The funding embarrassing workers rights groups didn't go to plan (I think?)
Mayber Barbier and the Golden Vineyard Club could try to advocate for making certain foreign goods (Like consumable substances, hopefully stuff like alchohol) have a bit more of a difficult time getting into the country, like I dunno, extra paperwork
I think selling all of the Louisiana Territory but the area around the mouth of the Mississippi river (i.e. the modern day state of Louisiana) could be a necessary infusion of cash to the Republic's institutions. We'd want to preserve ownership of the mouth to reap the benefits of such a locus of rivertine trade in the Americas.
The 25 thousand or so military officers who were dismissed should also be sorted through to see if any could be rehired as either parts of the tax collection or education administrations. As they are all officers, they should all be literate and well versed in mathematics, putting them a step above the average Frenchman as of right now. For the tax collectors they'll also bring an iron spine to the service which could serve us well when dealing with intransigent tax payers.
What the Americans want are those same trade cities, more than the inland, which our ownership of is mostly theoretical anyway. I think just selling the inland would be seen as a pisstake. Sell the lot, it's not like we could defend them from the Americans anyway, nor would the Dutch and Spanish defend them as eagerly as they fought the English in Europe.
I think if you want a colony you should side with the "more colonies" guy to focus on West Africa and the Congo.
[X] Dion "L'ivrogne" Barbier
- [X] Use connections to the various workers rights group he funded to humiliate them and thus hopefully discredit their ideals, and try to be stealthy about it
- [X] Carefully research and write essays about the dangers of not carefully managing the importation of foreign goods (Particularly consumables)
[X] The Golden Vineyard Club
- [X] Bribe certain experts on the matters of economics via deniable intermediaries, requesting that they advocate against the price controls of the revolutionary government
Fucked up a bit last time, don't know how the QM thought I actually wanted to help the workers, I probably didn't write the action clearly enough
Time to spread some misinformation and slander workers rights groups for my own benefit
[X] Dion "L'ivrogne" Barbier
- [X] Use connections to the various workers rights group he funded to humiliate them and thus hopefully discredit their ideals, and try to be stealthy about it
- [X] Carefully research and write essays about the dangers of not carefully managing the importation of foreign goods (Particularly consumables)
[X] The Golden Vineyard Club
- [X] Bribe certain experts on the matters of economics via deniable intermediaries, requesting that they advocate against the price controls of the revolutionary government
Fucked up a bit last time, don't know how the QM thought I actually wanted to help the workers, I probably didn't write the action clearly enough
Time to spread some misinformation and slander workers rights groups for my own benefit
Just to clarify, the price controls were gradually abandoned years ago. They're asking for a return to price controls and the Maximum, which as the main implies, places a ceiling on how high prices for certain goods can be.
Just to clarify, the price controls were gradually abandoned years ago. They're asking for a return to price controls and the Maximum, which as the main implies, places a ceiling on how high prices for certain goods can be.
I know, which is why I'm having folks discourage the idea of returning to it
But if my action is still pointless even with the clarification, I'll probably just read through the post again to see what I could potentially take advantage of
[X] Rosaline Picard
- [X] Agitate with the new workers movements in support of price controls and generally anything they support, while trying to pull them into the Jacobin orbit
- [X] Support fully the idea of revitalizing the military, we must be prepared for when the reactionaries next strike, and with Prussia lead by a weak king, perhaps liberty can be spread abroad once more
[X] Jacobin Club
- [X] Push the Jacobin club to take up the worker's causes as their own and demand the introduction of pride ceilings and the end of wage controls, in order to co-opt this new energy for their own and bring the masses behind the Jacobins once again
@SzechuanSauce what is the current situation with regards to rent in the republic? I am thinking primarily of housing but also of businesses. I assume that, with the current inflation crisis, meeting rent could be an issue for many people, but I could also imagine that the Jacobin ideal might've succeeded more than I imagined and that actually owner-occupiers might actually be fairly common?
I almost forgot this exist, I need to re-read to know who I am LARPing for.
[X] Hugon Beaufort
-[X] Call for the use of assignats as fuel to heat government buildings and introduce the franc as the new currency backed by silver and gold. People could return the assignants and old French livre to the goverment and recieve compensation in franc.
-[X] Support to sell the Lousiana Territory for as much as we can demand of the Americans, we need to refill the treasury.
[X] The Textile Club
-[X] Get support to lobby the government to lessen the raised taxes in exchange for as much low interest long term loans as the government want. Liquidate some of our assets or ask for loans from the Rothschild as a private entity if the government need it.
My fellow good citizens, we should stop advocating for just our private interests and/or agenda. We should think of the poor economy and the emptying treasury, the goverment can't help humble citizens without money. Which is why I and my fellow honest shopkeepers would like to do everything we can to keep the greatest and freest country's economy afloat, even at a great cost to us.
[X] Claude Quinault
-[X] Advocate for the return of price controls on basic goods such as bread and housing.
-[X] Advocate for sending a diplomat to America to negotiate the sale of the Louisiana territories
[X] The Equality Club
-[x] Organise the pooling of the club's resources to buy or build houses, shops, and workshops in towns and cities around the country, primarily in low-income areas to enable poorer members of the society to live and foster businesses.
Might change the vote depending on what other members of the Equality Club do but I figure setting up some kind of proto cooperative isn't the worst shout.
[X] Jean-Marc Bourdon
-[X] Advocate for the hiring of the recently dismissed army officers by the republic administration to appropriately fill out the lower levels of the tax collection apparatus. They will provide a badly needed esprit-de-corps to the service in the face of uncooperative taxpayers.
-[X] For those unwilling to go back to civilian life, push them towards joining the Navy, working with Saint-Andre to find as many of them positions in the fleet as possible.
-[X] Join the Pantheonists as a Patriot of 89
I am faithfully devoted to the Republic but will not serve it at the expense of my conscience and my honor.
Toussaint Louverture
On this sixth year after the founding of the republic, the term, and mission, of the commissioner Sonthonax has ended. As he returns to the mainland, he may proudly state his accomplishments.
When Sonthonax was sent to Saint-Domingue during the chaos of the early years of the republic, the slaves were in revolt, fighting for the king on the deceptive notion that the monarchy shall be for the blacks, the great system of plantations was burned down by the slaves in retaliation for the cruelty of the slave masters, the British and the Spanish marched across our prize colony, and we fought them all at once.
Now the prized jewel of the Caribbean is safe from foreign threats, the British and Spanish expelled from our colonies, the monarchy cowers, and the plantations are handled by happy and free hands.
At least, that is what Toussaint Louverture would have us believe.
As Sonthonax proudly states all he had done in the name of the republic, he would also attack Toussaint, accusing him of carrying an "unenlightened and superstitious mind", consorting with shamans and priests that wished for him to be pushed out of Saint-Domingue so all the power may be his. He also claimed that Toussaint was influenced by the emigres in his decisions, remembering how, to his great protests, he had welcomed returning emigre planters to Saint-Domingue.
He recalls how Toussaint had not only schemed to have him pushed out of the colony, but the rest of the civil commission as well. The then governor of Saint-Domingue, Étienne Maynaud de Bizefranc de Laveaux, was "persuaded" to leave his post as governor due to the influence of Toussaint. Toussaint had showered him with praise and "encouraged" him to return to France, to "ensure that the abolition of slavery shall stay etched into the motherland". Which Sonthonax had felt was altogether a ridiculous proposition as the composition of the National Convention, and the national mood of victory would not be conductive to restoring slavery. In his inability to prevent this, Sonthonax admitted that, as he left the colony, he felt as if his given power had been stripped of him. That he had lost control of the colony to the new rulers of Saint-Domingue. Though Sonthonax returns to the National Convention celebrated for his achievements, he would admit that the island he had left teemed with issues that he felt he had great challenge in fixing.
In the new plantations of the colony, now under military administration instead of private hands, discipline would be strict and the hours long. A 6 day work week where Sunday will be the only allotted day of rest, and if they attempt to rest on any other day, their 1/3 of the profit of the plantation shall be cut in half, and should they rest any longer, then they shall not be paid at all. That would be the order of the day in Saint-Domingue.
The former slaves indentured to the plantations, now soldiers of the colony, refuse to return to the plantations of which they toiled in misery, especially under such harsh conditions. Instead they would expand the small subsistence farms provided to them for sustenance, claiming portions of the lands of their former masters for themselves, helping themselves to the uncultivated materials, enjoyed the rations and sold the rest. The animals of the plantations were either used for the leisure of the former slaves or as transportation.
The plantation workers, having already freed themselves from their masters, had different ideas than their leaders. Many would strike back at the prospect of plantation labor, demanding a two day break. As they resisted, usually through an outright refusal to work, they would be punished through being forced to either labor on a public work without pay, suffer arrest, or in cases of theft, would have to pay double the amount they had stolen. As many were former field slaves, very few had the ability to pay for these punishments.
These resistant workers would be labeled as maroons, whatever their political goals were remains unknown. The majority whom we refer to primarily come the multitude of field slaves that had made Saint-Domingue a land of riches and misery. They had never known French, did not possess literacy, and spoke the African language of Kreyol. They were not atheists nor Roman Carholics, but worshippers of Vodou. They did not have a sense of loyalty to France as a nation, but were primarily dedicated to the leaders they coalesced around. The maroons have, according to reports, little interest in expanding their ideas to the rest of Saint-Domingue, but instead have retreated to easily defensible, mountainous regions of Saint-Domingue located in the interior.
The complex state of affairs would begin to multiply in complexity with the demobilization of soldiers. The revolution had utterly overturned the existing social order within the colony, far more than even in France as the level of inequality in Saint-Domingue was perhaps the starkest in the world. In an army that had won only through the defection of a multitude of revolting slaves, the former racial dynamic of the white master and the black slave has been thoroughly shattered. Much of the officers were in fact former slaves, some house slaves, other field slaves, yet they would be leading the army of Saint-Domingue. An army that contained its share of white soldiers, white soldiers commanded by black officers, where many had once been masters, with one company containing a former slave and master, with the former as the commanding officer, and the latter as their lieutenant.
Despite Toussaint's alleged attempts at concentrating all the power to his person, resistance in Saint-Domingue to the new order remains.
While the north would be ruled by Toussaint and his African officers, the south would be a different matter. Rather than Toussaint, it would be led by his rival in power, Andre Rigaud.
Toussaint, in his reports in an attempt to appeal to his popular image and the class tensions that had arisen as a result of the revolution, painted himself as a man of the people, a former slave who had been nothing and through the guiding hand of liberty, became the leader of all freed men. While Rigaud, who had never been a slave, and actually belonged to the privileged class of free-colored men, was a quasi-aristocrat with his free-colored army in the south, dispensing patronage as he went, invoking tensions between the blacks and the free-colored.
Rigaud, though of not as great a fame as Toussaint, had also sent his own missives, siding with the aggrieved Sonthonax. He would present himself as the always loyal revolutionary officer, having never once raised his saber against the republic, and against the reactionary maneuvers of Toussaint. If he had greater power, he said, he would never have antagonized the commissioner, never invited the reactionary planters back to Saint-Domingue, nor act with the degree of impunity as his rival has.
The conflict in the colonies would only grow new dimensions as the old planter elite would encounter the new planter elite. As Toussaint welcomed the emigre plantation owners back to Saint-Domingue, despite the protests of Sonthonax, they would find their fields occupied by colored military officers or split into various plots by their former slaves.
Those few who had a modicum of success in reclaiming their former plantations would find a cold welcome by their former slaves.
Toussaint would attempt to ignore this rising issue as the plantation owners complained to him of their inability to regain their former lands, he would only claim that the land is no longer controlled by the state, and officially, the officers are simply renting the land during their absence. This legal fiction would provide little solace as the officers would show little regard for the plantation owners, rebuffing any attempts by the former slavers to regain their lands or to claim rent.
This conflict, as may be obvious to many, left the plantations, the lifeblood of our colonial economy, bereft. Sonthonax reported of the sorry state of the once great plantation fields, remembering once mighty fields plowed by the colored masses, yet now there are only ruined lands, split apart by officers or former slaves, the houses decrepit and hollowed out by the slave revolution.
This state of affairs, it must be said, has not been to the mainland's liking. The reported ruins of the plantations, the brewing rivalry between Toussaint and Rigaud, the maroons, the return on the emigres, the increasing encroachment of civil authority by the military. The situation is one that must be approached with delicacy.
The most important question at the moment is: who shall be Haiti's representative?
The typical answer to this would be a renewal of the civil commission and attempt to bring Saint-Domingue to order. Though the question of who shall be the new representative shall be one to be answered at a later time.
The atypical option is to simply acknowledge the reality on the ground; Saint-Domingue is lead by Toussaint Louverture, whatever he may decide, many in Saint-Domingue will follow. We shall confer unto him the necessary powers to bring Saint-Domingue to order as he had done in the past.
Another option would be to empower Toussaint's rival, and the unofficial leader of the southern portion of the colony, Andre Rigaud. While we do not have the control that we desire, Rigaud is a proven and safe option to lead the colony. Having served a greater time than Toussaint, and having cooperated with the commission, he should provide a greater balance within the colony, helping to counter-act Toussaint's overwhelming might.
[] A New Commission: As soon as able, a new civil commission shall be sent to our prized colony, with a new set of commissioners to be determined as it is arranged. This will help in providing us with a greater set of eyes and ears in our colony, unblinded by the possible twisting of events by the mighty men of Saint-Domingue. Though this risks having a repeat of Sonthonax and being overpowered by the military men of the colony.
[] Toussaint Louverture: Already the commander of a significant portion of our troops in Saint-Domingue, this plan will confer unto Toussaint the authority invested in the civil commission, making him the most powerful man in the colony. This has the advantage of potentially settling the question of authority all together, vesting it in the de-facto leader of Saint-Domingue who has proclaimed his loyalty to the republic. Yet this might make us helpless in preventing any possible follies by Toussaint, and as his record of twisting orders to outright disobedience has shown, what we may wish may not be followed if he feels it is not wise.
[] André Rigaud: In an admittance to our increasing impotence, though unwilling to let Toussaint run rampant, Rigaud shall be empowered as Toussaint's official equal, both shall run the colony as partners and co-lieutenant governors. This shall hopefully lead to a better partnership and prevent one man's overriding might deciding the whole of Saint-Domingue. Though the consequences of further conflict will be worrying.
AN: Hey folks, sorry for not calculating your decisions, but I wanted to get something out by New Year. Will be spending tomorrow getting back to my home province and in the next update will apply your actions. Anyway, hope you all like the new update!
[X] André Rigaud: In an admittance to our increasing impotence, though unwilling to let Toussaint run rampant, Rigaud shall be empowered as Toussaint's official equal, both shall run the colony as partners and co-lieutenant governors. This shall hopefully lead to a better partnership and prevent one man's overriding might deciding the whole of Saint-Domingue. Though the consequences of further conflict will be worrying.
Toussaint has made enough perversion of the republic's ideals, get Andre in now.
[X] Toussaint Louverture: Already the commander of a significant portion of our troops in Saint-Domingue, this plan will confer unto Toussaint the authority invested in the civil commission, making him the most powerful man in the colony. This has the advantage of potentially settling the question of authority all together, vesting it in the de-facto leader of Saint-Domingue who has proclaimed his loyalty to the republic. Yet this might make us helpless in preventing any possible follies by Toussaint, and as his record of twisting orders to outright disobedience has shown, what we may wish may not be followed if he feels it is not wise.
[X] Toussaint Louverture: Already the commander of a significant portion of our troops in Saint-Domingue, this plan will confer unto Toussaint the authority invested in the civil commission, making him the most powerful man in the colony. This has the advantage of potentially settling the question of authority all together, vesting it in the de-facto leader of Saint-Domingue who has proclaimed his loyalty to the republic. Yet this might make us helpless in preventing any possible follies by Toussaint, and as his record of twisting orders to outright disobedience has shown, what we may wish may not be followed if he feels it is not wise.
Given historical precedent, I do not think that Rigaud would win against Toussaint should a conflict erupt between the two. Better to settle the matter now in a manner that puts us in the winner's good graces, especially given how our inward focus would preclude us from giving the matter enough attention to push such a conflict into our favor.
[X] Toussaint Louverture: Already the commander of a significant portion of our troops in Saint-Domingue, this plan will confer unto Toussaint the authority invested in the civil commission, making him the most powerful man in the colony. This has the advantage of potentially settling the question of authority all together, vesting it in the de-facto leader of Saint-Domingue who has proclaimed his loyalty to the republic. Yet this might make us helpless in preventing any possible follies by Toussaint, and as his record of twisting orders to outright disobedience has shown, what we may wish may not be followed if he feels it is not wise.
I don't think the idea of co government is going to work out well however not giving carte blanche to Toussaint seems important. The Republic is and always must be more than one man.
[X] Toussaint Louverture: Already the commander of a significant portion of our troops in Saint-Domingue, this plan will confer unto Toussaint the authority invested in the civil commission, making him the most powerful man in the colony. This has the advantage of potentially settling the question of authority all together, vesting it in the de-facto leader of Saint-Domingue who has proclaimed his loyalty to the republic. Yet this might make us helpless in preventing any possible follies by Toussaint, and as his record of twisting orders to outright disobedience has shown, what we may wish may not be followed if he feels it is not wise.
