Part 72 (1/2)
That emanc.i.p.ation should be universally regarded as a blessing, is remarkable, when we consider that combination of untoward circ.u.mstances which it has been called to encounter--a combination wholly unprecedented in the history of the island. In 1835, the first year of the new system, the colony was visited by one of the most desolating hurricanes which has occurred for many years. In the same year, cultivation was arrested, and the crops greatly reduced, by drought.
About the same time, the yellow fever prevailed with fearful mortality.
The next year the drought returned, and brooded in terror from March until January, and from January until June: not only blasting the harvest of '36, but extending its blight over the crops of '37.
Nothing could be better calculated to try the confidence in the new system. Yet we find all cla.s.ses zealously exonerating emanc.i.p.ation, and in despite of tornado, plague, and wasting, still affirming the blessings and advantages of freedom!
SEVENTH PROPOSITION.--_Free labor_ is decidedly LESS EXPENSIVE than _slave labor_. It costs the planter actually less to pay his free laborers daily wages, than it did to maintain his slaves. It will be observed in the testimony which follows, that there is some difference of opinion as to the _precise amount_ of reduction in the expenses, which is owing to the various modes of management on different estates, and more particularly, to the fact that some estates raise all their provisions, while others raise none. But as to the fact itself, there can scarcely be said to be any dispute among the planters. There was one cla.s.s of planters whose expenses seemed to be somewhat increased, viz.
those who raised all their provisions before emanc.i.p.ation, and ceased to raise any _after_ that event. But in the opinion of the most intelligent planters, even these did not really sustain any loss, for originally it was bad policy to raise provisions, since it engrossed that labor which would have been more profitably directed to the cultivation of sugar; and hence they would ultimately be gainers by the change.
S. Bourne, Esq. stated that the expenses on Millar's estate, of which he is manager, had diminished about _one third_.
Mr. Barnard, of Green Castle, thought his expenses were about the same that they were formerly.
Mr. Favey, of Lavicount's estate, enumerated, among the advantages of freedom over slavery, ”the diminished expense.”
Dr. Nugent also stated, that ”the expenses of cultivation were greatly diminished.”
Mr. Hatley, manager of Fry's estate, said that the expenses on his estate had been greatly reduced since emanc.i.p.ation. He showed us the account of his expenditures for the last year of slavery, and the first full year of freedom, 1835. The expenses during the last year of slavery were 1371_l._ 2_s._ 4-1/2_d._; the expenses for 1835 were 821_l._ 16_s._ 7-1/2_d._: showing a reduction of more than one third.
D. Cranstoun, Esq., informed us that his weekly expenses during slavery, on the estate which he managed, were, on an average, 45_l._; the average expenses now do not exceed 20_l._
Extract of a letter from Hon. N. Nugent:
”The expenses of cultivating sugar estates have in no instance, I believe, been found _greater_ than before. As far as my experience goes, they are certainly less, particularly as regards those properties which were overhanded before, when proprietors were compelled to support more dependents than they required. In some cases, the present cost is less by _one third_. I have not time to furnish you with any detailed statements, but the elements of the calculation are simple enough.”
It is not difficult to account for the diminution in the cost of cultivation. In the first place, for those estates that bought their provision previous to emanc.i.p.ation, it cost more money to purchase their stores than they now pay out in wages. This was especially true in dry seasons, when home provisions failed, and the island was mainly dependent upon foreign supplies.
But the chief source of the diminution lies in the reduced number of people to be supported by the planter. During slavery, the planter was required by law to maintain _all_ the slaves belonging to the estate; the superannuated, the infirm, the pregnant, the nurses, the young children, and the infants, as well as the working slaves. Now it is only the latter cla.s.s, the effective laborers, (with the addition of such as were superannuated or infirm at the period of emanc.i.p.ation,) who are dependent upon the planter. These are generally not more than one half, frequently less than a third, of the whole number of negroes resident on the estate; consequently a very considerable burthen has been removed from the planter.
The reader may form some estimate of the reduced expense to the planter, resulting from these causes combined, by considering the statement made to us by Hon. N. Nugent, and repeatedly by proprietors and managers, that had slavery been in existence during the present drought, many of the smaller estates _must have been inevitably ruined_; on account of the high price of imported provisions, (home provisions having fallen short) and the number of slaves to be fed.
EIGHTH PROPOSITION.--The negroes work _more cheerfully_, and _do their work better_ than they did during slavery. Wages are found to be an ample subst.i.tute for the lash--they never fail to secure the amount of labor desired. This is particularly true where task work is tried, which is done occasionally in cases of a pressing nature, when considerable effort is required. We heard of no complaints on the score of idleness, but on the contrary, the negroes were highly commended for the punctuality and cheerfulness with which they performed the work a.s.signed them.
The Governor stated, that ”he was a.s.sured by planters, from every part of the island, that the negroes were very industriously disposed.”
”My people have become much more industrious since they were emanc.i.p.ated. I have been induced to extend the sugar cultivation over a number of acres more than have ever been cultivated before.”--_Mr.
Watkins, of Donovan's_.
”Fearing the consequences of emanc.i.p.ation, I reduced my cultivation in the year '34; but soon finding that my people would work as well as ever, I brought up the cultivation the next year to the customary extent, and this year ('36) I have added fifteen acres of new land.”--_S. Bourne, of Millar's_.
”Throughout the island the estates were never in a more advanced state than they now are. The failure in the crops is not in the slightest degree chargeable to a deficiency of labor. I have frequently adopted the job system for short periods; the results have always been gratifying--the negroes accomplished twice as much as when they worked for daily wages, because they made more money. On some days they would make three s.h.i.+llings--three times the ordinary wages.”--_Dr. Daniell_.
”They are as a body _more_ industrious than when slaves, for the obvious reason that they are _working for themselves_.”--_Ralph Higinbothom, U.S. Consul_.
”I have no hesitation in saying that on my estate cultivation is more forward than ever it has been at the same season. The failure of the crops is not in the least degree the fault of the laborers. They have done well.”--_Mr. Favey, of Lavicount's estate_.
”The most general apprehension prior to emanc.i.p.ation was, that the negroes would not work after they were made free--that they would be indolent, buy small parcels of land, and '_squat_' on them to the neglect of sugar cultivation. Time, however, has proved that there was no foundation for this apprehension. The estates were never in better order than they are at present. If you are interrogated on your return home concerning the cultivation of Antigua, you can say that every thing depends upon the _weather_. If we have _sufficient rain_, you may be certain that we shall realize abundant crops. If we have no rain, the crops _must inevitably_ fail. _But we always depend upon the laborers_.
On account of the stimulus to industry which wages afford, there is far less feigned sickness than there was during slavery. When slaves, the negroes were glad to find any excuse for deserting their labor, and they were incessantly feigning sickness. The sick-house was thronged with real and pretended invalids. After '34, it was wholly deserted. The negroes would not go near it; and, in truth, I have lately used it for a stable.”--_Hon. N. Nugent_.
”Though the laborers on both the estates under my management have been considerably reduced since freedom, yet the grounds have never been in a finer state of cultivation, than they are at present. When my work is backward, I give it out in jobs, and it is always done in half the usual time.”