Haiti_ 1823_ Call for U.S

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8/12/13 Haiti: 1823: Call for U.S. to recognize Haiti

www2.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/history/earlyhaiti/recognition.htm

1823 CALL FOR U.S. TO RECOGNIZE HAITI

From: NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Md., Sept. 27, 1823

Note from Bob Corbett: The United States finally recognized the independence in 1862. Below is a ratherextraordinary piece, informed and persuasive, arguing for recognition. This piece was published in 1823, a

full 39 years before recognition. Also, along the way the author says some wonderful things about Haiti.

This is in contrast to so much of the history I read. Often, in Haitian as well as foreign sources, one oftenreads that after the Revolution it was one long down hill road for Haiti to today. This author takes adramatically different tact. In the end the author lacks the full courage of the position, but comes very close

It is LONG, but worth it. It includes what seems like a longish detour into Jamaica, but it is to support the

Haiti argument.

Bob CorbettMay 2000

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NILES' WEEKLY REGISTERBaltimore. September 27, 1823

[Corbett notes: The piece below is unsigned. It is impossible to tell from context if it is the Register'seditorial position, a staff member, guest author or member of the public in a letter. It is worth noting thatthis is some 39 years before the United States finally recognized the independence of Haiti.]

HAYTI

It is strongly recommended by many, that the United Sties should officially acknowledge a fact which reallyexists, the independence of Hayti. Much may be said on both sides of the question; and, though, the generalopinion is against the proceeding, some notice of this neighboring nation of people of color, cannot beuninteresting or unprofitable; for Hayti, very important just now, promises to have effects on the state ofsociety in this part of the world, of great moment to the people of the United States and of the West Indies.

One writer,, who assumes the possession of most respectable information, regards the population asamounting to a million. This must, I think, be a large exaggeration. The whole number of persons on theisland, at the time of its greatest cultivation and commercial prosperity, (even when it employed 200,000

tons of shipping in the trade with France only, and exported, from the French part, about 170,000,000 lbs.of sugar, and 80,000,000 1bs. coffee, with large quantities of cotton, indigo, etc.), did not exceed 575,000souls. At that time,, to supply the waste of human life, 30,000 fresh negroes were annually imported fromAfrica, in about one hundred vessels; and the other trade with foreign places employed, about 60,000 tonsof shipping more. But, when the revolution broke out, the whites, (say 31,000), and the mulatoes, (20,000)were massacreed (sic) or forced to fly, or killed in the troubles that followed, and so there remained onlyabout 500,000 blacks. We have seen it repeatedly stated, that this class of persons has not increased sincethat period; on the contrary, I believe it has been said, by authority in Hayti, that its number had declined;and if, when we call to recollection the many destructive insurrections and wars to which the island wassubject until a late date, and the exterminating (sic) principles that were adopted by the contending chiefs,with the great destruction of life through the wantonness of tyranny in the late "king Henry" and his


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unfeeling and brutal adherents, we should suppose that the present population cannot amount to half amillion in the whole island -- that which was the Spanish part being very scantily peopled. But this is a largeand formidable stock to be acted upon -- and, under a mild and peaceable government, encouraging the artsand protecting property and domestic industry, it will be augmented with unprecedented rapidity, andacquire a power to maintain not only the independence of Hayti, but to dictate the law to neighboring placesat will, or conquer them at discretion.

This island, by the nature of the climate on its coasts, the fastnesses of its interior, the fertility of its soil and

the amount of its spontaneous production of articles fitted for food, and, more than all, the number andcharacter of its inhabitants, is, perhaps more able to maintain its own sovereignty than almost any othernation or state; and any one would much more readily insure the presidency of it to Boyer than the crown oFrance to Louis, though the latter, by virtue of that crown, claims the possession of this great and mostvaluable country. The best appointed, and perhaps the most numerous army that ever crossed the Atlantic,(under Napoleon's brother-in-law, Le Clere), attempted a subjugation of it -- but the blacks retired to themountains and kept the French confined to the coast, and they died off "like rotten sheep," by thousands.Before this, the British attempted to reduce it -- the whole force employed was 15,000 choice troops; and, inabout one year, almost without battle, they were reduced to 3,000 men fit for service. Hompesch's regimentof hussars was cut down from 1000 to 300 men in about two months, and every man of the 96th regimentdied! and besides this pro. digital (sic) waste of life, the expedition directly cost not less than twenty millions

of dollars. It effected nothing, nor could 100,000 of the best trained troops in the world, supported by all theBritish navy, and supplied at the cost of hundreds of millions of money, reduce the island, if the peopleremained true to their own liberty and independence. They would only have to fly to the mountains, (whichproduce enough to subsist them), harass their enemy by small parties, and leave the rest to disease --unlessthey pleased to meet them in the field, which they might do with 70 or 80,000 well armed and disciplinedmen. The present regular force is between 40 and 50,000 excellent soldiers, naturalized to the climate;which, so fatal to the whites, is not particularly injurious to them, even when subjected to such exposures aswould produce almost certain death to their enemies, within two or three days. A brief notice of the historyof the Maroons, in Jamaica, may shew the nature of that defense which the blacks of Hayti might offer to aninvading enemy, if the latter were powerful enough to compel them to abandon the roasts and the plains ofthe island -- and Hayti has every possible advantage for such a defense that Jamaica affords, the character ofthe country in both being the same, except that the soil of Hayti is the richest and most productive of roots,etc. used for food, of which resource source the inhabitants could not be deprived, vegetation beingperpetual and exceedingly rapid.

When Jamaica was taken from the Spaniards in 1655, the slaves, about 1500 only in all, on the surrender oftheir masters, retreated to the mountains, and began to act for themselves like freemen. They soon acquiredthe name of Maroons, and were considerably reinforced by fugitive slaves, for they, at first, received suchas fled to them. In less than 8 years, such had been the amount of their depredations, or, perhaps, correctlyspeaking the effects of the war which they carried on, that a full pardon, with 20 acres of land and freedomfrom all manner of servitude, were offered to each one who would surrender himself. They preferred their

own independent way of living -- they checked the approach of the whites, and defeated party after party,force after force, attempting to subdue them. Various embassies were sent to them, but they refused to treat.By the year 1730, the colony had spent no less than 240,000l. for their suppression, and hundreds of liveshad been lost. At this time, a great chief, named Cudjoe, appeared among them; he collected them moretogether, built a town on the top of the mountains, and two whole regiments were sent to reduce him; severebattles took place, and the blacks were defeated at length, and much dispersed. But they renewed thecontest -- they secretly passed into the settlements, fired the cane-fields and outhouses, carried off slaves,and killed many of the whites. This desultory war was dreadful to the planters and the troops. Great effortswere made to end it: the church-wardens were required to furnish blood-hounds and packs of dogs, to huntthe negroes; and, in 1737, two hundred of the Mosquito Indians were induced to leave their country andassist in the destruction of the little band of Maroons, and they were of much service: yet, in 1738, the


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British were reduced to the necessity of making a treaty with them, assigning them land and securing it totheir posterity, and the Maroons, on their part, agreed not to harbor runaway, slaves, or commitdepredations. After sometime, this treaty ceased to produce much good to the whites, who were jealous ofthe blacks, and in continual dread of their power. The wild boars, land crabs, pigeons, fish and variousvegetables, furnished them with abundance of provisions, and the wild pine supplied them with water --their manner and habits were of the rudest and roughest character, more those of brutes than of men. In1768 they assisted the whites in suppressing an insurrection of the slaves; but, in 1795, on account of thepunishment of some of their members for felony, they took up arms again. The alarm was great -- troops

were forwarded, and agents sent to them. They received the latter and under arms -- there were only 300 ofthem; but nothing effectual was done. All the horrors of St. Domingo were anticipated! Nearly 2000 regulartroops, and the whole of the neighboring militia were prepared to act against them. Some fighting, attendedwith peculiarly savage circumstances, took place, many on both sides being killed: among the latter was thecommander of the British troops, col. Sandford; but the Maroons, though compelled to retire by the force ofnumbers, were not subdued--they appeared again and again, burning, robbing and destroying; they carriedoff thirty negroes from one plantation loaded with spoil, and like our indians, slaughtered child-bed womenand infants at the breast. They surprised col. Pitch, who succeeded Sandford, and killed him with several ofhis officers and men. Neither courage nor conduct could avail against them. Dogs were proposed to beintroduced again; the entire strength of the colony was put forth, and the expense had amounted to600,000l, It was suggested that a treaty had best be made with them --it was, by many, opposed, as

derogatory to the honor of the British throne. Forty Spanish hunters and one hundred blood-hounds hadarrived from Cuba -- and some of the Maroons became desirous of peace. At length, another treaty wasconcluded, in December 1795, in which it was stipulated that they should not be compelled to leave theisland. The legislature of Jamaica, however, found some defect in the treaty, and declared it not binding! --and end was, that they were forcibly sent off to Nova Scotia, in June 1796, at the cost of the colony. Now,this people, on account of whom the British had made such a vast expenditure of life and treasure, probablynever amounted to more than two thousand persons of either sex and all ages, at any one time! In 1791--four years before they made the last treaty their whole number was estimated at only 1400; and it may beeasily believed that, if the British had respected the obligations of the treaty made with them as a freepeople, they would have preserved their independence until this day: and it requires no casuist to shew, that

they were as justly entitled to it, and the possession of the whole island also, if they could obtain it by arms,as the British -- who, by arms, had subjected it. It is might that gives "legitimacy" to conquest. Alexander,"the deliverer," has his white slaves, and why might not king Cudjoe have white ones or black ones, if hecould -- the Maroons being the nobility of Jamaica? "Corinthian pillars" of its society? the prop and stay ofthe throne?"

These brief sketches, though familiar to some, will be new to others, and not useless to any, "What hasbeen, may be." And the facts here stated are sufficient to shew, that Hayti cannot be reduced unless thepeople submit of their own free will, or are subdued by the treachery of invaders on whom they may reply.But neither of these are probable things. They are too numerous and powerful, and too well informed, tomake a general submission, or suffer a deportation, like that of the Maroons. The country is destined to be

peopled by blacks, until the "Ethiopian changes his skin" or "chaos comes again," and the island small beone no more. This is the truth, and we ought to look at it. To shut our own eyes against the light, will notlessen the light to others, preserve ourselves from their observation, or defeat their designs.

But to these essential facts must be added a consideration of the real condition of Hayti. The people have aregular and enlightened government of the in republican form -- more liberal, perhaps, in its operation thanany now existing in Europe, those of Great Britain and Spain only accepted. Colleges have beenestablished, and common schools are multiplied. The superior branches of science and the most useful ofthe arts, are protected and encouraged. The public offices are filled by native citizens of talents andcharacter -- they have their judges and courts, and other establishments, like ourselves, and the business ofthem is conducted with as much accuracy and promptitude as in those of other nations. They have a


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legislative assembly, and a full proportion of orators and statesmen; and they rather abound with militaryskill. They have regular arsenals and magazines, well supplied with all the implements of war, and apowerful regular army. The press is freer than in France, Russia, Austria or Prussia, and it is wellconducted; and, in general, what may be called the present generation, that is, persons between 20 and 30years of age, are as well informed and as highly accomplished, as those of the greater part of Europe. Thepresident, Boyer, is an able general and a profound statesman. If we regard the various difficulties that hispredecessor, Petion, and himself have had to encounter, the peculiarity of the population over whom theyhad to preside, the internal wars, the location of Hayti, and the condition of the adjacent islands, we must

grant to them uncommon displays of wisdom and energy, and a sense of moderation and justice that shouldput the rulers of the old world to shame. They have maintained the laws of nations and respected the rightsof others, though they owe so little to those laws or to a respect for those rights by others. It would havebeen almost naturally supposed, that the Haytians -- just liberated from personal slavery, a state in whichthey were regarded as mere working machines, without thought or the right of thinking, must have sunkinto all sorts of extravagance, and have made a common war on the oppressors of their color: but, happily,we may venture to say, for themselves and their neighbors, the massacre of the whites did not producesafety to the blacks -- they were divided into parties carrying on a cruel and desolating war, one withanother. Personal security demanded an observance of public right; private danger brought forth talent;talent produced order, and common sense, impelled by the common necessity, raised up and establishedgovernment. The person who lately handled a hoe, at the will of his master, wielded a sword and

commanded thousands of his fellows, citizens and soldiers, and he who recently was not the chief even ofthe miserable hovel in which he lived, was called upon to preside over matters of the state! The volcano ofthe revolution and the terrible crucible of war, softened and purified their minds, and compelled them toreflect and calculate consequences. A spirit of inquiry was imposed by a sense of self preservation, anddespised negroes have become men and women, who, unless for the reason of their color, would not be anywhere rejected on account of their manners; and religion, the great rule over the passions, is observed andrespected by them as much as by others, who claim a much higher grade in the scale of civilization. I speakof things as they are. The fact is, that persons and property are more safe in Hayti than in many nations ofwhite people. The classic ground of Italy is infested by bands of ferocious robbers, or over run with swarmsof beggars and petty thieves. Hayti has but few of either of these. There is more, of either class, the city of

Naples than in this republic of blacks -- more, perhaps, even in the "eternal city," Rome, though theresidence of the Pope, the spiritual head of the most numerous church among Christians.

Now let us suppose that president Boyer should imitate the example of the pretended sovereign of Hayti,Louis of France, or in regard to Spain, or the famous member of the "peace society of Massachusetts," inrespect to Poland? If Louis had a right to carry war into Spain, because the people were free, surely Boyermay attack Cuba, Jamaica and Porto Rico, or either of them, because the mass of the people are slaves! Todispute the right of France, in the case just mentioned, would nearly cost a man his life in civilized Europe,so firmly fixed is the idea that right is established by the reason of the bayonet -- and so the right becomesmanifest! Admit that Boyer, with 20,000 men, which he might readily transport across the narrow seabetween him and Jamaica, should land there, and, as the British did, on our southern coast, during the late

war, call the slaves to insurrection, and protect them in the murder and robbery of their masters! what wouldbe the "legitimate" consequence? Jamaica, some strong holds excepted, would be conquered in two or threedays. No present means could possibly prevent it, and the power of Great Britain could not reduce theslaves to servitude again. -- Neither could Cuba or Porto Rico resist him Suppose even that he would onlyopen his ports to pirates, and permit them to deposit their gains in Hayti -- who could prevent their successor punish the aggression? Thousands of bad men from all nations would dock round about him, and hispower to do mischief would be doubled in a year. What would be the amount that he might add to thecatalogue of human miseries, if he should act just as France is doing to Spain -- arm the slave against hismaster, and have his "armies of the faith?" But Boyer has restrained the disposition to aggrandize himself orhis nation. He captured the Spanish part of the island, it is true -- if ever an invasion was a right one, thatwas both necessary and just; but he preserved order, he emancipated the few slaves that there were in that


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quarter, but respected the persons and property of their late masters. There were no murders orassassinations, no robbers or plunderers --no soldiers of the faith, with a cross in one hand and a dagger inthe other, prowling about to destroy -- no duke of Angouleme to patronize and pay them for killing theirneighbors! --no purchasers of human scalps. Restraint, in some cases, may pass only for a negative virtue,but, in regard to Boyer, it is real and positive, and worthy of profound admiration and the highest praise. Heis not ignorant of his means --but he prefers peace to war, the plough share to the sword, the internal reposeof Hayti to her renown in arms. There is no king in Europe, with the power that he possesses, would use itwith the same moderation and justice.** It is impossible that the whites of the West Indies, and others in the

neighborhood of Hayti, should not regret the location of that island, and apprehend great changes in itsgovernment, for even fugitive slaves from other islands are not harbored here, -- but, as it cannot be drivenfrom its foundations, let us hope that, with its advance in population, power and improvement, the presentgood dispositions of the people and their rulers may be continued. And that they may, the Haytians shouldbe treated with all the respect that is due to their actual condition, as a free and independent people: but inthe way of their acknowledgment there is a host of difficulties.

** Occasional complaints are made against the government of Hayti, and sometimes, no doubt, with justcause. But truth is not always discerned or stated; the courts of Hayti may abound as much with "gloriousuncertainty," or their acts be as much misrepresented as our own, and it is not often that any serious fault isfound with the administration of the island.**

It is admitted, and it is certainly true, that our present trade with Hayti is of greater importance to us than ourtrade with France, herself. It employs much more of our tonnage, and is, every way, more beneficial to us:But shall we, by, acknowledging the independence of the island, involve ourselves in a war with France?Can it really benefit Hayti? -- will it not surely injure ourselves? The reason of things is against theproposition, and we regard it as inexpedient. But again, are we yet prepared to send and receive ministers toand from Hayti? Could the prejudices of some and the, perhaps just fears of others, be quieted? We thinknot The time has not yet come for a surrender of our feelings about color, nor is it fitting at any time, that thepublic safety should be endangered. Hayti is, and will be, independent -- we cannot prevent it if we would,nor are we so disposed. In looking into the vista, of futurity, great events may be anticipated -- but we,cannot wish to hurry them on. Our condition is unfortunate -- for personal security may forbid the doing ofthat which is right in itself, because it may be injurious in its operation, though innocent in its agent. We areon the horns of a dilemma, and how to get off, at some future period -- we leave to that period to determineas well as it can. We will not act for or against the existing fact, because of the extreme delicacy of itsnature; but maintain good faith with all, and strictly observe all the rights of persons and things.

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