Gazette Of The United States

NEGRO DEPUTIES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

P A R I S, November 17.

IN the Island of St. Domingo are 30,000 free people, viz. 6,000 whites, and 24,000 people of colour, most of whom are negroes. The former, in the beginning of the new Constitution, called a meeting in the Island, and, thinking it but just that they should be represented, sent their Deputies to Paris, who were at length admitted into the Assembly here. In process of time, the latter, i. e. the free black people, called a meeting also, in the same Island. They stated that they were the subjects of France; that they paid their taxes in the same proportion as the former; that they could see no difference between the blacks and the whites; and that, for these and other reasons, they ought to be represented also. They therefore determined upon sending deputies and actually nominated three, who arrived in Paris about a fortnight ago. Upon their arrival they demanded an audience of the Assembly, into which they were admitted. On stating their claims, M. Freteau, the president, a most zealous friend in the cause of liberty, assured them that they need not be dispirited; for that the Assembly knew no distinction between Blacks and Whites, but considered all men as having equal rights.

The circumstances, however, of the nation were such, that their claims could not be immediately discussed; (and here permit me to observe that these circumstances are the very same which defer the consideration of the Slave trade also) but that they shall have a provisional seat in the National Assembly. This provisional seat may be thus explained: Three Members of Parliament in England put up at an election, and two are returned; the third complains to the House of an undue election; the House resolve to consider the case on a fixed day, but till then the two members who were returned keep their seats. So it is, in the present case, the three black representatives are allowed a seat till the case is determined; and you may therefore see them every day in the National Assembly; and so far as I can find, they stand in no danger of losing their seats at a future time. This circumstance I have been acquainted with for some days, but was additionally informed last night by Mons. de la Fayette, that it was one of the articles of the deputation to appoint him Commander in Chief of the 24,000 people of color—which command he has accepted.