1799-September-01: Captain James Sever relieved Captain Murray at the Saint-Domingue station and immediately issued formal assurances of his desire to work “…
1799-September-01: Captain James Sever relieved Captain Murray at the Saint-Domingue station and immediately issued formal assurances of his desire to work “in concert” with Toussaint’s government. He echoed the previous commanders’ sentiments, stating that the cooperation was for the mutual “benefit of both Governments.” This persistent framing of Toussaint’s administration as a “government” in naval dispatches signaled a de facto acceptance of his authority by the U.S. Navy. Throughout the autumn, American warships provided the maritime muscle needed to enforce Toussaint’s domestic policies and trade regulations. This operational stability allowed the volume of American merchant traffic to reach unprecedented levels despite the ongoing Quasi-War with France.