"After informing the Generals of his true intentions to give forever to the natives of Haiti a stable government, which he had previously done in a speech which aimed at acquainting the foreign Powers with the resolution to make the country independent and to enjoy the liberty acquired with the blood of the people of the island; and after taking the opinion of all present;
"Requested the Generals to swear to abjure forever allegiance to France, to die rather than to live under her domination, and to fight to the last for the preservation of their independence.
"The Generals imbued with these sacred principles, after proclaiming in a loud voice their unanimous adhesion to the resolution of independence, swore for all their posterity and to the world to abjure forever allegiance to France, and to die rather than to live under her domination.
"Done at Gonaives on the 1st of January, 1804, and on the first day of the Independence of Haiti.
- "(Signed) Dessalines, Commander-in-Chief; Christophe, Pétion, Clervaux, Geffrard, Vernet, Gabart, Major-Generals; P. Romain, E. Gérin, F. Capois, Daut, Jean-Louis François, Férou, Cangé, L. Bazelais, Magloire-Ambroise, J. J. Herne, Toussaint-Brave, Yayou, Brigadier-Generals; Bonnet, F. Papalier, Morelly, Chevalier, Marion, Adjutant-Generals; Magny, Roux, Chiefs of Brigades; Charéron, B. Loret, Quénez, Macajoux, Dupuy, Carbonne, Diaquoi ainé, Raphael, Malet, Derenoncourt, Officers of the Army; and Boisrond Tonnerre, Secretary."
In order to efface the last vestige of an abhorred domination, the very name of Saint-Domingue was changed. The island assumed once again the name given to her by her first inhabitants and henceforth was known as Haiti.
That the young State conferred absolute power on its liberator is testified by the following act:
