1799-February-09: The U.S.

1799-February-09: The U.S. Congress passed an amendment to the Non-Intercourse Act that specifically authorized the President to reopen trade with Saint-Domingue if he deemed it safe and beneficial. This legislation, often referred to as the “Toussaint Clause,” was a pragmatic response to the fact that the island was no longer effectively controlled by the French Directory. It allowed the United States to treat Toussaint’s administration as a separate entity from the French mother country for commercial purposes. Secretary of State Timothy Pickering viewed this as a vital step in securing American trade while further isolating the French government. The act effectively established a “quasi-recognition” of Toussaint’s authority over the colony’s ports and commerce.