Under Ponty, Haut-Sénégal-Niger moved more quickly on slavery than any other colony. Ponty had spent most of his short career in the Sudan, serving at one time as Archinard's secretary. He took from his Sudanese experience a concern to liberate ordinary Africans from the oppressiveness of traditional rulers and “barbaric” custom. His commitment to liberty was, however, strongly tempered by caution and a pragmatic streak. Ponty could be absolutely ruthless when he had to be, as, for example, while trying to extend the railroad into Bamako during a period of famine. He clearly saw, however, that economic growth required both an end to the slave trade and the creation of a more mobile labor force. Equally important, he took office at a time when pressure was being placed on the colonial administration from Paris. He knew when to appeal to Republican principle and when to appeal to colonial paternalism. He could be cautious and he could be daring, but he had a clear view of metropolitan priorities and African necessities.

Albert Decrais and Ponty's first steps

On 11 December 1899, Abbe Lemire, a Catholic deputy, rose in the Chamber to speak on family questions in the colony. A large part of Lemire's speech dealt with the persistence of the slave trade, and in particular the trade in women.