Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Alexandria Daily Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Alexander Pétion, President of Haiti, issues a proclamation on March 10, 1807, urging exiled men of color to return home after Dessalines' death, warning against Christophe's rebels, and promising protection and paid passage. He also asks US merchant Jacob Lewis to encourage trade with loyal ports only.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
Port au-Prince, March 10, 1807.
4th year of Independence.
LIBERTY. :
EQUALITY.
SU
ALEXANDER PETION,
President of Hayti, to the men of color who have been forced to leave this country and seek an asylum in the United States and other foreign nations:
Brethren,
The dreadful reign of Dessalines is at an end! This happy news has reached you, and yet you have not returned to the bosom of your country. What now prevents your return? During the life of that Barbarian you had reason to fear being sacrificed to his blind fury; but now no motives should prevent your return. Remember my friends, that the freedom and prosperity offered you in Hayti can no where else be found! Haste then to rally yourselves under the empire of those laws which assure you ample protections. Banish all fear from your hearts.-- The events occasioned by the ambition of Christophe must not retard your return. This new Despot would again subject this country to the oppressive yoke from which we, thanks to Providence, have so happily extricated it! Will it not be glorious to come and unite with the true Haytians in their noble struggles to save their native country? Come then, I repeat it, come and share the benefits of a constitution, which consecrates all your rights. Your passages shall be punctually paid by government on your arrival. I caution you however to shun those places in possession of the rebels, for there persecution and perhaps death awaits you. Their quarters extend from St. Marks to Fort Dauphin. All the rest of the West and South offers you a secure asylum. I salute you fraternally.
PETION.
With the above we also received a letter of the same date, addressed to Jacob Lewis, esq. of Port au Prince, in which president Petion requests him to use his good offices to induce the merchants of the United States not to trade with the ports under the dominion of Christophe, but to give the preference to those ports which retain their fidelity to the republic, and where their persons and property will always be under the safeguard of honor and integrity.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Port Au Prince, Hayti
Event Date
March 10, 1807
Key Persons
Outcome
end of dessalines' reign; call for exiles to return and join against christophe's rebels; government to pay passages; warning of persecution in rebel areas from st. marks to fort dauphin; appeal to us merchants to trade only with loyal ports.
Event Details
President Petion proclaims the end of Dessalines' tyrannical rule and urges exiled men of color to return to Hayti, promising freedom, prosperity, legal protections, and paid passage, while cautioning against Christophe's rebel territories. In a letter to Jacob Lewis, Petion requests assistance in directing US trade away from Christophe's ports toward those loyal to the republic for safety of persons and property.