HISTORY  OF  ST. DOMINGO.
115
1790.
As if to meet the insidious policy of Mauduit, the divisions of chap. hi.
the new legislative bodies burst into open convulsion, by the
conduct of the provincial assembly of the north, who endeavoured
to the utmost of their power, to counteract the provisions of the
General Assembly.
The decree which was the result of its deliberations being May as,
completed, the plan for a new constitution was published ; which,
as if every thing was to coincide with the untoward disposition
of affairs, was so framed as to please scarce any party, and formed
the ostensible motive for the commencement of hostilities in the
party of M. Peynier. The principal articles of this Gonsitution
{of which there were ten,) consisted in
I.  Vesting in the " General Assembly of the French part of
St. Domingo" the entire management of the internal concerns of
the colony.
II.  Preventing any act of the legislative body relative to the
internal concerns of the colony, from becoming a law, until
definitively sanctioned by the Representatives of the People, and
confirmed by the king.
III.  IV. and V. Enabling the Assembly to enact provisional
laws for their own government. Nevertheless, to keep as a
separate question the execution of those laws ; and in case of the
governor-general (to whom such decrees shall be notified for the
purpose of being enforced) sending any observations on them to the
Assembly, causing them to be entered on the Journals, ordering
o. 2                                     a con-