Page:Haiti- Her History and Her Detractors.djvu/219

 on the 23d of February, 1847, and died on the 27th of the same month.

The Council of the Secretaries of State immediately assumed the authority; and the Senate met on the 1st of March to elect a new President of the Republic. The struggle for the Presidency was between two candidates, Generals Souffrant and Paul. After eight ballots neither one was able to obtain a majority of votes. Both parties remaining obdurate, the Assembly decided to choose a man who was not aspiring to the dignity. In this way General Faustin Soulouque, who was far from expecting such an honor, was elected President of Haiti.