- published: 24 Nov 2013
- views: 496
Étienne Polverel (1740–1795) was one of two French Revolutionary Civil Commissioners who ended slavery in Saint-Domingue in 1793 during the Haïtian Revolution.
He was born in Béarn, and served as syndic for the region, then served as jurist for the Parlement of Paris. He became a Freemason and a member of the Jacobin Club, making himself known as an adversary of the deputies from the colonies, and a parisan of Jacques Pierre Brissot and Léger-Félicité Sonthonax. A prosecutor for the Revolutionary Tribunal, he joined the Commune, and became a member of its General Council.
Arrived in Le Cap aboard the America as a Civil Commissioner to Saint-Domingue on 17 September 1792, along with Sonthonax and Jean-Antoine Ailhaud. Polverel was given charge of the West, and when Ailhaud abandoned his post, he took responsibility for the South as well.
Although his more famous colleague Sonthonax is usually given full credit for this achievement, it was Polverel who wrote his own set of laws governing post-emancipation plantation labor, different from those established by Sonthonax; these remained in place under the rule of André Rigaud until 1800. All laws were written without French overseeing, and the National Convention conceded to accept them. They also demanded that all freed slaves continue to work on the plantations.
Blue overall
Overall the rooftops blue birds fly apart
Blue overall
Overall the bones that cage this stupid heart
Got blues drawing crosses on my front door
Blues a’bringing buckets ’round the back
Blues trying to push me from me white fence
And tar me a darker bluey black
For all this time
I really thought you loved me
For all this time
You only rubber gloved me
Blue overall
Overall my anvil gives no further sparks
Blue overall
Overall my fears swim hammer headed sharks
Got blues drinking beer out in the kitchen
Blue dog is barking to be fed
Got blues spilling wine upon me heartrug
They’re holding a party in my head
For all this time
I really thought you loved me
For all this time
You merely went and shoved me
I tried to lose myself in labour
The more I push the mirth
I’m giving birth to a baby’s turning
Blue overall
Feeling blue overall
All over I’m turning blue