13774: Bell Re: 13772: Toussasint not the head of Haitian state (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: madison bell <mbell@goucher.edu>

The constitution which Toussaint sponsored (and most likely wrote) in 1801,
and which did much to provoke the Napoleonic invasion, proclaimed him
Governor for life with the right to appoint his successor (see la
Constitution de 1801, Collection Patrimoine, Juillet 2001-- p. 16 Titre
VIII arts 28- 31).  While Haiti was not officially independent at that
time, Toussaint was certainly the (pardon the expression) de facto head of
the colony, and the constitution of 1801 certainly seems intended to make
that status official.  As the constitution was proclaimed in Haiti before
being presented in France I think it could be argued that Toussaint was to
all intents and purposes head of state henceforward-- though technically
speaking he remained a colonial governor (with life-time tenure and the
right to appoint his successor).

hone ak respe

msb