86
CONTESTS BETWEEN
felt conscious of his superiority ; and the negro was frequently constrained, however reluctantly, to acknowledge it. The tyranny of Dessalines awed both for a time into submission; but when another negro was nominated as his successor, Petion, with other mulattoes, despised his pretensions, and determined never to submit to an authority which they felt it impossible to respect. In addition to the opinion of his claims, and the force of his prejudices, he felt the influence of a principle to which he was cheerfully disposed to yield. It was impossible for him not to feel that to stand at the head of a numerous and powerful army, to become the chief of a large and important Island, and to be foremost in laying the foundation of a permanent empire, were objects worthy of a just and laudable ambition. The Haytians, he considered, presented to the world at this period a novel spectacle : through their personal exertions, and at the expence of their blood, they had lately effected their emancipation from slavery: they were now to put to the test what had been repeatedly affirmed of their means and capacities: and Petion well knew that every one who should take an active and conspicuous part in their proceedings, would