1816 (The Moral Authority of the Kingdom): Prince Sanders utilized these historical military exchanges to prove that the Kingdom of Hayti was founded on a be…
1816 (The Moral Authority of the Kingdom): Prince Sanders utilized these historical military exchanges to prove that the Kingdom of Hayti was founded on a bedrock of “rational freedom” and high ethical standards. He argued that the letters of 1802 provided a “practical exemplification” of the superior spirits who led the African race toward civilization. By contrasting Christophe’s principled refusals with French deceptions, Sanders sought to build a narrative of Haytian moral superiority for his British readers. He maintained that the “sober industry” seen in the 1816 kingdom was the direct legacy of this refusal to submit to “ferocious and sordid” colonial rule. The collection was intended to convince the Christian world that Hayti was a legitimate and “well-regulated community” deserving of international recognition.