Untitled - African American History

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF SLAVERY.
in the views of the First Consul, and with this view,
sent his two sons (formerly sent to France as hostages)
to persuade him to this course. But the old negro's
ambition could not be thus restrained. Several engagements
were had. In the attempt to take a fort called
Crete-a-Pierrot, the French suffered considerably. Le
Clerc changed his tactics, and published that there was
no intention, on the part of the First Consul, to enslave
the negroes ; that they should continue to enjoy their
liberty. The despotic
conduct of Toussaint was now
avenged. All of his officers, with but few exceptions,
accepted of this overture, and yielded to the terms of
the French General. Toussaint was forced at last to
treat. He made two conditions : the liberty of his fellow-
citizens, and that he should retire to his own estate, re-
taining his title as General, and his staff. Being subse-
quently detected in a conspiracy (as it was alleged)
against the government, he was arrested and sent to
Paris. He was there cast into prison, and soon ended
his life in a dungeon. 1
After the departure of Toussaint, Le Clerc disarmed
many of the negro and mulatto soldiers, removed their
officers, put to death several, under various accusations,
and then, throwing off the mask, announced the Con-
sular decree restoring slavery. Dessalines, and others
of the old negro officers, deserted, and raised the standard
of revolt. The mulattoes and negroes now cordially
united against the whites, their common foe. They had
enjoyed their liberty too long to submit quietly to a reenslavement.
Thus commenced the bloody war between
1 la giving this brief account of this remarkable negro, I have followed
chiefly M. Schcelcher, a French abolitionist. There is great conflict
among authors in respect to him. Some laud him as the model upon
which Napoleon endeavored to improve ; others treat him as a traitor
and weak tool in the hands of others. I have taken the middle, and I
believe the true ground.