Napoleon came to regret fighting Louverture instead of ruling through him

Evidence

One contemporary reported that, as Bonaparte’s plans unraveled in Saint- Domingue, he angrily declared: “I am for the whites because I am white; I have no other reason, and that one is good.” “How is it possible that liberty was given to Africans, to men who had no civilization, who didn’t even know what the colony was, what France was? It is perfectly clear that those who wanted the freedom of the blacks wanted the slavery of the whites.” But years later Bonaparte would look back with regret on the decisions he had made regarding Saint-Domingue. On his deathbed he explained that he should have “recognized Toussaint” and governed the colony through him, rather than sending his forces against him. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 922

Categorization

• XREF: Shows how colonial conquerors justify rule by race-civilization rhetoric, and later remorse — echoes themes of rulers who could have governed through local strongmen rather than invading. Connects to Bonaparte’s broader imperial career.
• SEED: Essay angle: the ‘deathbed confession’ of imperial figures who belatedly admit the local leader they fought was the better partner — pattern across colonial history.