No. 4.

ANTI-SLAVERY

MONTHLY REPORTER.

HAYTI.

THE French Government, has, at length, in consideration of the sum of 150 millions of francs, as an indemnity to the ancient proprietors of lands in the French portion of St. Domingo, consented to acknowledge the independence of that country. Independent they have been, in point of fact, for a quarter of a century; we might say, from the time of the French Revolution; and there was no reason to fear, that either by arms or artifice, they could be made to return to their servile condition: so that France may be considered as having received a most gratuitous boon for her acknowledgment, independently of the commercial advantages she may derive from the recognition, especially as the impolitic tardiness of our own Government, has prevented our securing the commercial advantages, and perhaps, preferences, which might have been our own, but which will now no longer be within our reach.

There is however, as yet, much that is ambiguous, in the terms in which the independence of Hayti has been recognised. It is recognised not in the usual mode of a treaty regularly contracted between independent parties; but in a Royal Ordonnance, issuing by the sole fiat of the French King, who in the style of a Sovereign thus proclaims his on the subject::

will

Paris, April 17.

"CHARLES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, KING OF FRANCE AND

46 NAVARRE.

"To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting.

"Considering Articles 14 and 73 of the Charter, desiring to provide for what is called for by the interests of the French Merchants, the misfortunes of the ancient Colonies of St. Domingo, and the precarious situation of the present inhabitants of that Island;

"We have ordained and ordain as follows:

“ART. 1. The Ports of the French part of St. Domingo are open to the Commerce of all nations.

"The duties levied in the Ports, either upon vessels or merchandize, whether entering or going out, shall be equal and uniform for all flags except for the French flag, in favour of which these duties shall be reduced one-half.

"2. The present inhabitants of St. Domingo shall pay into the Caisse Generale des Depós et des Consignations of France, in five equal instalments from year to year, the first of which will become due on the 31st of December, 1825, the sum of 150,000,000 of francs, destined to indemnify the ancient Colonists who shall claim an indemnity.

"3. We grant, on these conditions, by the present Ordinance, to the actual inhabitants of the French part of the Island of St. Domingo, the full and entire independence of their Government.

“The present Ordinance shall be sealed with the great Seal.

“Given at Paris, at the Palace of the Tuileries, the 17th of

66

“ April, the year of grace 1825, and in the First of our reign. "CHARLES."

(By the King)

“The Peer of France, Minister, Secretary of State for the Department of Marne and Colonies,

(Sealed) "Count DE CHABROL.

"The Keeper of the Seals of France, Minister, Secretary of State for the Department of Justice.

(Countersigned)

"Count DE PEYRONNET.

"The President of the Council of Ministers,

" M. DE VILLELE.”

But whatever be the doubts which may hang over this transaction as to its form, no doubt can exist that the measure is one of immense importance, and big with the most momentous consequences to the whole of the Slave Colonies in the western world. It cannot but be deemed to hold out a loud warning to the Colonists to shape their way as speedily as possible to a safe and amicable extinction of Slavery, before the extremity arrives (as arrrive it may, under various probable contingencies, especially in the event of another war), when the question may be, whether the mother country shall be forced either to abandon the Planters to their fate, or to imitate the conduct of France, in waging in defence of them a long, bloody, unpopular, and most ruinously expensive contest to end only in degradation and defeat.

As we have alluded thus far to the subject of Hayti, we shall subjoin a few particulars respecting what is stated, on good authority, to be the present condition of that country.

The Island of St. Domingo, it is well known, is of great value, both in an agricultural and commercial view. It is generally mountainous, but has many extensive plains and beautiful valleys. Its climate, considering the latitude, is salubrious and delightful, being tempered by the mountain breezes and trade winds. The immense wealth which it poured into France, while in a state of Colonial dependence, proves its fertility and great resources. The government is professedly framed on the model of the United States of America; the legislative and executive powers being vested in a President, Senate, and Chamber of Deputies. The Deputies consist of two from the principal city of each department, (Port-au-Prince sends three), and one from each district; they are elected quinquennially by the people, all males of 21 years of age having a vote. The duties and privileges of all classes are defined

by the constitution: the Code Napoleon is in substance the law of the land. Having hitherto been unacknowledged, and being obliged to keep on foot a large force, both for achieving and maintaining their independence; and having only their own arms to rely upon, for exemption from slavery or extermination; the Government has hitherto assumed chiefly a military aspect; but a standing army being now less necessary, we may hope to view it under a more peaceful appearance; especially as its constitution is opposed to a military government, and is founded on the modern system of checks and balances, and is not ill calculated to secure public and private liberty and prosperity. Since the union of the whole Island under the present administration, great improvements are stated to have taken place; and for more than two years there has been the most perfect internal tranquillity. The President is popular; and the Government appeared to be quite stable, even before the recent recognition of its independence. Indeed, all disinterested persons, who have visited and examined the Island, have stated that its fastnesses and mountains, the good discipline of its army, the spirit of liberty which animates the people, and the confidence of the public in a Government which, by a pure administration of justice, secures liberty and property, and guarantees to every human being who touches its shores, the rights of freedom, without distinction of clime or colour, rendered invasion an utterly hopeless project. The Legislature appear to be acting upon principles of sound policy; they have recently equalized the duties on imports; lessened those on exports, and banished some remains of the feudal system in matters of property. The Police is excellent; so that public crimes and outrages are far more rare than might have been expected, considering that most of the elder and middle-aged population, and the parents of the younger, were born Slaves, and must therefore, have been but ill qualified for all the duties and dignities of freemen. The moral and intellectual taint hence derived, is, however, still painfully visible, and years must elapse before many of the habits and vices engendered by Slavery will have wholly disappeared. This serious disadvantage the Haytians inherit (and inherit, be it remembered, from European hands,) in common with the lately enfranchised regions of South and Central America: but they are taking the best means to check its perpetuation, by encouraging education, and according to the best ideas which their late masters thought fit to give them, religion. To promote the former, the Government has established both Colleges and Schools of mutual instruction, of both which classes of institutions the public defray a great part of the expense. These excitements were absolutely necessary; for every person who has witnessed the general indifference of uneducated persons, even in our own country, for the education of their children, will easily infer that great difficulties must exist in instilling such a desire into the population of an Island, where, thirty-three years ago, almost all were Slaves, and, as such, prevented, by a cruel policy, from being made acquainted with the simplest elements of mental cultivation. These remarks apply chiefly, to those who were Slaves before the Revolution. Among those who have always enjoyed their freedom, there are many

who are distinguished for intelligence and liberality of sentiment. Not a few were educated in France; and many of the children of both sexes are still sent to that country for instruction. There are several Printing Presses on the Island, from which issue a few Newspapers and one monthly publication.

With regard to the second point, Religion, when it is recollected who were the late masters of the Island, and in what manner West-Indian Colonies were peopled, it will not be wondered at that the Haytian population are not either very intelligent or very consistent Christians. The majority of them were African Pagans, torn from their homes; who acquired little of Christianity but the name, and not perhaps always even that, by their residence in a professedly Christian and Catholic Colony. The present race have renounced their Pagan for Popish superstitions, or for a total disregard of all religious observances. A Protestant Sunday is unknown; for, though the public offices, and generally the wholesale stores, are shut, yet the Sunday market still exists, and comparatively little attention is devoted to religious duties. The Catholic holidays are retained; and the Churches are open, and Mass performed, on occasion of their recurrence; but they have the effect there, as every where else, of creating habits of idleness and vicious indulgence, rather than of strengthening religious sanctions. Many of the higher classes, we fear, have imbibed the infidelity of the French school. There is, however, on every hand, a visible and rapid improvement. The manners of the people are much less coarse than might have been expected, and even partake, it is said, of great civility, having been modelled on the proverbially polished deportment of French society. Marriage, that almost unknown institution among West-India Slaves, is beginning to be duly honoured among the poorest classes; and we trust, that, by the blessing of God, many years will not elapse before moral and spiritual improvements will have ensued, equal to those which have ameliorated their civil condition; and that, being now blessed with temporal freedom and security, they will become encreasingly partakers of the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

MESSRS. LECESNE AND ESCOFFERY. Since the Second Report of the Anti-Slavery Society was published, (see page 14,) the case of the above named Gentlemen has been brought before the House of Commons by Dr. Lushington, in a speech which produced a deep impression on the House, and obtained from Mr. Canning an assurance that the whole affair should undergo a full and fair investigation, with a view, in the event of their complaints being substantiated, of rendering them adequate redress and reparation. The following statement exhibits in substance, the particulars of this transaction.

In the month of October, 1823, Lewis Celeste Lecesne and John Escoffery, were put under arrest, by a warrant of the Duke of Manchester, the Governor of Jamaica, as aliens, and as dangerous persons, in order to be instantly deported from the Island. They found time, however, to make an application to the Supreme Court of Jamaica, to

be brought before it by Habeas Corpus; and, the whole of their case having been submitted to that tribunal, and argued at great length, they were discharged by order of the Judges, who declared them to be British-born subjects.

While they were in jail, a memorial, signed by thirty of the most respectable merchants and magistrates, (one of them a member of the House of Assembly, and another the Provost-Marshal-General,) was submitted to the Governor, bearing the highest testimony to the characters of Lecesne and Escoffery, whom many of them had known from their infancy, and others had known for many years; and all of whom expressed a concurrent conviction that these men were not only British subjects, but perfectly free from all imputation of disaffection or dis. loyalty. This petition, thus respectably signed, was treated as unworthy of serious consideration. It was asserted that the petitioners were principally the creditors of these persons, and interested in keeping them on the Island; while the unquestionable fact has proved to be, that out of the thirty petitioners, only five were creditors, and these to an amount not greater than £25 each, exclusive of an open accountcurrent with one house, that of Watson, Williams, and Co., the exact amount of which is uncertain. These men had uniformly borne an excellent character, not only for the punctuality of their commercial dealings, but for their general conduct, both as citizens and as members of the Militia, in which they held the rank of serjeants. Mr. Hall, a Magistrate of Kingston, in particular, bore the most unequivocal testimony to their respectability, and to the confidence he placed in them; and this testimony he has repeated in this country, where he now resides. But although this powerful testimony in their favour, together with the clear proof of their national character, was disregarded by the Executive Government of the Island, it had its full effect in the Supreme Court, which, as has been stated, after a long and laborious hearing, discharged both the individuals. On this occasion, six freeholders attended in the Court to offer bail; but the Chief Justice said that the Court required none, for the men were proved to be British subjects, and he knew of no charge against them.

The subsequent proceedings, however, were still more extraordinary. Shortly after their discharge by the Court of King's Bench, Mr. Hector Mitchell, with whom this outrageous persecution appears to have originated, moved in the House of Assembly for a Secret Committee, which was granted, for investigating the matter. He was himself appointed the Chairman; and Mr. Barnes, the Mayor of Kingston, who was actively concerned with Mr. Mitchell in the arrest of these men, together with two others who had been retained as Counsel against them, were associated with him in the Committee. What evidence was taken before this Secret Committee does not yet appear, but, whatever it was, it was wholly ex parte; not a single witness in behalf of the persons accused having been heard, or even cited; and no notice having been given them of an investigation so nearly affecting them. All that is known of the proceedings of this Committee is a Report, in which the assertion was repeated that these men were aliens, and persons dangerous to the peace