Into the recesses of Mount Cahos Toussaint retires with a few
soldiers and friends, here for a few days to enjoy repose, once more
in the bosom of his family. The future is dark! What has he not
attempted, achieved, suffered, and lost? Liberty, development and
manhood for the despised blacks. The struggle is against the French
nation—no sympathy or aid from without is possible, for England and
America are both committed to Slavery. Not only so, but treachery,
and weakness, and weariness, are among the blacks—La Plume, Clervaux,
and Paul Louverture had succumbed—another blow followed—the defection
of Charles Bellair:—and yet another, Maurepas, one of the bravest
of his generals. Dark as is the prospect, Toussaint determines to
deserve success. He resumes his operations with active energy,
seconded by Christophe, Dessalines, and Lamartinière—everywhere his
blows are felt, though he is not seen. He draws near Cap François and
threatens the city, when fresh troops arrive from France.
Le Clerc now made overtures to Christophe; he intimated to him that
as the mother country would, no doubt, confirm the liberty of the
blacks, nothing was needed to close the war but to seize Toussaint,
which, together, they might do. Christophe rejected the perfidy. He
replied:—“Show us the laws which guarantee our liberty. How could
we believe the Consul’s words, amid such demonstrations of war?
Excuse the fears and alarms of a people which has suffered so much
in Slavery—give it grounds of confidence if you wish to end the
calamities of St. Domingo.”[61] An interview followed, and, relying
on the protestations and oaths of Le Clerc, Christophe went over
to the French—Dessalines followed him. The bad news spread fast.
Toussaint stood alone: his indignation and his courage were roused.
Every means were now put in action to move Toussaint; he replied:—“I
am powerful enough to burn and ravage, and can sell my life dearly.”
Le Clerc sent envoys—he said:—“I swear before the face of the Supreme
Being to respect the liberty of the people of St. Domingo.” Toussaint
listened—he wished for peace if he could have Freedom—he replied:—“I
accept everything which is favorable for the people and the army; for
myself I wish to live in retirement.”
Le Clerc now wished to meet Toussaint: he, wishing to beget
confidence with confidence, comes down from the mountains to Cap,
and is received everywhere with acclamations and tears. Four hundred
horsemen came with him, and with drawn sabers sat in the court-yard
while the interview continued. Le Clerc received Toussaint with
honors—he had found him quite another than a “Chief of Banditti,”
as he had once written to Napoleon. He now treated him with marked
distinction. He lauded the good faith and magnanimity of Napoleon;
spoke of the happiness now about to dawn on the island, and asked
his coöperation. Toussaint spoke with regret of the strange fact,
that he should have been forced to take up arms against France. He
said:—“Had _explanation_ preceded your arrival, or after arrival had
you waited to explain to me your _pacific_ mission, you would have
served equally well France and St. Domingo.” Le Clerc replied:—“Let
us forget the past—all shall be repaired.” He asked:—“Where would you
have got arms to carry on the war?” Toussaint replied:—“I would have
taken yours.” He could not have said better if he had been a white
man or a Roman.
Le Clerc renewed his oaths solemnly and in the presence of a large
body of people, blacks and whites. Toussaint could then do no more:
he retired to his estate at Ennery, determined to await the event.