The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
FOREIGN RELATIONS / FRANCE AND HAITI
The bill for continuing the suspension of intercourse with France and
her dependencies, is still before the Senate, but will pass by a very
great vote. An attack is made on what is called the Toussaint's
clause, the object of which, as is charged by the one party and
admitted by the other, is to facilitate the separation of the
island from France. The clause will pass, however, by about nineteen
to eight, or perhaps eighteen to nine. Rigaud, at the head of the
people of color, maintains his allegiance. But they are only
twenty-five thousand souls, against five hundred thousand, the number
of the blacks. The treaty made with them by Maitland is (if they are
to be separated from France) the best thing for us. They must get
their provisions from us. It will indeed be in English bottoms, so
that we shall lose the carriage. But the English will probably forbid
them the ocean, confine them to their island, and thus prevent their
becoming an American Algiers. It must be admitted too, that they may
play them off on us when they please. Against this there is no remedy
but timely measures on our part, to clear ourselves, by degrees, of
the matter on which that lever can work.
to James Madison, 5 February 1799
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