The northern assembly promulgated at the Cap a constitution making Christophe president for life, and Christophe announced it to the people.

The Assembly promulgated, on 17 February, a constitution that sanctioned the despotism long exercised by Christophe. President for life and generalissimo of the land and sea forces of the State of Haiti (1), with the right to name his successor, to declare war and make peace, to see to the means of increasing the population (2), to direct the finances, which he causes to be MANAGED by a superintendent and sub-intendants (3); such is this monstrous constitution created by and for the ambition of one man, at a salary of 40,000 gourdes (1). It is true that a council of State is instituted. This council is composed of nine members, two thirds of whom are taken from among the generals and named by the president and generalissimo; but it may assemble only when the overlord orders it; it adopts the laws that this overlord proposes to it, and sends them back to his sanction, without, of course, having the right to reject them, to modify them or to adjourn them (2). As the president is in fact minister of war, the superintendent general is invested only with the portfolio of finance, of the navy and of the interior, while a secretary of State is charged with the correspondence, the drafting and the countersignature of the acts of the government (3).

The Catholic religion was that of the State. Divorce was abolished.

On the same day, 17 February, Christophe announced to the people that he had founded its happiness.