point du jour, I, 100; Duques- 

 noy, Journal, I, 160; Assemblee nationale, I, 333. 



294 The Point du jour, I, 107, simply mentions that the duke spoke ; the 

 Assemblee nationale, I, 346, says that the nobles of Angers asked that San 

 Domingo have a deputation. The Due Choiseul de Praslin was a deputy 

 from Angers and he is evidently the one referred to here. 



^^^ Assemblee nationale, I, 2)?)^'^ Proces-verbal, No. 14; Point du jour, 

 I, 103 ; Duquesnoy, Journal, I, 160. 



The Bulletins de I'asscmblee nationale states that the bureaus met at five 

 o'clock to consider the San Domingo question. " La discussion s'est faite 

 par I'appel des membres selon I'ordre de la liste. 



338 



