Part 77 (2/2)

6th. Those therefore who favored it, were considered the ”_enemies of their country_”--”TRAITORS”--and were accordingly persecuted in various ways, not excepting imprisonment in the common jail.

7th. So popular was slavery among the higher cla.s.ses, that its morality or justice could not be questioned by a missionary--an editor--or a _planter_ even, without endangering the safety of the individual.

8th. The anti-slavery people in England were considered detestable men, intermeddling with matters which they did not understand, and which at any rate did not concern them. They were accused of being influenced by selfish motives, and of designing to further their own interests by the ruin of the planters. They were denounced as _fanatics, incendiaries, knaves, religious enthusiasts_.

9th The abolition measures of the English Government were considered a gross outrage on the rights of private property, a violation their multiplied pledges of countenance and support, and a flagrant usurpation of power over the weak.

Views and conduct of the planters subsequent to emanc.i.p.ation:

1st. The negroes are r.e.t.a.r.ded as _men_--equals standing on the same footing as fellow-citizens.

2d. Slavery is considered a foolish, impolitic, and wicked system.

3d. Slaves are regarded as an _unsafe_ species of property, and to hold them disgraceful.

4th. The planters have become the _decided enemies_ of slavery. The worst thing they could say against the apprentices.h.i.+p, was, that ”it was only another name for _slavery_.”

5th. The abolition of slavery is applauded by the planters as one of the most n.o.ble and magnanimous triumphs ever achieved by the British government.

6th. Distinguished abolitionists are spoken of in terms of respect and admiration. The English Anti-slavery Delegation[A] spent a fortnight in the island, and left it the same day we arrived. Wherever we went we heard of them as ”the respectable gentlemen from England,” ”the worthy and intelligent members of the Society of Friends,” &c. A distinguished agent of the English anti-slavery society now resides in St. John's, and keeps a bookstore, well stocked with anti-slavery books and pamphlets.

The bust of GEORGE THOMPSON stands conspicuously upon the counter of the bookstore, looking forth upon the public street.

[Footnote A: Messrs. Sturge and Harvey.]

7th. The planters affirm that the abolition of slavery put an end to all danger from insurrection, rebellion, privy conspiracy, and sedition, on the part of the slaves.

8th. Emanc.i.p.ation is deemed an incalculable blessing, because it released the planters from an endless complication of responsibilities, perplexities, temptations and anxieties, and because it _emanc.i.p.ated them from the bondage of the whip_.

9th. _Slavery--emanc.i.p.ation--freedom_--are the universal topics of conversation in Antigua. Anti-slavery is the popular doctrine among all cla.s.ses. He is considered an enemy to his country who opposes the principles of liberty. The planters look with astonishment on the continuance of slavery in the United States, and express their strong belief that it must soon terminate here and throughout the world. They hailed the arrival of French and American visitors on tours of inquiry as a bright omen. In publis.h.i.+ng our arrival, one of the St. John's papers remarks, ”We regard this as a pleasing indication that the American public have their eyes turned upon our experiment, with a view, we may hope, of ultimately following our excellent example.” (!) All cla.s.ses showed the same readiness to aid us in what the Governor was pleased to call ”the objects of our philanthropic mission.”

Such are the views now entertained among the planters of Antigua. What a complete change[B]--and all in less than three years, and effected by the abolition of slavery and a trial of freedom! Most certainly, if the former views of the Antigua planters resemble those held by pro-slavery men in this country, their present sentiments are a _fac simile_ of those entertained by the immediate abolitionists.

[Footnote B: The following little story will further ill.u.s.trate the wonderful revolution which has taken place in the public sentiment of this colony. The facts here stated all occurred while we were in Antigua, and we procured them from a variety of authentic sources. They were indeed publicly known and talked of, and produced no little excitement throughout the island. Mr. Corbett was a respectable and intelligent planter residing on an estate near Johnson's Point. Several months previous to the time of which we now speak, a few colored families (emanc.i.p.ated negroes) bought of a white man some small parcels of land lying adjacent to Mr. C.'s estate. They planted their lands in provisions, and also built them houses thereon, and moved into them.

After they had become actively engaged in cultivating their provisions, Mr. Corbett laid claim to the lands, and ordered the negroes to leave them forthwith.

They of course refused to do so. Mr. C. then flew into a violent rage, and stormed and swore, and threatened to burn their houses down over their heads. The terrified negroes forsook their property and fled. Mr.

C. then ordered his negroes to tear down their huts and burn up the materials--which was accordingly done. He also turned in his cattle upon the provision grounds, and destroyed them. The negroes made a complaint against Mr. C., and he was arrested and committed to jail in St. John's for trial on the charge of _arson_.

We heard of this circ.u.mstance on the day of Mr. C.'s commitment, and we were told that it would probably go very hard with him on his trial, and that he would be very fortunate if he escaped the _gallows_ or _transportation_. A few days after this we were surprised to hear that Mr. C. had died in prison. Upon inquiry, we learned that he died literally from _rage and mortification_. His case defied the, skill and power of the physicians. They could detect the presence of no disease whatever, even on a minute post-mortem examination. They p.r.o.nounced it as their opinion that he had died from the violence of his pa.s.sions--excited by being imprisoned, together with his apprehensions of the fatal issue of the trial.

Not long before emanc.i.p.ation, Mr. Scotland was imprisoned for _befriending_ the negroes. After emanc.i.p.ation, Mr. Corbett was imprisoned for wronging them.

Mr. Corbett was a respectable planter, of good family and moved in the first circles in the island]

TWENTY-FIRST PROPOSITION.--Emanc.i.p.ation has been followed by a manifest diminution of ”_prejudice against color_,” and has opened the prospect off its speedy extirpation.

Some thirty years ago, the president of the island, Sir Edward Byam, issued an order forbidding the great bell in the cathedral of St. John's being tolled at the funeral of a colored person; and directing a _smaller_ bell to be hung up in the same belfry, and used on such occasions. For twenty years this distinction was strictly maintained.

When a white person, however _vile_, was buried, the great bell was tolled; when a colored person, whatever his moral worth, intelligence, or station, was carried to his grave, the little bell was tinkled. It was not until the arrival of the present excellent Rector, that this ”prejudice bell” was silenced. The Rev. Mr. c.o.x informed us that prejudice had greatly decreased since emanc.i.p.ation. It was very common for white and colored gentlemen to be seen walking arm in arm an the streets of St. John's.

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