Part 71 (1/2)
”Previous to emanc.i.p.ation, many persons apprehended violence and bloodshed as the consequence of turning the slaves all loose. But when emanc.i.p.ation took place, all these apprehensions vanished. The sense of personal security is universal. We know not of a single instance in which the negroes have exhibited a _revengeful spirit_.”
_S. Bourne, Esq., of Millar's.--Watkins, Esq., of Donovan's._
”It has always appeared to me self-evident, that if a man is peaceable while a _slave_, he will be so when a _free man_.”
_Dr. Ferguson._
”There is no possible danger of personal violence from the slaves; should a foreign power invade our island, I have no doubt that the negroes would, to a man, fight for the planters. I have the utmost confidence in all the people who are under my management; they are my friends, and they consider me their friend.”
_H. Armstrong, Esq., of Fitch's Creek._
The same gentleman informed us that during slavery, he used frequently to lie sleepless on his bed, thinking about his dangerous situation--a lone white person far away from help, and surrounded by hundreds of savage slaves; and he had spent hours thus, in devising plans of self-defence in case the house should be attacked by the negroes. ”If they come,” he would say to himself, ”and break down the door, and fill my bedroom, what shall I do? It will be useless to fire at them; my only hope is to frighten the superst.i.tious fellows by covering myself with a white sheet, and rus.h.i.+ng into the midst of them, crying, 'ghost, ghost.'”
Now Mr. A. sleeps in peace and safety, without conjuring up a ghost to keep guard at his bedside. His bodyguard is a battalion of substantial flesh and blood, made up of those who were once the objects of his nightly terror!
”There has been no instance of personal violence since freedom. Some persons pretended, prior to emanc.i.p.ation, to apprehend disastrous results; but for my part I cannot say that I ever entertained such fears. I could not see any thing which was to instigate negroes to rebellion, _after_ they had obtained their liberty. I have not heard of a single case of even _meditated_ revenge.”
_Dr. Daniell, Proprietor, Member of Council, Attorney of six estates, and Manager of Weatherill's._
”One of the blessings of emanc.i.p.ation has been, that it has banished the _fear_ of insurrections, incendiarism, &c.”
_Mr. Favey, Manager of Lavicount's._
”In my extensive intercourse with the people, as missionary, I have never heard of an instance of violence or revenge on the part of the negroes, even where they had been ill-treated during slavery.”
_Rev. Mr. Morrish, Moravian Missionary._
”Insurrection or revenge is in no case dreaded, not even by those planters who were most cruel in the time of slavery. My family go to sleep every night with the doors unlocked, and we fear neither violence nor robbery.”
_Hon. N. Nugent._
Again, in a written communication, the same gentleman remarks:--”There is not the slightest feeling of insecurity--quite the contrary. Property is more secure, _for all idea of insurrection is abolished forever_.”
”We have no cause now to fear insurrections; emanc.i.p.ation has freed us from all danger on this score.”
_David Cranstoun, Esq._
Extract of a letter from a merchant of St. John's who has resided in Antigua more than thirty years:
”There is no sense of personal danger arising from insurrections or conspiracies among the blacks. Serious apprehensions of this nature were formerly entertained; but they gradually died away _during the first year of freedom_.”
We quote the following from a communication addressed to us by a gentleman of long experience in Antigua--now a merchant in St.
John's--_James Scotland, Sen., Esq._
”Disturbances, insubordinations, and revelry, have greatly decreased since emanc.i.p.ation; and it is a remarkable fact, that on the day of abolition, which was observed with the solemnity and services of the Sabbath, not an instance of common insolence was experienced from any freed man.”
”There is no feeling of insecurity. A stronger proof of this cannot be given than the dispensing, within five months after emanc.i.p.ation, with the Christmas guards, which had been regularly and uninterruptedly kept, for nearly one hundred years--during the whole time of slavery.”
”The military has never been called out, but on one occasion, since the abolition, and that was when a certain planter, the most violent enemy of freedom, reported to the Governor that there were strong symptoms of insurrection among his negroes. The story was generally laughed at, and the reporter of it was quite ashamed of his weakness and fears.”
”My former occupation, as editor of a newspaper, rendered it necessary for me to make incessant inquiries into the conduct as well as the treatment of the emanc.i.p.ated, and I have _never heard any instance of revenge_ for former injuries. The negroes have _quitted_ managers who were _harsh or cruel_ to them in their bondage, but they removed in a peaceable and orderly manner.”