Toussaint wrote a letter to the South that offered general amnesty and demanded an answer of yes or no, and sent it with Vincent, Arrault and César.

When he had somewhat recovered from his violent emotions, he summoned brigade commander Vincent to Port-Républicain. The latter had arrived there on 5 messidor (24 June). Toussaint complained bitterly that the First Consul had not deigned to write to him. “Has he confidence in me?” he asked anxiously. He refused to have the new constitution published, saying that it was already in the newspapers, and in the night he went to Léogane, more agitated than ever, without even warning Vincent. At last, after a thousand inner struggles, he ordered a suspension of arms, and called Vincent to him on 13 messidor (2 July). He announced to him that he was sending him into the South to offer peace there. He joined to him a Black man and a *mulâtre*, MM. Philippe César and Arrault. He handed to these bearers of the flag of truce a letter dated 20 messidor (9 July), addressed to the magistrates of the people and to all French citizens of the department of the South, civil and military.

“These citizens,” the letter said, “will tell you my way of thinking, and will assure you that I am disposed to grant general amnesty to everyone, to pardon and to forget all that has passed, provided that order is restored, that all the men deceived or led astray return to the bosom of their families, and that the cultivators forced to leave their homes return to their respective plantations.” Toussaint had added to these words some of the phrases of the minister’s letter that best suited his position. Then he continued thus: “In accordance with humanity, which is always my guide, and with the minister’s letter, I assure you that I have forgotten everything and that I pardon: I hold out my arms to you. If you still resist my voice, it is no longer my fault.” Finally he ended with this ultimatum: “Answer at once, yes or NO” (1).