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1801-August-15

1801-August-15: Toussaint Louverture issued a new constitution for Saint-Domingue which, while nominally professing loyalty to France, appointed him Governor…

HT-DRUS-1941-000139

1801-August-15: Toussaint Louverture issued a new constitution for Saint-Domingue which, while nominally professing loyalty to France, appointed him Governor-General for life and gave him the power to choose his successor. This move was viewed by both France and the United States as a de facto declaration of independence, despite Toussaint’s continued diplomatic protestations to the contrary. French chargé Pichon expressed deep concern to Madison, fearing that Toussaint would soon demand the liberation of slaves sold by refugee planters in the United States. Madison, however, adopted an “unsatisfactory attitude” toward French complaints, refusing to commit the U.S. to a specific course of action against the island. This diplomatic ambiguity allowed the United States to keep its commercial options open while observing Napoleon’s reaction to Toussaint’s boldness.

Source  ·  HT-DRUS-1941-000139 Logan, 119 / Bates: HT-DRUS-1941-000139