New tactics now seem necessary, and Le Clerc has them at hand.
Inland among the mountains, two days distance from Cap François, is
the village of Ennery; there Toussaint has stationed his family. The
quiet of the place is moved by an unwonted stir—what can it mean,
for the sounds are not those of troops? Towards nine o’clock at
night messengers bring word to the wife of Toussaint that her sons,
they who had been so long absent in France, are coming. With a few
friends, she goes with torches into the highway to meet them. In the
midst of that great crowd, hushed to silence in the serene night,
she greets them with joy and tears. Towards midnight of the next day
Toussaint arrives; he presses his sons to his breast, and tears once
more water the furrows of his worn face.
The young men present their tutor (M. Coisnon), who, after receiving
the warm thanks of the father, hands him a golden box containing a
letter from Napoleon. Toussaint reads it. Highly complimentary to
him, it objected to the Constitution already formed, but suggested no
other; it advised submission to the new Captain-General Le Clerc, and
threatened punishment for disobedience; it spoke of their liberties
as due to France (Toussaint is grave—he does not even smile here);
it did not promise anything on this score, but pointed to the liberty
France had given to other nations, and stated that they could only
enjoy liberty as French citizens, and asked submission, co-operation,
and peace.[59]
Toussaint turns to M. Coisnon, and says—“Three months after the date
you bring me a letter which announces peace; the action of General
Le Clerc is war. I had established order and justice here; now all
is confusion and misery. Take back my sons, M. Coisnon, I cannot
receive them as the price of my surrender.” The children were again
sent to him; they threw themselves into his arms with entreaties.
Toussaint remained inflexible. “My children,” he said, “make your
choice—whatever it is, I shall always love you.” Placide alone
said—“My father, I am yours; I fear the future—I fear slavery.”