Department of the Artibonite. Its commander attends Pierrot’s oath at Saint-Marc.

On 3 May the four Secretaries of State, Hyppolite, J. Paul, Détré and Beaubrun Ardouin, and the Councillors of State Hector, Joseph François, Lacruz, Céligny Ardouin, D. Labonté, Serres, Hilaire and Jean Pierre, members of the deputation, together with the commander of the Department of the Artibonite and all the civil and military authorities, and President Pierrot, preceded and followed by his retinue, went to the Champ-de-Mars, where all the troops were drawn up and rendered him the honors due to him.

The President of the Council, citizen Hyppolite, Secretary of State for War, took the floor. “Recalling the deplorable situation in which the Republic stood on the same day of the year 1844, and the immense result obtained in that short space of time by the wise, moderate and intelligent administration of Philippe Guerrier,” he paid a just tribute of regret to the memory of that virtuous citizen. He then expressed the hope “which the Haitian people has rightly placed today in the Government of the veteran who has succeeded the brave Guerrier, and he called down the blessings of the Almighty upon the worthy General Pierrot, whose courageous energy contributed so greatly to the deliverance of his country.” Turning then to the President of the Republic, he exhorted him to take his oath to the Nation.

President Pierrot said: “I swear to maintain with all my power the integrity of the Independence of Haiti, to respect and cause to be respected the rights of my fellow citizens, and to labor constantly for the consolidation of order and of public tranquillity.” He then called upon all the citizens of Haiti to be of one accord.