Vacant Lands. 105 
bilitation undertaken by tbe Founders of tlie Republic, and to 
remain faithful to the National Traditions. 
I will, firstly, place under your eyes what has been done by 
my predecessors and by myself to advance this question to a 
practical result; and then I will submit to your Excellency the 
conclusions which it seems to me proper to adopt. 
On the 22d of August, 1859, the Government, by a circular 
of the Secretary of State of the Interior and of Agriculture, 
made an appeal to all persons of our race who suffer from the 
prejudice of color. Hayti offers them a refuge, and facilities to 
come and establish themselves among us. To agriculturalists, 
particularly, they guarantee an immediate position, in harmony 
with their pecuniary standing. They may become landed pro¬ 
prietors, farmers, or laborers on halves, [a moitie fruits,] or by 
the week. Those among them who had not the means of pay¬ 
ing their passage would be received at the expense of the Gov¬ 
ernment. 
It was stated that the emigrants would be excused from mili^ 
tary service,—the service of the National Guard alone being 
obligatory on all citizens. 
Convinced of the importance of informing families who 
desired to come to our country, of the liberality of our Institu¬ 
tions in matters of religious belief, the Government guaranteed, 
conformably with the disposition of our laws, the public exercise 
of the worship that each of them professed. 
This appeal was received abroad with numerous commenda¬ 
tions, emanating as well from those who were themselves inter¬ 
ested, as from the friends of humanity. It was a proof of the 
honorable position of the country which enabled us to throw 
afar off a ray of civilization. 
But this first step made by our Government was only a gen¬ 
eral enunciation of generous intentions. Subsequent relations 
with men well disposed towards our race have called our atten¬ 
tion to points of detail which it was useful to examine, or to 
which it becomes necessary to give precise replies. 
