The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE,
Commander in Chief of the army of St. Domingo, to Citizen Bonaparte, First Consul of the French republic.

Cape Francois, July 16, 1801.

Citizen Consul,

The minister of the marine, in the account which he gave you of the political situation of this colony, which I communicated to him in my dispatches sent by the corvette d'Enfant Prodigue, returning to France, must have submitted to you my proclamation of the 5th of February last, for the convocation of a Central Assembly, which, the moment when the union of the Spanish part to the French part of the island was effected, might form of St. Domingo only one and the same country, subject to the same government, and fix its destiny by wise laws, united to localities and the manners of the inhabitants. I have now the satisfaction of announcing to you that the last hand has been put to this work, and that the result has been a constitution, which promises happiness to the inhabitants of this colony, so long unfortunate. I take the earliest opportunity of sending it to you, for your approbation and the sanction of my government. For this purpose, I have dispatched to you, citizen Vincent, director-general of fortifications at St. Domingo, to whom I entrust this valuable deposit.

The central assembly having requested me, in consequence of the want of laws, and the necessity of making their empire succeed that of anarchy, to cause my constitution to be provisionally put in execution, as being likely to promote its future welfare. I have complied with their desires, and this constitution has been received by every class of citizens with transports of joy, which will not fail of being revived when it shall be invested with the sanction of government.

Health and profound respect.

TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE.