President Thomas Jefferson

STATEMENTS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON TOWARDS SAINT-DOMNINGUE AND HAITI

1799 February 11. (Jefferson to Aaron Burr). "[T]he Southern states do not discover the same care however in the bill authorising the President to admit Toussaint's subjects to a free commerce with them, & free ingress & intercourse with their black brethren in these states. however if they are guarded against the Cannibals of the terrible republic, they ought not to object to being eaten by a more civilized enemy."[27]

1799 February 12. (Jefferson to James Madison). "[T]he bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France and her dependancies has passed both houses. but the Senate struck out the clauses permitting the President to extend it to other powers. Toussaint's clause however was retained. even South Carolinians in the H. of R. voted for it. we may expect therefore black crews, supercargoes & missionaries thence into the Southern states; and when that leven begins to work, I would gladly compound with a great part of our Northern country, if they would honestly stand neuter. if this combustion can be introduced among us under any veil whatever, we have to fear it."[28]

1799 February 19. (Jefferson to James Madison). "... a Consul general is named to St. Domingo: who may be considered as our minister to Toussaint."[29]

1801 November 24. (Jefferson to James Monroe). "[T]he most promising portion of them [West Indies] is the island of St. Domingo, where the blacks are established into a sovereignty de facto, & have organised themselves under regular laws & government. I should conjecture that their present ruler might be willing, on many considerations, to recieve even that description which would be exiled for acts deemed criminal by us, but meritorious perhaps by him. the possibility that these exiles might stimulate & conduct vindictive or predatory descents on our coasts, & facilitate concert with their brethren remaining here, looks to a state of things between that island & us not probable on a contemplation of our relative strength, and of the disproportion daily growing: and it is over-weighed by the humanity of the measures proposed, & the advantages of disembarrassing ourselves of such dangerous characters."[30]

1805 June 5. (Jefferson to Thomas Paine). "France has become so jealous of our conduct as to St. Domingo (which in truth is only the conduct of our merchants) that the offer to become a mediator would only confirm her suspicions."[31]