In August 1796 Louverture had written to Laveaux, whom he addressed (as he often did) as "my father," that he worried that some "unfortunate event" might befall the Frenchman and his family in the "unhappy land" of Saint-Domingue. He suggested a solution: Laveaux could be elected as a deputy for the colony and return to his "true homeland." Louverture and "all his brothers" would have a "zealous defender" of their cause in Paris, since, among France's many men, Laveaux was the most steadfast "friend of the blacks." Laveaux agreed, and Louverture announced that he would send "trustworthy men" to convince the electors that Laveaux's election would assure the "happiness of the blacks," though he did not specify which methods of pressure they would use. "You will be elected," Louverture announced confidently, and correctly. Laveaux soon left for Paris. Most have interpreted Louverture's support of Laveaux's candidacy as a cynical ploy to rid the colony of a political competitor. Although this may be true, it is worth noting that Laveaux never complained about Louverture's actions and that, once in Paris, he did precisely what he had been asked to do, mounting a spirited—and necessary—defense of emancipation.

Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ …, loc. 295