104

Adresse à la Convention Nationale, à tous les clubs et sociétés patriotiques, pour les nègres détenus en esclavage dans les Colonies Françaises de l’Amérique, sous le régime de la République

Bibliothèque Nationale de France. British Library.

Address National Convention Clubs Patriotic Societies Slavery French Colonies Americas Republic

Drawn up on 17 May 1793, with eighteen signatories from the French Caribbean colonies, claiming to be: "approved by all good Republicans" (15), this address to the French government and political class calls for the legal abolition of slavery. Drawn up in the name of "a million slaves" who were "born French" (2), the pamphlet argues that abolition would bring peace to the Americas, create free, fertile and productive sugar plantations, but above all would restore the natural rights of the enslaved: "We demand our liberty; our rights are enduring, natural and founded on our humanity" (5).

"Paris, le 17 mai 1793, l'an deuxième de la république française. J. Labuissonnière. Narcisse, lieutenant des hussards américains. Hellot, idem. Saint-George Milscent, maréchal-des-logis. Lapais, idem. Ferant, adjudant. Alexandre Vantu, brigandier-fourrier. Apollon. Dominique. Claid-Hurfulle. Louis Dubara. Jean-Pierre Alexandre. Bazille. Gainatis. Lubin. Téméraire. Étienne. Mondor. Approuvé par tous les braves Républicains".