obstinate prejudices gradually gave way before the wisdom and
uprightness of his government. White planters, who had been accustomed
to talk of him as a revolted slave and a lawless brigand, began to
acknowledge that he was a conscientious man and a wise legislator. A
general feeling of security prevailed, activity in business was
restored, and wealth began to flow in through its former channels.
But, with all his prudence and efforts at universal conciliation, he
could not at once heal the old animosities that had so long rankled in
the breasts of men. Some of the returned French planters resumed their
old habits of haughtiness and contempt toward the negroes. Some of the
proprietors, both white and black, in their haste to grow rich,
overworked their laborers; and, in addition to these causes of
irritation, it was whispered round that the whites were influencing the
French government to restore Slavery. In one of the northern districts a
proposition was made to disband the black troops. This excited
suspicion, and they rose in rebellion. Buildings were fired, and three
hundred whites slaughtered. Toussaint hastened to the scene of action,
and by assurances and threats quelled the tumult. The command of that
district was in the hands of General Moyse, the son of Toussaint's
brother Paul. He disliked the system of conciliation pursued toward the
whites, and had expressed his opinions in terms less respectful than was
proper toward a man of his uncle's age and character. The agricultural
returns from his district had been smaller than from other portions of
the island; and when Toussaint remonstrated with him for neglecting that
department, he replied: "Whatever my old uncle may see fit to do, I
cannot consent to be the executioner of my race, by causing them to be
worked to death. All your orders are given in the name of France. But to
serve France is to serve the interests of the whites; and I shall never
love the whites till they give me back the eye I lost in battle." When
the insurrection broke out in his district, the relatives of the
slaughtered whites complained to General Toussaint that his nephew had
not taken any efficient measures to put down the riot; and the black
insurgents excused themselves by saying General Moyse approved of their
rising. A court-martial was held, and General Moyse and several of the
ringleaders were condemned to be shot. The execution of this sentence
excited a good deal of ill-feeling toward Toussaint. He was loudly
accused of favoring the whites more than he did his own color; and to
this day it is remembered against him in the island. It certainly is the
harshest action recorded of Toussaint l'Ouverture. But it must be
remembered that he had invited the whites to come back, and had given
them promises of protection, because he thought the peace and prosperity
of the island could best be promoted in that way; and having done so, it
was his duty to see that their lives and property were protected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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