human
In order, said Hedouville, as if in explanation of a friend's purposes,
gpt
Then resuming his seat, he observed to Toussaint,
human
I believe General Michel desires some little explanation of certain circumstances attending his landing at Cap.
gpt
I do, said General Michel, resuming his solemn air.
human
You are aware that General Vincent and I were arrested on landing?
gpt
I am aware of it. It was by my instant command that you were set free.
human
By whose command, or by what error, then, were we arrested?
gpt
I hoped that full satisfaction had been afforded you by Monsieur Raymond, the Governor of Cap Francais. Did he not explain to you that it was by an impulse of the irritated blacks--an impulse of which they repent, and to which they will not again yield, proceeding from anger for which there is but too much cause? As you, however, are not to be made responsible for the faults of your government towards us, the offending parties have been amply punished.
human
I, said Hedouville, from the sofa behind,
gpt
I am held responsible for the faults of our government towards you. What are they?
human
We will discuss them at Cap, replied Toussaint.
gpt
There you will be surrounded by troops of your own colour; and you will feel more at liberty to open your whole mind to me than, it grieves me to perceive, you are when surrounded by blacks. When you know the blacks better, you will become aware that the highest security is found in fully trusting them.
human
What is it that you suppose we fear from the blacks?
gpt
When we are at Cap, I will ask you what it was that you feared, Monsieur Hedouville, when you chose to land at Saint Domingo, instead of at Cap--when you showed your mistrust of your fellow-citizens by selecting the Spanish city for your point of entrance upon our island. I will then ask you what it is that your government fears, that it commits the interests of the blacks to a new legislature, which understands neither their temper nor their affairs.
human
This was, perhaps, the cause of the difficulty we met with at Cap,
gpt
It is the chief cause. Some jealousy on this account is not to be wondered at; but it has not the less been punished. I would further ask, he continued, turning again to Hedouville,
human
Who ever heard of the First Consul fearing anything?
gpt
Hear it now, then.
human
In this place? said Hedouville, looking round.
gpt
In public?
human
In this place--among the most loyal of the citizens of France, replied Toussaint, casting a proud look round upon his officers and assembled friends.
gpt
If I were about to make complaints of the First Consul, I would close my doors upon you and myself, and speak in whispers. But it is known that I honour him, and hold him to my heart, as a brother in destiny and in glory: though his glory is now at its height, while mine will not be so till my race is redeemed from the consequences of slavery, as well as from slavery itself. Still, we are brothers; and I therefore mourn his fears, shown in the documents that he sends to my soldiers, and shown no less in his sending none to me.
human
I bring you from him the confirmation of your dignity,
gpt
You do so by message. The honour is received through the ear. But that which should plant it down into my heart--the greeting from a brother--is wanting. It cannot be that the First of the Whites has not time, has not attention, for the First of the Blacks. It is that he fears--not for himself, but for our country: he fears our ambition, our revenge. He shall experience, however, that we are loyal--from myself, his brother, to the mountain child who startles the vulture from the rocks with his shouts of Bonaparte the Great. To engage our loyalty before many witnesses, he continued, once more looking round upon the assemblage,
human
I send this message through you, in return for that which I have received. Tell the First Consul that, in the absence of interference with the existing laws of the colony, I guarantee, under my personal responsibility, the submission to order, and the devotion to France, of my black brethren. Mark the condition, gentlemen, which you will pronounce reasonable. Mark the condition, and you will find happy results. You will soon see whether I pledge in vain my own responsibility and your hopes.