Le Cap. Proclamation of 28 April 1804 issued at headquarters.

Haitians of both colors, Black and mixed-race, were seen demanding in great numbers the extermination of the whites, and giving themselves up to lively rejoicing while the whites were being massacred. But those whom political passions did not lead astray watched with uneasiness as the people was launched upon the paths of blood; they feared that the government could not check this impulse. On the other hand, the governor-general’s plan of having the towns of the coast abandoned seemed to many enlightened generals, to Christophe, Pétion and Geffrard, contrary to the progress of a young people. From that time two parties began to take shape: the ultra-revolutionaries and the moderates. The latter, having seen the dangers to the country vanish, wanted a mild, intelligent and even constitutional government, and frequent relations with foreigners, English, Germans, Danes, Swedes and Americans; the former, zealous partisans of Dessalines’s system, wanted on the contrary that the population should live in the heart of the mountains, so that, as they said, European corruption could not reach it.

Nevertheless the proclamation that announced to the nation the general extermination of the French, which almost every arm had carried out, was received with enthusiasm by the Haitians, moderates and ultra-revolutionaries alike.* The number of victims, men, women and children, rose to about three thousand.

Liberty or Death. J. DESSALINES, Governor-General. TO THE INHABITANTS OF HAITI.

Crimes until then unheard of made nature shudder; the measure was full…….. At last the hour of vengeance has struck, and the implacable enemies of the rights of man have suffered the punishment due to their crimes.