Napoléon Bonaparte Proclamation on Saint-Domingue (1799)

The same day as this proclamation (December 25, 1799), Bonaparte issued a decree saying that the words “ Remember, brave blacks, that the French people alone recognize your freedom and the equality of your rights ” should be inscribed in gold letters on all the flags of the battalions of the National Guard of the colony of Saint Domingue. Toussaint Louverture refused to follow this order, saying:


 * “''It is not a circumstantial freedom conceded to ourselves alone that we want. It is the absolute adoption of the principle that any man born red, black or white cannot be the property of his like. We are free today because we are the stronger party. The Consul maintains slavery in Martinique and Bourbon; we will thus be slaves when he will be the stronger.”

Napoléon Bonaparte would soon show that he in fact had no regard for people of African ancestry in the colonies. Just about two years later, in 1802 he would send troops, commanded by his brother in-law General Leclerc, to re-establish slavery in France's greatest source of wealth: the colony of Saint-Domingue.

Napoléon Bonaparte a.k.a. The First Consul

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Translated by Mitch Abidor marxists.org CopyLeft: Creative Commons (Attribute & ShareAlike) marxists.org 2004.