PROSPERITY THE RESULT OF JUSTICE.
TEN years have rolled into the past since the Rosebrook family-moved
by a sense of right to enquire into the errors of a bad system of
labour-resolved to try the working of a new scheme. There was to be
no cutting, nor lashing, nor abusing with overburdening tasks.
Education was to regulate the feelings, kindness to expand the
sympathies, and justice to bind the affections and stimulate
advancement. There were only some fifty negroes on the Rosebrook
plantation, but its fame for raising great crops had resounded far
and wide. Some planters said it "astonished everything," considering
how much the Rosebrooks indulged their slaves. With a third less in
number of hands, did they raise more and better cotton than their
neighbours; and then everything was so neat and bright about the
plantation, and everybody looked so cheerful and sprightly. When
Rosebrook's cotton was sent into the market, factors said it was
characteristic of his systemised negroes; and when his negroes
rolled into the city, as they did on holidays, all brightened up
with new clothes, everybody said-There were Rosebrook's dandy, fat,
and saucy "niggers." And then the wise prophets, who had all along
predicted that Rosebrook's project would never amount to much, said
it was all owing to his lady, who was worth her weight in gold at
managing negroes. And she did conceive the project, too; and her
helping hand was felt like a quickening spring, giving new life to
the physical being. That the influence might not be lost upon others
of her sex in the same sphere of life, she was ever reasoning upon
the result of female sympathy. She felt that, were it exercised
properly, it could raise up the menial slave, awaken his inert
energies, give him those moral guides which elevate his passive
nature, and regenerate that manhood which provides for its own good.
They had promised their people that all children born at and after a
given date should be free; that all those over sixty should be
nominally free, the only restriction being the conditions imposed by
the state law; that slaves under fifteen years of age, and able to
do plantation work, should, during the ten years prescribed, be
allowed for their extra labour at a given rate, and expected to have
the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars set to their credit; that
all prime people should be required to work a given number of hours,
as per task, for master, beyond which they would be allotted a
"patch" for cultivation, the products of which were entrusted to
Rosebrook for sale, and the proceeds placed in missus' savings bank
to their credit. The people had all fulfilled the required
conditions ere the ten years expired; and a good round sum for extra
earnings was found in the bank. The Rosebrooks kept faith with their
slaves; and the happy result is, that Rosebrook, in addition to the
moral security he has founded for the good of his people-and which
security is a boon of protection between master and slave-has been
doubly repaid by the difference in amount of product, the result of
encouragement incited by his enlightened system. The family were
bound in affection to their slaves; and the compact has given forth
its peaceful products for a good end. Each slave being paid for his
or her labour, there is no decline of energy, no disaffection, no
clashing of interests, no petulant disobedience. Rosebrook finds his
system the much better of the two. It has relieved him of a deal of
care; he gets more work for less money; he laughs at his neighbours,
who fail to raise as much cotton with double the number of negroes;
and he knows that his negroes love instead of fear him. And yet,
notwithstanding the proof he has produced, the whole district of
planters look upon him with suspicion, consider him rather a
dangerous innovator, and say, that while his foolish system cannot
be other than precarious to the welfare of the state, time will
prove it a monster fallacy.
A happy moment was it when the time rolled round, and the morning of
the day upon which Rosebrook would proclaim the freedom of his
people broke serenely forth. The cabins looked bright and airy, were
sanded and whitewashed, and, surrounded by their neatly attired
inhabitants, presented a picturesque appearance. It was to be a
great gala-day, and the bright morning atmosphere seemed propitious
of the event. Daddy Daniel had got a new set of shiny brass buttons
put on his long blue coat, and an extremely broad white cravat for
his neck. Daniel was a sort of lawgiver for the plantation, and sat
in judgment over all cases brought before him, with great gravity of
manner. As to his judgments, they were always pronounced with
wondrous solemnity, and in accordance with what he conceived to be
the most direct process of administering even-handed justice. Daddy
was neither a democrat nor an unjust judge. Believing that it were
better to forgive than inflict undue punishments, he would rather
shame the transgressor, dismiss him with a firm admonition to do
better, and bid him go, transgress no more!
Harry had prepared a new sermon for the eventful day; and with it he
was to make his happy flock remember the duty which they would
henceforth owe to those who had been their kind protectors, as well
as the promoters of that system which would result in happier days.
How vivid of happiness was that scene presented in the plantation
church, where master and missus, surrounded by their faithful old
slaves, who, with a patriarchal attachment, seemed to view them with
reverence, sat listening to the fervent discourse of that once
wretched slave, now, by kindness, made a man! Deep, soul-stirring,
and affecting to tears, were the words of prayer with which that
devout negro invoked the all-protecting hand of Almighty God, that
he would guide master and slave through the troubles of this earthly
stage, and receive them into his bosom. How in contrast with that
waging of passion, and every element of evil that has its source in
injustice, so rife of plantation life, was the picture here
presented!
The service ended, Rosebrook addresses a few remarks to his people;
after which they gather around him and pour forth their gratitude in
genial sentiments. Old and young have a "Heaven save master!" for
Rosebrook, and a "God bless missus!" for his noble-hearted lady, to
whom they cling, shaking her hand with warmest affection.
How enviable to her sex is the position of that woman who labours
for the fallen, and whose heart yields its kindred sympathy for the
oppressed!
After congratulations and tokens of affection had been exchanged,
master, missus, and the people-for such they now were-repaired to
the green in front of the plantation mansion, where a sumptuous
collation was spread out, to which all sat down in one harmonious
circle. Then the festivities of the day-a 4th of July in
miniature-ended with a gathering at Dad Daniel's cabin, where he
profoundly laid down a system of rules for the future observance of
the people.
Six months have passed under the new rgime; and Rosebrook, feeling
that to require labour of his people for a sum much beneath its
value must in time become a source from which evil results would
flow, awarded them a just and adequate remuneration, and finds it
work well. Harry had not been included among those who were enrolled
as candidates for the enjoyment offered by the new system; but
missus as well as master had confidentially promised him he should
be free before many years, and with his family, if he desired, sent
to Liberia, to work for the enlightenment of his fellow Africans.
Harry was not altogether satisfied that the greater amount of labour
to be done by him for the unfortunate of his race was beyond the
southern democratic states of America; and, with this doubt
instinctively before him, he was not restless for the consummation.
Some three months after the introduction of the new state of
affairs, Dad Daniel was observed to have something weighing heavily
on his mind. At times he was seen consulting seriously with Harry;
but of the purport of these consultations no one, except themselves,
was made acquainted. That very many venerable uncles and aunts were
curious to know Daddy's secret contemplations was equally evident.
At length Daniel called a meeting of his more aged and sagacious
brethren, and with sage face made known his cherished project.
Absalom and Uncle Cato listened with breathless suspense as the sage
sayings fell from his lips. His brethren had all felt the sweet
pleasures of justice, right, freedom, and kindness. "Well, den,
broderin, is't 'um right in de sight ob de Lord, dat ye forgets dat
broder what done so much fo'h ye body and ye soul too?"
"No, No! dat tisn't!" interrupted a dozen voices.
"Well, den!-I know'd, broderin, ye hab got da' bright spirit in ye,
and wouldn't say 'twas!" Daniel continues, making a gesture with his
left hand, as he raises the spectacles from his eyes with his right,
and in his fervency lets them speed across the room. Daniel is only
made conscious of his ecstasy when his broken eyes are returned to
him. Turning to his brethren, he makes one of his very best
apologies, and continues-"Dis ar poposition I'se gwine to put! And
dat is, dat all ye broderin ere present put up somefin ob he arnin,
and wid dat somefin, and what mas'r gib, too, we sarve dat geman
what preach the gospel dat do 'em good wid 'e freedom for sef and
family. Tain't right in de sight ob de Lor, nohow, to have preacher
slave and congration free: I tell ye dat, my broderin, tain't!" With
these sage remarks, Daddy Daniel concluded his proposition, leaned
his body forward, spread his hands, and, his wrinkled face filled
with comicality, waited the unanimous response which sounded forth
in rapturous medley. Each one was to put in his mite, the preacher
was to have a fund made up for him, which was to be placed in the
hands of missus, and when sufficiently large (master will add his
mite) be handed over for the freedom of the clergyman and his
family. But missus, ever generous and watchful of their interests,
had learned their intentions, and forestalled their kindness by
herself setting them free, and leaving it to their own discretion to
go where they will. There were many good men at the south-men whose
care of their slaves constituted a bond of good faith; but they
failed to carry out means for protecting the slave against the
mendacity of the tyrant. None more than Harry had felt how
implicated was the state for giving great power to tyrant
democracy-that democracy giving him no common right under the laws
of the land, unless, indeed, he could change his skin. Ardently as
he was attached to the plantation and its people-much as he loved
good master and missus, he would prefer a home in happy New England,
a peaceful life among its liberty-loving people. To this end the
Rosebrooks provided him with money, sent him to the land he had
longed to live in. In Connecticut he has a neat and comfortable
home, far from the cares of slave life; no bloodhounds seek him
there, no cruel slave-dealer haunts his dreams. An intelligent
family have grown up around him; their smiles make him happy; they
welcome him as a father who will no more be torn from them and sold
in a democratic slave mart. And, too, Harry is a hearty worker in
the cause of freedom, preaches the gospel, and is the inventor of a
system of education by which he hopes to elevate the fallen of his
race. He has visited foreign lands, been listened to by dukes and
nobles, and enlisted the sympathies of the lofty in the cause of the
lowly. And while his appeals on behalf of his race are fervent and
fiery, his expositions of the wrongs of slavery are equally fierce;
but he is not ungrateful to the good master, whom he would elevate
high above the cruel laws he is born and educated to observe. With
gratitude and affection does he recur to the generous Rosebrooks; he
would hold them forth as an example to the slave world, and emblazon
their works on the pages of history, as proof of what can be done.
Bright in his eventful life, was the day, when, about to take his
departure from the slave world, he bid the Rosebrooks a long, long
good by. He vividly remembers how hope seemed lighting up the
prospect before him-how good missus shook his hand so motherly-how
kindly she spoke to Jane, and how fondly she patted his little ones
on the head. "The Rosebrooks," says our restored clergyman, "have
nothing to fear save the laws of the state, which may one day make
tyrranny crumble beneath its own burden."