1816, January 1 (Baron Dessalines’ Anniversary Speech): On the anniversary of Haytian independence, Baron Dessalines, acting as the Organ of the Peers, deliv…
1816, January 1 (Baron Dessalines’ Anniversary Speech): On the anniversary of Haytian independence, Baron Dessalines, acting as the Organ of the Peers, delivered a respectful address to the King and the Royal Family. He praised the “wisdom of your Majesty’s administration,” noting that it had earned the affection of all Haytians and the admiration of foreigners. The Baron highlighted that the King had not only provided for the physical safety of the people through military preparations but had also engaged in the “noble idea” of civilizing the nation through education. He credited the King with introducing knowledge, arts, and sciences—the “amiable offsprings of peaceable times”—to the kingdom. This speech reflects the internal effort to frame the monarchy as an enlightened institution dedicated to the moral and intellectual elevation of its subjects.