The Constituent Assembly of seventy-four deputies opened its sittings in the church of Port-au-Prince, and the same day Christophe proclaimed that ambitious men were delaying its work.

Meanwhile the Constituent Assembly, composed of seventy-four deputies, had opened its sittings, on 18 December, in the church of Port-au-Prince. Among the deputies of the North one noticed Juste Hugonin, Lagroue and Dupui, three educated men, though all devoted to Christophe. One noticed there also César Télémaque, who, as mayor of Cap on the arrival of the French expedition, had nobly devoted himself to the safety of those he administered: soundness of thought, wisdom of speech, uprightness of conduct had made him distinguished throughout the whole revolution. Guillaume Manigat, formerly justice of the peace at Fort-Liberté, known for the energetic demonstration by which he distinguished himself at the time of the Hédouville affair, had no passion save for liberty. Pierre Thimothé (1), a former officer who had resigned from the 9th demi-brigade, shone by no learning, yet the gentleness of his manners and the aversion he felt at the sight of the slightest injustices made him dear to all who knew him. Bruno Blanchet was the generalizing mind par excellence, such as always appears at the moment of social transformations. Daumec, the man of wit, an orator as grave as he was eloquent, would have been remarked for his talent even on a larger and more civilized stage.

Among the deputies of the West and the South, there were singled out with honor Théodat Trichet, whose knowledge of the principles of legislation was vast; Bonnet, who was to show, in the secretaryship of state, rare administrative capacities; David-Troy, in whom generosity of heart vied with military valor; Lys, whose correct diction captivated minds, and whose bearing, always martial, struck with respect even his enemies; finally, Pétion, whom a military career without reproach, and one may add without fear, assured of the confidence and affection of all; an orator whom no flower of language enriched, yet concise, logical, insinuating, powerful and stirring (2).

The Assembly, presided over by César Télémaque as the eldest in age, proceeded to the verification of credentials. Christophe had ordered the election of one deputy for each parish. Now in Haiti there were counted at that time only 59 parishes: 35 in the two divisions of the North and the first of the West (1), 24 in the two divisions of the South and the second of the West (2). But Pétion and Gérin, fearing the majority thereby acquired by the Northwest, had not shrunk from ordering elections in 15 villages of the Southwest, although these villages had not been erected into parishes (3); maneuvers unworthy of men strong in their rights, which fraudulently produced, in favor of the Southwest, 39 votes, while the Northwest furnished only 35! These two figures thus gave 74 deputies instead of 56 (1).