Chapter 617 Since you insist on joining in the fun, don’t blame me for being ruthless
In the conference room on the second floor of the Port-au-Prince Assembly Hall, Oger and three abolitionist MPs looked at them in amazement while they were making impassioned speeches Brissot tried several times to stop him from continuing.
The other two slave-holding congressmen were already stunned and stayed there.
Briso did not care about the looks of the crowd at all, raised his arms and said loudly: "We cannot be satisfied with the liberation of the black slaves in Saint-Domingue, but we should let this great cause continue The whole Caribbean shines!
“The evil and shameful institution of slavery must disappear from this world.
"Jamaica, Barnabas, and even the West Indies, there are still evil whips beating black people who should be free!
"And we, the spreaders of the spirit of freedom, we have the power to fight with slaveholders The fighting army is supported by 500,000 free blacks. What reason do we have not to rescue the slaves in the Caribbean..."
Finally, Ogé stood up and said: "Mr. Brissot, we I really want to abolish slavery in other Caribbean areas, but it seems that this should be done by the British and Spanish themselves..."
Other councilors nodded, "Involving those places is likely to attract The British and other countries retaliated. "
"Mr. Brissot, the abolition of slavery is a problem that will take a long time to solve..."
"Even if we want to promote the abolition of slavery across the Caribbean, I'm afraid we don't have enough strength."
"Forgive us that we really can't do this..."
Brissot looked around the crowd, eyes With mockery: "Is this what you mean by 'breaking the shackles and letting freedom and equality shine on every inch of land that God looks at'?
"Only liberating 500,000 black slaves in Saint-Domingue is Have you realized your ideal? "
Auge had no choice but to say: "Okay, Mr. Brissot, to be honest, this is not in our interests, so..."
"You mean benefits?" Brissot smiled, "Then if I tell you that Saint-Domingue can gain independence, will such benefits satisfy you?"
The conference room was silent for a moment. down.
Auge and others looked at each other, then looked at Brissot: "Sorry, I don't understand, is this a metaphor of yours, or..."
"No, it is. Independence." Brissot said calmly, "Establish the Republic of Saint-Domingue, and your parliament will mint currency, determine trade methods, tariffs, diplomacy, military, etc. The French government will not interfere with you."
< br>A middle-aged congressman suddenly laughed: "Mr. Special Envoy, you really know how to joke."
"No, I'm not joking." Brissot took out an edict from his body, "His Majesty the King has agreed to abandon the colony of Saint-Domingue and establish your own country."
Auge quickly took the edict. , saw the signatures and royal seals of the king and queen on it, and his hands trembled with excitement, and he handed it to the congressman beside him.
For a moment, everyone's face turned red with excitement, their eyes shone, and they confirmed with each other whether they had made a mistake.
If they can get rid of their colonial status, they will gain great benefits-for example, they will not have to pay taxes to the French government, the market will not only be open to France, they will mint their own currency, conduct financial management, etc. Especially these MPs, who will jump from an inconspicuous colonial MP to a national MP, and the power in their hands will increase countless times!
You know, before Joseph only promised to reduce the tax rate in Saint-Domingue by 70% and give parliament greater power, he could get most of the slave-holding MPs to support the abolition of slavery. And these are just a few of the many benefits of independent nationhood.
For a moment, Auger took the lead and waved his fists and shouted: "Long live His Majesty the King! Thank you for granting freedom and independence to Saint-Domingue!"
Other members were about to cheer, but Brissot raised his hand to interrupt. He told them: "Gentlemen, there are preconditions for Your Majesty to allow Saint-Domingue to be independent."
All eyes immediately turned to him.
“First of all, His Majesty demands that the entire Caribbean region must abolish slavery.” Secondly, the island of Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the West Indies must also achieve independence. It would be best to form a Caribbean Confederation with Santo Domingo. ”
The members of the House of Representatives heard this and started talking in low voices. To be honest, it is indeed extremely difficult, but the temptation of Saint-Domingue to establish an independent country is obviously greater.
Brissot waited for a moment and then said: "The French government will also provide weapons and ammunition to Saint-Domingue, as well as annual financial support of 2 million francs."
Ogehe Governor Mably looked at each other, swallowed hard, looked at Brissot and said: "Mr. Special Envoy, let us discuss it and give you a reply before noon tomorrow."
"Okay, gentlemen. But I must remind everyone that this matter must be kept strictly confidential."
Brissot did not wait until noon the next day. At 10 o'clock that night, Auger and Mabuli came to his room together to express their gratitude. Domingo will be duty-bound to lead the cause of abolition in the Caribbean.
These two old rivals, who had been fighting in the Council of Saint-Domingue for more than ten years, seemed unusually united at this time.
Then Auger said with a sad face: "But you know, Mr. Special Envoy, this is not easy to do..."
Brissot smiled and nodded, and asked his entourage to call for a man. An intelligence officer.
"This is Major Delman. He will introduce you to a simple plan."
Delman handed two documents to Auger and Mably: "We must first Ensure that other countries believe that the French government is opposed to abolition, otherwise France will be unable to provide support to Saint-Domingue.”
Auger and Mably nodded one after another.
Dellman continued: "So the army of His Majesty the Governor and the army of the abolitionist movement will remain at war on the surface.
"Due to the British accidental interference in the situation in Saint-Domingue , so Mr. Brissot and I intend to take advantage of this. "
Auge was a little surprised: "How to use this? "
Delman raised the document in his hand: "The French government will make a high-profile announcement that in order to punish the Saint-Domingue Assembly for its abolition decision, it will send 10,000 expeditionary troops to the island to eliminate the abolitionists.
"Mr. Auger used this as an excuse to ask the British for help, saying that if there was no increase in aid, the abolitionist movement would have no choice but to surrender to the French government. It would be better for them to pay a large sum of aid in one go, rather than giving a small amount every month. Son.
"There will be a slave-holding member of Parliament who 'happens' to hear your conversation and make it public. You immediately admitted the matter "under pressure".
"Afterwards, your army will 'defeat' the governor's army, seize a large amount of weapons and equipment, and thousands of the governor's soldiers will 'surrender' and be recruited into your command."
Au Re's eyes widened: "This, is this okay?"
Brissot continued: "When the government's expeditionary force lands, they will be 'ambushed' by your army, and then they will be defeated and retreat to British Jamaica. You captured more weapons and supplies, and even a few warships..."
(End of this chapter)