Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

By the report of General Toussaint Louverture, it appears that Santhonax has long been attempting to detach Hispaniola from its dependence on France, and has used every effort to debauch Toussaint from his allegiance. Santhonax, an abandoned villain, who has enriched himself on the plunder of the unfortunate colonists who were too honest to join him in his villainies, would doubtless wish to throw himself out of the reach of the French government, and make himself the petty despot of that island. But if he supposed he could maintain the independence of that colony, in opposition to the power of France, he is as weak as he is wicked.

The constituted authorities of the French government or rather despotism in St. Domingo, consisted of a motley crew. Santhonax, born in France where he has a father still living. Raimond, a mulatto—and Toussaint, a black man, military commander in Chief. It appears however that these officers who have African blood in their veins, are infinitely the least criminal. Raimond and Toussaint are spoken of, by the Americans, as men of more honor and integrity than Santhonax—and men on whose word some dependence can be placed.

Since Santhonax was sent away, the supreme authority in St. Domingo devolves on Julien Raimond, This man has issued a pompous proclamation, addressed to the people, in which he declares his attachment and inviolable faith to the French republic—That as he has both French and African blood in his veins, the real French and the people of other colours have nothing to fear from him—all shall be protected in their rights. He says that he has constantly endeavoured to soften down the resentments of the different parties—to calm animosities and to inspire a love of labour, of order, and of peace—to revive cultivation, which alone can bring back prosperity. In this he has so far succeeded, as he states, that the plantations in the north of the island have resumed a smiling aspect and become productive. He promises to rectify the enormous abuses introduced into the imports by Santhonax, whose distribution of the public money was shamefully unequal & unjust.

In this proclamation, Raimond has said nothing in particular about the American trade. He says in general that "The French merchants and strangers are witnesses of the protection given to commerce and of the efforts of the administration to fulfil its engagements." He speaks of his ardent desire to unite all the inhabitants in one family and attach them to France and also to encourage cultivation, protect commerce and consolidate the general prosperity. How far there is sincerity in these professions, time will show.