Part 76 (2/2)
”The negroes have a growing self-respect and regard for character. This was a feeling which was scarcely known by them during slavery.”--_Mr.
J. Howell_.
”The negroes pay a great deal more attention to their personal appearance, than they were accustomed to while slaves. The _women_ in particular have improved astonis.h.i.+ngly in their dress and manners.”--_Dr. Daniell_.
Abundant proof of this proposition may be found in the statements already made respecting the decrease of licentiousness, the increased attention paid to marriage, the abandonment by the mothers of the horrible practice of selling their daughters to vile white men, the reverence for the Sabbath, the attendance upon divine wors.h.i.+p, the exemplary subordination to law, the avoidance of riotous conduct, insolence, and intemperance.
SEVENTEENTH PROPOSITION--Emanc.i.p.ation promises a vast improvement in the condition of woman. What could more effectually force woman from her sphere, than slavery has done by dragging her to the field, subjecting her to the obscene remarks, and to the vile abominations of licentious drivers and overseers; by compelling her to wield the heavy hoe, until advancing pregnancy rendered her useless then at the earliest possible period driving her back to the field with her infant swung at her back, or torn from her and committed to a stranger. Some of these evils still exist in Antigua, but there has already been a great abatement of them, and the humane planters look forward to their complete removal, and to the ultimate restoration of woman to the quiet and purity of domestic life.
Samuel Bourne, Esq., stated, that there had been a great improvement in the treatment of mothers on his estate. ”Under the old system, mothers were required to work half the time after their children were six weeks old; but now we do not call them out for _nine months_ after their confinement, until their children are entirely weaned.”
”In those cases where women have husbands in the field, they do not turn out while they are nursing their children. In many instances the husbands prefer to have their wives engaged in other work, and I do not require them to go to the field.”--_Mr. J Howell_.
Much is already beginning to be said of the probability that the women will withdraw from agricultural labor. A conviction of the impropriety of females engaging in such employments is gradually forming in the minds of enlightened and influential planters.
A short time previous to emanc.i.p.ation, the Hon. N. Nugent, speaker of the a.s.sembly, made the following remarks before the house:--”At the close of the debate, he uttered his fervent hope, that the day would come when the princ.i.p.al part of the agriculture of the island would be performed by males, and that the women would be occupied in keeping their cottages in order, and in increasing their domestic comforts. The desire of improvement is strong among them; they are looking anxiously forward to the instruction and advancement of their children, and even of themselves.”--_Antigua Herald, of March_, 1834.
In a written communication to us, dated January 17, 1837, the Speaker says: ”Emanc.i.p.ation will, I doubt not, improve the condition of the females. There can be no doubt that they will ultimately leave the field, (except in times of emergency,) and confine themselves to their appropriate domestic employments.”
EIGHTEENTH PROPOSITION.--Real estate has risen in value since emanc.i.p.ation; mercantile and mechanical occupations have received a fresh impulse; and the general condition of the colony is decidedly more flouris.h.i.+ng than at any former period.
”The credit of the island has decidedly improved. The internal prosperity of the island is advancing in an increased ratio. More buildings have been erected since emanc.i.p.ation, than for twenty years before. Stores and shops have multiplied astonis.h.i.+ngly; I can safely say that their number has more than quintupled since the abolition of slavery.”--_Dr. Ferguson_.
”Emanc.i.p.ation has very greatly increased the value of, and consequently the demand for, real estate. That which three years ago was a drug altogether unsaleable by private bargain; has now many inquirers after it, and ready purchasers at good prices. The importation of British manufactured goods has been considerably augmented, probably one fourth.”
”The credit of the planters who have been chiefly affected by the change, has been much improved. And _the great reduction of expense in managing the estates_, has made them men of more real wealth, and consequently raised their credit both with the English merchants and our own.”--_James Scotland, Sen., Esq._
”The effect of emanc.i.p.ation upon the commerce of the island _must needs_ have been beneficial, as the laborers indulge in more wheaten flour, rice, mackerel, dry fish, and salt-pork, than formerly. More lumber is used in the superior cottages now built for their habitations. More dry goods--manufactures of wool, cotton, linen, silk, leather, &c., are also used, now that the laborers can better afford to indulge their propensity for gay clothing.”--_Statement of a merchant and agent for estates_.
”Real estate has risen in value, and mercantile business has greatly improved.”--_H. Armstrong, Esq._
A merchant of St. John's informed us, that real estate had increased in value at least fifty per cent. He mentioned the fact, that an estate which previous to emanc.i.p.ation could not be sold for 600 current, lately brought 2000 current.
NINETEENTH PROPOSITION--Emanc.i.p.ation has been followed by the introduction of labor-saving machinery.
”Various expedients for saving manual labor have already been introduced, and we antic.i.p.ate still greater improvements. Very little was thought of this subject previous to emanc.i.p.ation.”--_S.
Bourne, Esq._
”Planters are beginning to cast about for improvements in labor. My own mind has been greatly turned to this subject since emanc.i.p.ation.”--_H.
Armstrong, Esq._
”The plough is beginning to be very extensively used.”--_Mr. Hatley_.
”There has been considerable simplification in agricultural labor already, which would have been more conspicuous, had it not been for the excessive drought which has prevailed since 1834. The plough is more used, and the expedients for manuring land are less laborious.”--_Extract of a letter from Hon. N. Nugent_.
TWENTIETH PROPOSITION.--Emanc.i.p.ation has produced the most decided change in the views of the _planters_.
”Before emanc.i.p.ation took place, there was the bitterest opposition to it among the planters. But after freedom came, they were delighted with the change. I felt strong opposition myself, being exceedingly unwilling to give up my power of command. But I shall never forget how differently I felt when freedom took place I arose from my bed on the first of August, exclaiming with joy, 'I am free, I am free; I _was the greatest slave on the estate_, but now I am free.'”--_Mr. J. Howell_.
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