The Kentucky Gazette

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE

PARIS, Nov. 17.

Negro deputies in the National Assembly.

In the island of St. Domingo are thirty thousand free people, viz. six thousand whites, and twenty four thousand people of colour, most of which 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 urged that they were 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 deter the consideration of the slave trade also) but that they should 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 determine to consider the case on a certain day, but till that day 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 M. de la Fayette, that it was one of the articles of the deputation to appoint him commander in chief of the twenty four thousand people of colour, which command he has accepted.