The hasty proclamation of equality between whites and blacks by the French revolutionists, and the refusal of the planters to recognize that decree as binding, led to a terrible servile revolt, which desolated the whole of the colony.  Those merciless strifes had, however, somewhat abated under the organizing power of a man, in whom the black race seemed to have vindicated its claims to political capacity.  Toussaint l’Ouverture had come to the front by sheer sagacity and force of character.  By a deft mixture of force and clemency, he imposed order on the vapouring crowds of negroes:  he restored the French part of the island to comparative order and prosperity; and with an army of 20,000 men he occupied the Spanish portion.  In this, as in other matters, he appeared to act as the mandatory of France; but he looked to the time when France, beset by European wars, would tacitly acknowledge his independence.  In May, 1801, he made a constitution for the island, and declared himself governor for life, with power to appoint his successor.  This mimicry of the consular office, and the open vaunt that he was the “Bonaparte of the Antilles,” incensed Bonaparte; and the haste with which, on the day after the Preliminaries of London, he prepared to overthrow this contemptible rival, tells its own tale.

Yet Corsican hatred was tempered with Corsican guile.  Toussaint had requested that the Haytians should be under the protection of their former mistress.  Protection was the last thing that Bonaparte desired; but he deemed it politic to flatter the black chieftain with assurances of his personal esteem and gratitude for the “great services which you have rendered to the French people.  If its flag floats over St. Domingo it is due to you and your brave blacks”—­a reference to Toussaint’s successful resistance to English attempts at landing.  There were, it is true, some points in the new Haytian constitution which contravened the sovereign rights of France, but these were pardonable in the difficult circumstances which had pressed on Toussaint:  he was now, however, invited to amend them so as to recognize the complete sovereignty of the motherland and the authority of General Leclerc, whom Bonaparte sent out as captain-general of the island.  To this officer, the husband of Pauline Bonaparte, the First Consul wrote on the same day that there was reported to be much ferment in the island against Toussaint, that the obstacles to be overcome would therefore be much less formidable than had been feared, provided that activity and firmness were used.  In his references to the burning topic of slavery, the First Consul showed a similar reserve.  The French Republic having abolished it, he could not, as yet, openly restore an institution flagrantly opposed to the Rights of Man.  Ostensibly therefore he figured as the champion of emancipation, assuring the Haytians in his proclamation of November 8th, 1801, that they were all free and all equal in the sight