A VISIT TO THE EMPEROR OF HAITI. 



193 



his election as Emperor to the accident of his name having 

 been mentioned in the Senate at the moment when the 

 votes were divided between two candidates, neither of 

 whom had a sufficient majority. He then became the 

 means of conciliation between the parties. The blacks 

 voted for him on account of his ebony skin, the mulattos 

 because they thought they had no reason to fear the am- 

 bition of one who had till then been quite unknown. But 

 the latter were not long in discovering that they had given 

 to themselves a master, and not a flexible instrument. 

 Hence proceeded the sanguinary events of the month of 

 April, 1848. 



" Soulouque triumphed in consequence of his display- 

 ing a terrible energy of character. His victory was dis- 

 graced by some frightful executions. Perfidious counsel- 

 lore drove him into a course of vengeance, speaking of 

 nothing less than exterminating the whole colored race, who 

 form the fifth of the population of Haiti. In this state of 

 matters, the consul-general of France acquired for ever the 

 gratitude of humanity. In the midst of the balls which 

 whistled through the streets of Port-au-Prince, he repaired 

 to the chief of the state, and succeeded, after reiterated 

 efforts, in obtaining from him an amnesty, which excluded 

 only twelve persons whose safety had been already secured. 

 In departing with the good news M. Raybaud said to Sou- 

 louque, 4 President, of all the persons here present, I am 

 the only one who does not depend on you, and my opinion 

 should appear to you at least the most disinterested. 

 Many of these persons (pointing to the instigators of the 

 crime,) excite your resentment as much as possible, and 

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