80 CHAP. VI.
H I S T O R Y
O F
full force the national decree of the 15th of May, fo often men tioned ;—certainly the oftenfible, though perhaps not the fole and original caufe of the rebellion. by this example, and foftened, it may be prefumed, by the loyal and temperate conduct of the free mulattoes in the town of Cape François, as before related, the general affembly, by a proclamation of the 20th of September, declared that they would no longer oppofe the operation of the fame de cree. They even went further, and announced an intention to grant confiderable indulgences towards fuch free people of co lour as were not comprehended in it, meaning thofe who were born of enflaved parents. They voted at the fame time the formation of certain free companies of mulattoes, wherein the men of colour of all defcriptions, poffeffed of certain qualifica tions, fhould be allowed to ferve as commiffioned officers. INSTRUCTED
1791
THESE conceffions, at an earlier period, would have operated with powerful effect in the falvation of the colony ; but they now came too late, and produced only a partial truce, a temporary and fallacious ceffation of miferies. T h e wounds that had been inAided were yet green and bleeding; and the dark and fullen paffions of difappointed pride, anger, malice, hatred and re venge, were fecretly burning in the gloomy minds of all par ties. T h e flames were fmothered, not extinguifhed ; foon to break out again, with aggravated violence and greater fury than ever.
C H A P .