_The Consuls of the Republic to the Inhabitants of St. Domingo._
Inhabitants of St. Domingo! Whatever may be your origin and
your color, ye are all Frenchmen; ye are all free, and all
equal before God and the Republic.
France, like St. Domingo, has been a prey to factions, and torn
by civil and foreign wars. But all is changed! Every people
have embraced Frenchmen, and have sworn to them peace and
friendship! All Frenchmen have likewise embraced each other,
and have sworn to be all friends and brothers. Come ye, also,
and embrace Frenchmen, and rejoice to see your friends and your
brothers of Europe.
The Government sends you the Captain General, Le Clerc. He
carries with him great forces to protect you against your
enemies, and against the enemies of the Republic. If it
should be told you these forces are intended to tear from you
your liberty, answer, the Republic has given us liberty. The
Republic will not suffer that it should be taken from us. Rally
round the Captain General; he restores you abundance and peace.
Rally round him; he who shall dare to separate himself from
the Captain General will be a traitor to his country, and the
vengeance of the Republic shall devour him as fire devours your
dried canes.
Given at Paris, in the palace of Government, the 17th Brumaire,
10th year of the French Republic.