Pétion Letters to Bolívar

 

1

 

 

Alexandre Pétion, President of Haiti

To His Excellency General Bolívar

 

 

         Yesterday, General, I received your esteemed letter dated the 8th of this month. I will write to General Marión about the object of your request and you can address him about this matter.

 

         General, you know my feelings are in favour of what you are determined to defend and in favour of you personally. You must be fully aware of how much I wish to see the freedom of those who still suffer the yoke of slavery; however, concerns regarding reservations for a nation that has not yet declared itself hostile against the Republic, lead me to beg you to proclaim nothing in regards to the involvement of the Republic nor to mention my name in any of your actions. In this matter, I count on the feelings that so characterize you.

 

         I have received the plea of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Valdés and I have already given the necessary instructions. General Marion is charged with delivering to you the object of your petition. I earnestly wish for the happiness of Your Excellency and beg you to accept my most high regard.

 

PÉTION 

 

Port-au-Prince, February 18, 1816 

13th Year of Independence

 

 

 

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LIBERTY-EQUALITY

Republic of Haiti

 

Port-au-Prince, September 7, [1816]

13th Year of Independence

 

Alexandre Pétion, President of Haiti

To His Excellency General Bolívar

 

General:

 

     I have received the letter that Your Excellency has had the honour to write me, dated the 4th of this month, and with more sentiments than I can explain I have read its contents outlining the details of the sorrowful and deplorable events that have forced Your Excellency to abandon the Costa Firma.

 

    Whether in great or small affairs an inexplicable misfortune frequently unites with the wisest preparations, from whence unforeseen setbacks occur that foil and destroy the best-prepared plans.

 

    Your Excellency has recently experienced this hard and sad truth. But if fortune's fickleness has for a second time thwarted the hopes of Your Excellency, on the third attempt it may be more favourable to you. At least I have that feeling; and if in any way I can lessen Your Excellency’s grief and sorrow, you can certainly count on as much comfort as is within my reach to provide. Consequently, I plead Your Excellency come to this port where we will meet privately. I pray Your Excellency accept the assurance of my highest consideration.

 

 

PÉTION 

 

 

 

 

3

 

LIBERTY-EQUALITY

Republic of Haiti

 

 

Alexandre Pétion, President of Haiti

To His Excellency, General Bolívar

 

Mister General:

 

      I have received the letter that Your Excellency has had the honour to write congratulating me on my new appointment, and I am most grateful for your thoughtful consideration. I would like to express to you that my greatest wish is to consolidate the happiness of the nation which I have the honour to lead, and that I will strive to fulfill the expectations that such an office merits, and to become deserving of the best wishes of all good men.

 

      I pray that Your Excellency accepts the assurance of the highest regard with which it is my honour to salute His Excellency.

 

PÉTION 

 

Port-au-Prince, October 12, 1816,

13th Year [of Independence]