Benjamin Britton’s Reviews > The Haitian Revolution > Status Update

“First Consul, father of all soldiers, upright judge, defender of innocence, pronounce my destiny.”

“This reply shows the injustice of imputing to me the assassinations that were committed, because, it is said, as chief, I could have prevented them; but am I responsible for the evil that was done in my absence and without my knowledge?”

“I was one of your soldiers, and the first servant of the Republic in Saint Domingue; but now I am wretched, ruined, dishonored, a victim of my own services; let your sensibilities be moved in my position.”

“Since the revolution, I have done all that depended upon me to return happiness to my country and to ensure liberty for my fellow citizens.”

“The perfect harmony, tranquility and union that rein among us portend happy success in our future endeavors, and I can only believe that with the help of God we shall soon purge the French territory of the tyrannical hordes that infested the colony for too long, and that soon we will form a single, unified family of friends and brothers.”

It is not overstating to suggest that across the globe the Haitian revolutionaries with their magnificent victory had, to paraphrase Martinican writer Frantz Fanon, ‘set afoot’ a new black woman, man, child... most everyone everywhere- enslaved and enslaver alike- recognized that the countdown to slavery’s end have been set ticking by the Haitian Toussaint L’Ouverture, and his triumphant army of ex-slaves.”