France
This decision from the State Council of the King struck down le Marquis du Chilleau’s May 27th Ordinance allowing the importation of foreign grain and provisions to Saint-Domingue in exchange for colonial goods, although not sugar cane or coffee.
While the Island of Saint-Domingue was long considered part of the French Empire, the ten Colonial Deputies of Saint-Domingue felt in 1789 that they had become separated from the colonial Metropole. On June 8th 1789, this request was presented in Paris before Louis XVI’s committee of the Estates General.
Le Marquis Marie-Charles du Chilleau, Governor of Saint-Domingue, proposed this Ordinance to the French legislature one year after his appointment to allow foreign grain to be legally imported into Saint-Domingue. This is the second ordinance issued by the governor in response to the grain shortages in Saint-Domingue, which threatened the planters with famine and malnutrition.
These are the first two pieces of a chain of correspondence between the governor of Saint-Domingue, M. le Marquis du Chilleau, and M. de Marbois, which were forwarded to M. le Comte de la Luzerne in support of the introduction of Foreign grain into Saint-Domingue.
In a letter written to the French Naval Minister, César-Henri de la Luzerne, M. du Chilleau, Governor-General of St. Domingue, lays out his plans for an official ordinance that would allow Saint-Domingue to officially and legally trade with the United States.
This speech, presented to the representatives of France, is a vehement rejection of the beliefs of the Société des Amis des Noirs [Society of the Friends of Blacks], which it ultimately seeks to reduce to the level of ideologues.
This report nominates and appoints M. le Marquis du Chilleau as Governor of the island of Saint-Domingue. Much like the Arrêt du roi [Judgment from the State Council of the King ], this document presents one of the few moments where King Louis XVI directly intervenes in events surrounding the grain disputes of 1789.
This pamphlet, dating from 1784, outlines the trade laws established in the French Caribbean islands. The nineteen articles ordered by King Louis XVI offer details regarding what may be exchanged during trade, tax laws and the differences in regulation between foreign and domestic ships.
A Colony in Crisis: The Saint-Domingue Grain Shortage of 1789 