No. XVI. (Referred to in Page 355.) Caution to the Spaniards. LIBERTY OR DEATH! A PROCLAMATION. Jean Jacques Dessalines, Governor-General, to the Inhabitants of the Spanish Part of the Island : SCARCE had the French army been expelled, when you hastened to acknowledge my authority; by a free and spontaneous movement of your heart, you ranged yourselves under my subjection. More careful of the prosperity than desirous of the ruin of that part which you inhabit, I gave to this homage a favourable reception. From that moment I have considered you as my children, and my fidelity to you remains undiminished. As a proof my paternal solicitude, within the places which have submitted to my power, I have proposed for Chiefs, none but men chosen from amongst yourselves. Jealous of counting you in the rank of my friends, that I might give you all the time necessary for recollection, and that I might assure myself of your fidelity, I have hitherto restrained the burning ardor of my soldiers. Already I congratulate myself on the success of my solicitude, which had for its object, to prevent the effusion of blood; but at this time a of fanatic No. XVI. Cautionary proclamation to the Spaniards against treachery to the Blacks. proclamation ards against treachery to the Blacks. No. XVI. fanatic priest had not kindled in your breasts the rage which Cautionary predominates therein; the incensed Frerand had not yet instilled to the Spani- into you the poison of falsehood and calumny.---Writings, originating in despair and weakness, have been circulated; and immediately some amongst you, seduced by perfidious insinuations, solicited the friendship and protection of the French; they dared to outrage my kindness, by coalescing with my cruel enemies. Spaniards, reflect! On the brink of the precipice which is dug under your feet, will that diabolical minister save you, when with fire and sword I shall have pursued you to your last entrench ments? Ah! without doubt, his prayers, his grimaces, his relics, would be no impediment to my career. Vain as defenceless, can he preserve you from my just anger, after I shall have buried him, and the collection of brigands he commands, under the ruins of your capital! Let them both recollect that it is before my intrepid phalanx that all the resources and the skill of Europeans have proved ineffectual; and that into my victorious bonds the destiny of the Captain-General, Rochambeau, has been surrendered. To lure the Spaniards to their party, they propagate the report, that vessels laden with troops have arrived at St. Domingo. Why is it not the truth ? They little imagine that, in delaying to attack them until this time, my principal object has been to suffer them to increase the mass of our resources, and the number of our victims. To spread distrust and terror, they incessantly dwell upon the fate which the French have just experienced; but have I not had reason to treat them so? The wrongs proclamation ards against the Blacks. wrongs of the French, do they appertain to Spaniards; and must No. XVI. I visit on the latter the crimes which the former have conceived, Cautionary ordered, and executed on our species! They have the effrontery to the Spanito say, that, reduced to seek safety in flight, I am gone to conceal treachery to my defeat in the southern part of the island. Well, then! now let them learn that I am ready; that the thunderbolt is about to fall on their heads. Let them know, that my soldiers are impatiently waiting for the signal to go and reconquer the boundaries which nature and the elements have assigned to us. A few moments more, and I shall crush the remnant of the French under the weight of my mighty power. Spaniards! you, to whom I address myself, solely because I wish to save you; you who, for having been guilty of evasion; shall soon preserve your existence only so far as my clemency may deign to spare you; it is yet time; abjure an error which may be fatal to you, and break off all connection with my enemy, if you wish your blood may not be confounded with his. Name to me, without delay, that part of your territory on which my first blow is to be struck, or inform me whether I must strike on all points without discrimination. I give you fifteen days, from the date of this notification, to forward your last intentions, and to rally under my banners. You are not ignorant, that all the roads of St. Domingo in every direction, are familiar to us; that more than once we have seen your dispersed bands fly before us. In a word, you know what I can do, and what I dare; think of your preservation. Receive here the sacred promise which I make-not to do any No. XVI. any thing against your personal safety or your interest, if you Cautionary seize upon this occasion to shew yourselves worthy of being ad proclamation to the Spani- mitted amongst the children of Hayti. ards against treachery to the Blacks. Head-Quarters at the Cape, May 8th, 1804, first year of independence, Ceremony of the Corona No. XVII. (Referred to in Page 356. ) Programa issued to direct the Order of the Ceremonies on the Port-au-Prince, Sept. 8. On the 8th of October all the troops of the garrison, in the tion of Em- best order possible, will march under arms to the Champ de Mars at two o'clock, A. M. precisely, and form in square battalions. peror. A detachment of grenadiers immediately to form a line to the house of the Commandant-General of Division. At three o'clock the Members of all the Civil and Military No. XVII. Authorities, having assembled at the Government House, will proceed from thence to the Champ de Mars in the following procession: A Platoon of Grenadiers, The Public Teachers, Conducting a great Number of their Pupils, A Deputation of Agriculturists, Preceded by one of their principal Members. The Members of Justice, and the Ministerial Officers. The Etat-Major of the place, connected with that of the Circuit, A Platoon of Grenadiers. Arrived at the Champ de Mars, all the drums shall beat a march, and the procession shall advance to an Amphitheatre which shall be prepared for its use. |