CHAPTER XVI.
DESSALINES AS EMPEROR OF HAYTI.
Rochambeau, with the remnant of his defeated
army, had scarcely retired from St. Domingo before
the news of the death of Toussaint reached the Island.
The announcement of this, together with the fact that
their great general had died by starvation, assured the
natives of the essential goodness of their cause, and
the genuine vigor of their strength. They had measured
swords with the whites, and were conscious of
their own superiority. Slavery in St. Domingo was
dead, and dead forever. The common enemy was
gone, and the victory had been gained by the union
of the blacks and mulattoes, and these put forth a
Declaration of Rights, in which they said: "The independence
of St. Domingo is proclaimed. Restored to
our primitive dignity, we have secured our rights;
we swear never to cede them to any power in the
world. The frightful veil of prejudice is torn in pieces;
let it remain so forever. Woe to him who may wish to
collect the blood-stained tatters. We have sworn to
show no mercy to those who may dare to speak to us
of slavery." This document was signed by Dessalines,
