Haitian Constitution of 1801 (English)

See also the French version of this document.

The Saint-Domingue Constitution of 1801 (also referred to as Toussaint Louverture's Constitution) was promulgated on July 8th, 1801 by the Governor General Toussaint Louverture, who sent a letter to Napoléon on the 1801 Constitution accompanying this document. The letter and constitution was brought to Napoléon Bonaparte by Toussaint Louverture's friend, the French Colonel Vincent, who had been stationed in Saint-Domingue.

Bonaparte and Tobias Lear on Toussaint's Constitution
In a July 17, 1801 letter to to the U.S. Secretary of State, James Madison, Tobias Lear the newly appointed U.S. Consul to Saint-Domingue writes: "A new and important Symbol Aera has commenced here. A Constitution has been formed for the Government of this Island, by Deputies called together for that purpose by the General in Chief. It was read in public, with great parade, on the 7th instant. The papers which I send you will shew the Addresses which preceded and followed the reading. It is not yet printed from the public. It declares Genl. Toussaint Louverture Governor for life, with the power of naming his successor. It is to be submitted to the French Republic for approbation; but in the meantime, it is to have effect here in the Island."

Napoléon Bonaparte in a letter to Toussaint, addressing the new constitution, writes that the document "...contains some [provisions] that are contrary to the dignity and sovereignty of the French people, of which Saint-Dominigue forms only a portion." and that he will expel Toussaint's children, Placide and Isaac from France

Speeches

 * Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Haytian Revolutions - 1841 speech by McCune Smith.