The Present State of Hayti (Saint Domingo) with Remarks on its Agriculture, Commerce, Laws, Religion, Finances, and Population by James (Merchant) Franklin — Summary & Review

James Franklin's The Present State of Hayti offers a detailed and critical examination of Saint Domingo, focusing on its agriculture, commerce, laws, religion, finances, and population during and after its revolutionary upheavals. The narrative begins with the island's colonial divisions: the industrious French colony prospered through agriculture, while the Spanish side remained less developed, relying on mining and cattle. Early unrest arose among the free people of colour (mulattoes), who sought political rights denied by white colonists. Their rebellion, led by figures like Ogé, was crushed, escalating racial tensions. The slave population initially remained passive but soon erupted in a violent revolt in 1791, marked by brutal attacks and destruction. The mulattoes joined forces with the slaves, intensifying the conflict.

French revolutionary decrees granting rights to free people of colour and later abolishing slavery further destabilized the colony. Commissioners Santhonax and Polverel enforced these decrees, provoking fierce resistance from whites and triggering British military intervention. Toussaint L’Ouverture emerged as a skilled and resolute leader, uniting black forces to resist British and French attempts to regain control. Despite Toussaint's strict enforcement of agricultural labor and efforts to restore order, the French expedition under General Le Clerc in 1802 sought to reimpose slavery through deceit and force. Toussaint's refusal to capitulate led to prolonged warfare marked by atrocities on both sides, disease, and heavy losses. His eventual betrayal and deportation to France shocked the island's leaders.

Following independence declared in 1804, Dessalines ruled with brutal ferocity, conducting massacres of whites despite proclamations of protection. His reign was marked by harsh discipline and attempts to rebuild agriculture, but also by tyranny and moral decay. After his assassination, Christophe and Petion divided the island’s governance, with Christophe enforcing strict laws and promoting commerce and education, while Petion's milder rule led to economic decline and social indolence. Civil war ended with Boyer uniting the island, but his administration faced challenges including an onerous indemnity treaty with France, unpopular taxation, and widespread decay.

Agriculture, the colony’s economic backbone, suffered severe decline due to indolence, ignorance, and lack of enforcement. The author emphasizes the necessity of coercion and compulsory labor laws, such as the Code Rural, to revive cultivation, warning against the failure of free labor systems in tropical colonies. Commerce languished amid corruption, bribery, and unfair trade privileges favoring French merchants. The judiciary was corrupt and inefficient, with justice often bought or delayed indefinitely. Religious life was dominated by a disorganized Catholic Church, with Protestant sects tolerated only in theory. Education was limited and discouraged, especially in rural areas, contributing to widespread ignorance and moral degradation.

Population estimates were unreliable, with censuses often fabricated or inaccurate, but the general trend suggested stagnation or decline due to vices, indolence, and social disorder. The author is skeptical of optimistic reports about Hayti's progress, portraying it as a cautionary example of emancipation without preparation, where freedom without discipline led to economic collapse, social decay, and political instability. The book combines detailed historical narrative, character studies of key figures, and critical analysis of social and economic conditions, offering a sober and often harsh perspective on the challenges facing post-revolutionary Hayti.