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quietness in the colony, when the proprietors were in peaceful possession of their estates, when cultivation was making a rapid progress, and the blacks were industrious and happy beyond example.
He begged that this beautiful state of things might not be reversed.
The remonstrance was not regarded, and the expedition proceeded.
Its issue is well known.
Threatened once more with the horrors of slavery, the peaceful and quiet laborer became transformed into a demon of ferocity.
The plough-share and the pruning-hook gave way to the pike and the dagger.
The white invaders were driven back by the sword and the pestilence; and then, and not till then, was the property of the planters seized upon by the excited and infuriated blacks.
In 1804 Dessalines was proclaimed Emperor of Hayti.
The black troops were in a great measure disbanded, and they immediately returned to the cultivation of the plantations.
From that period up to the present there has been no want of industry among the inhabitants.
Mr. Harvey,1 who during the reign of Christophe resided at Cape Francois, in describing the character and condition of the inhabitants, says: “It was an interesting sight to behold this class of the Haytiens, now in possession of their freedom, coming in groups to the market nearest which they resided, bringing the produce of their industry there for sale; and afterwards returning, carrying back the necessary articles of living which the disposal of their commodities had enabled them to ”
1 Sketches of Hayti.
Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1888-89.
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