on the leaders of the peasants of the Southern Department and on many of their followers. And there existed also among the inhabitants of the towns of this department a feeling of uneasiness regarding the tendencies of Pierrot, who had appointed Acaau, the former terrorist of Cayes, Commandant of the arrondissement of l'Anse-à-Veau. Fearing a new Jacquerie the townsmen made up their minds to divest Pierrot of his office. In consequence, on the 1st of March, 1846, General Jean-Baptiste Riché was proclaimed President of the Republic at Port-au-Prince.
On the 24th of March Pierrot resigned and, leaving Cap-Haitien, which he had made the capital of the country, retired to his plantation "Camp-Louise," where he led a quiet and peaceful life.[1]
His affability and good nature had secured for him the sympathy of the peasants of the Southern Department. They therefore resented his enforced retirement. They had little confidence in the newly elected President, who had fought against them in 1844. Acaau, who was in command of the arrondissement of Nippes, gave the signal for resistance. He openly defied Riché's authority and entrenched himself at Fort Saint-Laurent at l'Anse-a-Veau. He was defeated and took shelter on the Joly plantation, where, to avoid being captured, he blew out his brains with a pistol.
As soon as the South had been pacified, Riché put an end to the dictatorship which had been established since 1844. The Council of State created by Guerrier was transformed into a Senate, which, on the 14th of November, 1846, enacted the Constitution of 1816 with most of the modifications introduced in 1843. Unfortunately, presidency for life was restored. But Riché did not long enjoy the power intrusted to him. His health was not very robust, and was completely undermined by the fatigues of a journey he had undertaken into the North of the country. He returned to Port-au-
- ↑ Pierrot died on the 18th of February, 1857.
