Haiti 1793

Decree of the National Convention

Translated: for marxists.org by Mitchell Abidor;

CopyLeft: Creative Commons (Attribute & ShareAlike)
marxists.org 2004.

In March 1793 revolutionary France was at war with

England and Spain, a war that also involved the
colony of Saint-Domingue. During this period
Toussaint was leading troops fighting for Spain, which
he and other black leaders thought was the best way
to obtain freedom. The liberation of the slaves of
Saint-Domingue occurred in August 1793, in part to
obtain black support for France against its enemies.

March 5, 1793, Second year of the French Republic

Which declares that all the French colonies are in a state
of war

The National Convention, on the report of its committee of

general defense, decrees:

Article 1

Until otherwise decreed all French colonies

are in a state of war. Nevertheless, all
governors general and other military agents,
as well as the civil administration, are
enjoined to act in concert with the national
civil commissioners and to obey all their
requisitions.

Art II
All the free men of the colony who wish to
take up arms for the internal and external
defense of the colonies are authorized to
gather in free legions or companies, that will
be organized by the governors general and
the national civil commissioners in keeping
with the existing laws, which cannot be
departed from.

Art III

Said national commissioners and governors

general are authorized to provisionally make
all the changes they deem necessary to the
rules governing the police and discipline in
the work gangs in order to maintain the
internal peace of the colonies.

Art IV

The minister of the marine will give the

orders necessary to have transported to
France the regiment of Le Cap, which will
take its place in the line

Art V

Those citizens transported from Saint-

Domingue by order of the national
commissioners Ailhaut, Santhonax [sic], and
Polverel, or who will be, can only return
there upon cessation of the troubles in that
colony, and after having obtained a special
authorization from the legislative body. The
minister of the marine is charged with giving
the necessary orders to all ports for the
execution of this order.
Art VI

The National Convention approves the

formation of free companies of free men in
Saint-Domingue under the orders of the
national commissioners.

Act VII

The minister of the marine is similarly

charged with organizing in free companies
all those native to the colonies currently in
France, in conformity with the existing laws,
and to have them passed as quickly as
possible to Saint-Domingue.