ANTIGUA, AFTER IMMEDIATE, UNCONDITIONAL EMANCIPATION.
When the clock _began_ to strike twelve, on the 31st of July, 1834,
there were nearly 30,000 slaves in the island of Antigua; when it
_ceased_ to strike, they were all freemen!
I extract from Thome's West Indies the following account of that
glorious transition: "The Wesleyans kept 'watch-night' in all their
chapels. One of the missionaries gave us an account of the watch-meeting
at the chapel in St. John's. The spacious house was filled with the
candidates for liberty. All was animation and eagerness. A mighty chorus
of voices swelled the song of expectation and joy; and, as they united
in prayer, the voice of the leader was drowned in the universal
acclamations of thanksgiving, and praise, and blessing, and honor, and
glory to God, who had come down for their deliverance. In such exercises
the evening was spent, until the hour of twelve approached. The
missionary then proposed that when the cathedral clock should begin to
strike, the whole congregation should fall on their knees, and receive
the boon of freedom in silence. Accordingly, as the loud bell tolled its
first note, the crowded assembly prostrated themselves. All was silence!
save the quivering, half-stifled breath of the struggling spirit. Slowly
the tones of the clock fell upon the waiting multitude. Peal on peal,
peal on peal, rolled over the prostrate throng, like angels' voices,
thrilling their weary heart-strings. Scarcely had the _last_ tone
sounded, when lightning flashed vividly, and a loud peal of thunder
rolled through the sky. It was God's pillar of fire! His trump of
Jubilee! It was followed by a moment of profound silence. Then came the
outburst! They shouted 'Glory! Hallelujah!' They clapped their hands,
they leaped up, they fell down, they clasped each other in their free
arms, they cried, they laughed, they went to and fro, throwing upward
their unfettered hands. High above all, a mighty sound ever and anon
swelled up. It was the utterance of gratitude to God, in broken negro
dialect.
"After this gush of excitement had spent itself, the congregation became
calm, and religious exercises were resumed. The remainder of the night
was spent in singing and prayer, in reading the Bible, and in addresses
from the missionaries, explaining the nature of the freedom just
received, and exhorting the people to be industrious, steady, and
obedient to the laws, and to show themselves in all things worthy of the
high boon God had conferred upon them.
"The first of August came on Friday; and a release from all work was
proclaimed, until the next Monday. The great mass of the negroes spent
the day chiefly in the churches and chapels. The clergy and
missionaries, throughout the island, actively seized the opportunity to
enlighten the people on all the duties and responsibilities of their new
relation. We were assured that, in every quarter, the day was like a
sabbath. A sabbath indeed! when 'the wicked ceased from troubling, and
the weary were at rest.' Many of the planters informed us that they went
to the chapels where their own people were assembled, and shook hands
with them, and exchanged hearty good wishes.
"At Grace Hill, a Moravian missionary station, the emancipated negroes
begged to have a sunrise meeting on the first of August, as they had
been accustomed to have at Easter; and as it was the Easter Morning of
their freedom, the request was granted. The people all dressed in white,
and walked arm in arm to the chapel. There a hymn of thanksgiving was
sung by the whole congregation kneeling. The singing was frequently
interrupted by the tears and sobs of the melted people, until finally,
they were overwhelmed by a tumult of emotion. The missionary, who was
present, said the scene was indescribable.
"Planters and missionaries, in every part of the island, told us there
was not a single dance, by night or day; not even so much as a fiddle
played. There were no drunken carousals, no riotous assemblies. The
emancipated were as far from dissipation and debauchery, as they were
from violence and carnage. Gratitude was the absorbing emotion. From the
hill-tops and the valleys, the cry of a disenthralled people went
upward, like the sound of many waters: 'Glory to God! Glory to God!'
"Dr. Daniell, who has been long resident in Antigua, and has the
management of several estates, told us that after such a prodigious
change in the condition of the negroes, he expected some irregularities
would ensue. He anticipated some relaxation from labor, during the week
that followed emancipation. But on Monday morning, he found all his
hands in the field; not one missing. The same day, he received a message
from another estate, of which he was proprietor, that the negroes, to a
man, had refused to go into the field. He immediately rode to the
estate, and found the laborers, with hoes in their hands, doing nothing.
Accosting them in a friendly manner, he inquired, 'What is the meaning
of this? How is it that you are not at work this morning?' They
immediately replied, 'It's not because we don't want to work, massa; but
we wanted to see you, first and foremost, to know what the _bargain_
would be.' As soon as that matter was settled, the whole body of negroes
turned out cheerfully, without a moment's cavil. Mr. Bourne, manager of
Millar's estate, informed us that the largest gang he had ever seen in
the field, on his property, turned out the week after the emancipation."
In the days of slavery, it had always been customary to order out the
militia, during the Christmas holidays, when the negroes were in the
habit of congregating in large numbers, to enjoy the festivities of the
season. But the December after emancipation, the Governor issued a
proclamation, that, "_in consequence of the abolition of slavery_,"
there was no further need of taking that precaution. And it is a fact
that there have been no soldiers out at Christmas, from that day to
this. The Legislature of Antigua subsequently passed "an Act for the
better organizing of the militia," the preamble of which reads thus:
"Whereas _the abolition of slavery_, in this island, renders it
expedient to provide against an _unnecessary augmentation_ of the
militia," etc. The public security and confidence were also strikingly
indicated by the following military advertisement in 1836: "Recruits
wanted! The freed men of Antigua are now called upon to show their
gratitude to King William, for the benefits he has conferred on them and
their families, by volunteering their services as soldiers in his First
West India Regiment. By doing this, they will acquire a still higher
rank in society, by being placed on a footing of perfect equality with
the other troops in his majesty's service, and receive the same bounty,
pay, clothing, rations, and allowances."
TESTIMONY OF PLANTERS IN ANTIGUA, IN 1837.
The Rev. James A. Thome, son of a slaveholder in Kentucky, visited the
British West Indies in the autumn of 1836, and returned to this country
in the summer of 1837. He published a book, soon after, from which I
quote the following extracts:--
"We delivered a letter of introduction to Mr. James Howell, manager of
Thibou Jarvis' estate. He told us that before emancipation took place,
he had been strongly opposed to it; being exceedingly unwilling to give
up his power of command. 'But,' said he, 'I shall never forget how
differently I felt when freedom took place. I rose from my bed
exclaiming, "I am free! I am free! I was the greatest slave on the
estate; and now I am free."' He said that planters, who retained their
harsh manner, did not succeed under the new system; but he never had any
difficulty in managing his people. He found by experience that kindness
and forbearance armed him with sufficient authority. The laborers on the
estates he managed had been considerably reduced,[4] but the grounds had
never been in a finer state of cultivation than at present. He said
there would be a failure of crops, not from any fault of the laborers,
but on account of a drought more prolonged, than he had known for
thirty-six years. He said, 'When my work is backward, I give it out in
jobs; and it is always done in half the usual time. Emancipation has
almost wholly put an end to sulking, or pretending to be sick. That was
a thing which caused a vast deal of trouble during slavery. Every
Monday morning, regularly, I used to find ten or a dozen round the door,
waiting for my first appearance, to beg that they might be let off from
work, on account of sickness. It was seldom that one-fourth of them were
really unwell; but every one maintained he was sick; and, as it was hard
to contend with them, they were sent off to the sick-house. Now, that is
done away with. The hospitals on many estates are put to other uses.
Mine is converted into a chapel. At first, the negroes showed some
disposition to put on airs of independence; but that soon disappeared.
They are always respectful in their manners. In that particular, there
has been mutual improvement. Planters treat their laborers more like
fellow-men, and that leads them to be respectful, in their turn. They
have now a growing regard for character; a feeling unknown to them in
the days of slavery. Their religious and moral condition was formerly
very low, notwithstanding the efforts of the missionaries; but now it is
rapidly improving.
"Mr. Armstrong, manager of Fitch's Creek estate, said to us: 'During
slavery, I often used to lie sleepless in my bed, thinking of my
dangerous situation; the only white person on the premises, far from
help and surrounded by slaves. I have spent hours devising plans of
defence, in case my house should be attacked by the negroes. I said to
myself it would be useless to fire upon them. My only hope was to
frighten the superstitious fellows, by covering myself with a white
sheet, and rushing into the midst of them, like a ghost. But now I have
the utmost confidence in my people. They have no _motive_ now to prompt
them to insurrection. They show great shrewdness in every thing that
concerns their own interest. They are very exact in keeping their
accounts with the manager. To a stranger, it must be incredible how they
contrive to live on such small wages.' Mr. A. informed us that the
spirit of enterprise, formerly dormant in Antigua, had been roused since
emancipation. Planters were now beginning to inquire as to the best
modes of cultivation, and to propose measures of general improvement.
One of these measures was the establishment of Free Villages, in which
the laborers from all the neighboring estates might dwell, by paying a
small rent. Real estate has risen, and mercantile business greatly
improved. Several missionaries were present while we talked with Mr. A.;
and the whole company heartily joined in assuring us that a knowledge of
the actual working of abolition in Antigua would be altogether favorable
to the cause of freedom. They all agreed that the more thorough was our
knowledge of the facts in the case, the more perfect would be our
confidence in _immediate_ emancipation.
"Dr. Ferguson, of St. John's called on us. He is a Member of Assembly,
and one of the first physicians on the island. He said it had always
appeared to him that if a man is peaceable while he is a slave, he would
certainly be so when he was a freeman. But though he had anticipated
beneficial results from the abolition of slavery, the reality had
exceeded his most sanguine expectations. Had it not been for the
unprecedented drought, the island would now be in a state of prosperity
unequalled in any period of its history. The mercantile business of the
town had increased astonishingly. He thought stores and shops had
multiplied in a ratio of ten to one. Mechanical pursuits were likewise
in a flourishing condition. A general spirit of enterprise was pervading
the island. The streets and roads, in town and county, were much
improved. The moral character of the white population was brightening;
one proof of it was that the old custom of concubinage was becoming
disreputable. Emancipation was working admirably; especially for the
planters. The credit of the island had decidedly improved. Immediate
freedom was infinitely better policy than slavery, or the apprenticeship
either.
"We visited Green Castle estate, about three miles from St. John's. The
manager, Samuel Barnard Esq., received us kindly. He had been on the
island forty-four years, engaged in the management of estates. He is now
the owner of one estate, the manager of two, and attorney for six. He
has grown old in the practice of slave-holding, and has survived the
wreck of the system. Stripped of arbitrary power, he now lives among the
freed people, who were once his slaves, in the house where his
grandfather was murdered in his bed by his slaves. The testimony of such
a man is invaluable. He said the transition from slavery to freedom was
like passing suddenly out of a dark dungeon into the sunlight. He
thought the Assembly had acted wisely in adopting _immediate_
emancipation. The endless altercations and troubles of the
apprenticeship system had thus been avoided. The negroes made no riot or
disturbance when they received their freedom; and he had no difficulty
about their working. Some estates had suffered for a short time. There
was a pretty general fluctuation, for a month or two, owing to the
laborers leaving one estate and going to another; but that was because
the planters overbid each other, to get the best hands. The negroes had
a very strong attachment to their homes, and would rarely leave them,
unless harshly treated. Very few of his people had left him. There were
some inconveniences connected with the present system, but they were
incomparably less than those connected with slavery.
"Dr. Daniell, manager of the Weatherill estate, has long been a resident
of Antigua, and is thoroughly acquainted with its internal policy. He is
a Member of the Council, owns an estate, manages another, and is
attorney for six. Being a prominent member of one branch of the body
which gave immediate emancipation to the slaves, his testimony is
entitled to great weight. He said, 'We all violently resisted abolition,
when it began to be agitated in England. We regarded it as an outrageous
interference with our property and our rights. But now we are rejoiced
that slavery is abolished.' He did not think the system of
apprenticeship had any tendency to prepare the slaves for freedom. The
arbitrary control of a master could never be a preparation for freedom.
Sound, wholesome legal restraints were the only preparation.
Apprenticeship vexed and harrassed the negroes, and kept them in a state
of suspense. The reflection that they had been cheated out of their
expected liberty six years would sour their minds; and when they at last
obtained freedom, they would be less likely to be grateful. The planters
in Antigua had secured the attachment of their people by conferring upon
them immediate emancipation. There had been no deficiency of labor.
Estates throughout the island were never in more advanced condition.
Nothing was wanted but rain. He frequently employed his people by the
job, for short periods, and always with gratifying results. The negroes
accomplished twice as much as when they worked for daily wages, because
they made more money. On some days they made three shillings; three
times the ordinary wages. He managed them altogether by mildness, and
found it extremely easy. He had quite as much influence over them, as he
ever had during slavery. But where managers persisted in habits of
arbitrary command, they failed. He had been obliged to discharge a
manager from one of his estates, on account of his overbearing
disposition. If he had not dismissed him, the people would have
abandoned the estate. Love of home was such a passion with negroes, that
nothing but bad treatment could force them away. He did not know of more
than one or two planters on the whole island, who did not consider
emancipation a decided advantage to all parties.
"Dr. Nugent, manager of Lyon's estate, has long been Speaker of the
Assembly, and is favorably known in Europe as a man of science. No man
in Antigua stands higher. He owns one estate and manages another. He
told us that, previous to emancipation, no man dared to express
opposition to slavery, if he wished to maintain a respectable standing.
Planters might have their hopes but they could not make them public,
without incurring general odium, and being denounced as enemies of their
country. The most general prediction was that the negroes would not work
after they were free; but time had proved there was no foundation for
that apprehension. The estates were never in better order than at
present. On account of the stimulus of wages, there was far less feigned
sickness, than during slavery. The sick-house used to be thronged with
real or pretended invalids; now the negroes don't go near it. The one on
his estate was now used for a stable. He thought the capabilities of the
blacks for education and for trades, were conspicuous. Emancipation had
proved a blessing to the masters, and as for the advantages to the
slave, they were too obvious to need to be pointed out. Insurrection or
revenge was in no case dreaded; not even by those planters who had been
most cruel. After slavery was abolished, there remained no _motive_ for
rebellion. The expenses of cultivation were greatly diminished, and
machinery and cattle more generally used than formerly.
"Mr. Hatly, manager of Frey's estate, told us the improved industry and
efficiency of his people had encouraged him to bring several additional
acres under cultivation. They did not require such constant watching as
formerly. They took much more interest in the prosperity of the estate,
than they did when they were slaves. He showed us his accounts for the
last year of slavery, and the first year of freedom; they proved a
reduction of expenses more than one-third. He said, 'The old habit of
feigning sickness is broken up. During slavery, this was more or less
the case every week, sometimes every day, and it was exceedingly
annoying. One would come, carrying his arm on his hand, declaring it had
such a mighty pain in it, he couldn't use the hoe no way; another would
make his appearance with both hands on his breast, and, with a rueful
look, complain of a great pain in his stomach; a third came limping
along, with a dreadful _rheumatiz_ in his knees; and so on, for a dozen
or more. It was in vain to dispute with them, though it was often
manifest that nothing on earth ailed them. They would say, "Ah, me,
massa, you no tink how bad me feel. It's deep _in_, massa." But we have
no feigned sickness now, and much less actual illness than formerly. My
people now say they have no time to be sick. We formerly had strong
prejudices against the plough; but now it is beginning to be extensively
used, and we find it greatly reduces the necessary amount of labor. I
have already seen such decided benefits growing out of the free labor
system, that I never wish to see the face of slavery again. We are
relieved from the painful task of flogging. Formerly, it was nothing but
whip, whip, whip. Now we know no more of the lash.'
"David Cranstoun, Esq., manager of Athill's estate, and a magistrate,
said to us: 'I get my work done better than formerly, and with
incomparably more cheerfulness. I employ fewer laborers, but my estate
was never in a finer state of cultivation. My people are always ready
and willing to work. I occasionally employ them at jobs, and always with
great success. When I give out a job, it is accomplished in half the
time it would have taken, if paid by the day. On such occasions, I have
known them turn out before three o'clock in the morning, and work by
moonlight: and when the moon was not shining, they sometimes kindled
fires among the dry cane leaves to work by. They would continue working
all day, till four o'clock; stopping only for breakfast, and dispensing
with the usual intermission from twelve to two. During slavery, the
weekly expenses on the estate averaged £45 ($218.02). After
emancipation, they averaged £20 ($96.90). The negroes are a remarkably
temperate people. I have rarely seen one intoxicated. We have no cause
to fear insurrections now. Emancipation has freed us from all danger on
that score. Among the advantages of the present system is the greater
facility of managing estates. It saves us from a world of trouble and
perplexity. I have found that the negroes are easily controlled by law;
more so, perhaps, than the laboring classes in other countries. I do not
know of a single planter, who would be willing to have slavery restored.
We feel that it was a great curse; a curse to the planter, as well as
the slave.'
"We breakfasted at the Villa estate, within half a mile of St. John's.
We found the manager less sanguine in his views of emancipation, than
the planters generally were. This is easily accounted for. The estate is
situated so near the seaport town, that his people have many temptations
to leave their work, from which those on more distant estates are
exempt. He admitted, however, that the danger of insurrection was
removed, that crime was lessened, and the moral condition of society
rapidly improving.
"Mr. Bourne, manager of Millar's estate, said: 'Fearing the consequences
of emancipation, I reduced my cultivation in 1834; but soon finding that
my people would work as well as ever, I brought it up to the customary
extent, the next year; and this year, I have added fifteen acres of new
land. I have no hesitation in saying that, if I have a supply of cash, I
can take off any crop it may please God to send. Nothing but bad
treatment ever makes the negroes leave estates on which they have been
accustomed to live; and in such cases, a change of management has almost
uniformly proved sufficient to induce them to return. They are decidedly
less prone to be insolent now, than during slavery. The expense of
managing estates has diminished one-third. Before emancipation, very
little was thought about expedients for saving manual labor; but many
improvements have already been introduced, and more are suggested.
Emancipation has proved an incalculable blessing to the planters, by
releasing them from an endless complication of responsibilities,
perplexities, temptations, and anxieties; especially, because it has
relieved them from the bondage of the whip. It was hard work to be a
Christian in the days of slavery. Yes, I assure you, sir, it was _very_
hard to be a Christian in those days.'
"Ralph Higinbotham, Esq., U. S. Consul at Antigua, in 1837, bore the
following testimony: 'The general conduct of the negroes has been worthy
of much praise; especially considering the sudden transition from
slavery to unrestricted freedom. Their demeanor is peaceable and
orderly. Whatever may have been the dissatisfaction of the planters at
the commencement of the present system, they are now well satisfied that
their properties are better worked, and their laborers more contented
and cheerful, than in the time of slavery.'"
Some difficulties always attend every change in the structure of
society; but if the change is based on true principles, the difficulties
are always temporary. They are like a stony pathway from a cavern into
sunlight. So it proved in Antigua. Mr. James Scotland, the venerable
merchant already alluded to, said to Mr. Thome: "The troubles attending
emancipation resulted almost entirely from the perseverance of the
planters in their old habits of dominion. Their pride was wounded by
seeing their slaves elevated to equal rights, and they were jealous lest
they should aspire to be on the same footing in all respects. In the
early stage of freedom, they frequently used their power as employers to
the annoyance and injury of their laborers. For the slightest
misconduct, and sometimes without any reason whatever, the poor negroes
were dragged before magistrates (who were planters, or the friends of
planters), mulcted in their wages, fined otherwise, and committed to
jail, or the house of correction. Yet those harrassed people remained
patient, orderly, and submissive. Their treatment has now much improved;
for the planters have happily discovered that they sacrificed their own
interests by keeping the cultivators of their lands in agitation and
suffering."
TESTIMONY OF MAGISTRATES AND TEACHERS, IN ANTIGUA, IN 1837.
Mr. Thome says: "The governor spoke to us unreservedly of the past and
present condition of Antigua, and stated various particulars in which
the Colony had been greatly improved by emancipation. He said planters
from every part of the island assured him that the negroes were
industriously disposed. They all conceded that emancipation had proved a
blessing to the island, and he did not know a single individual who
wished to return to the old system. He said that, during the recent
Christmas holidays, the Police Reports did not return a single case of
arrest. He had been acquainted with the country districts in England,
and travelled extensively in Europe; and he had never yet found such a
peaceable, orderly, law-abiding peasantry, as those of Antigua. The
great crime of the island, and indeed, of all the West India Colonies,
had been licentiousness; but they were certainly fast improving in that
particular.
"By invitation of the Governor, we attended him to the annual
examination of the parochial school in St. John's. He requested that all
the children emancipated on the first of August, 1834, might be called
up. It was a most interesting and beautiful sight. Nearly one hundred
children, from black to the clearest white, who two years ago were
slaves, stood there before us free. When we spoke to them of
emancipation, their animated looks and gestures, and their lively tones
in answering our questions, showed that they felt it was a blessing to
be free. There was as much respectfulness, attention, and general
intelligence, as we ever saw in scholars of the same age. His Excellency
expressed himself highly pleased with the appearance and proficiency of
the school. Turning to us, he said, in a tone of pleasantry, 'You see,
gentlemen, these children have _souls_.'
"Teachers, missionaries, clergymen, and planters, uniformly testified
that the negroes were as capable of receiving instruction as any people
in the world; and it was confirmed beyond all doubt by facts we
ourselves witnessed. We were happy to learn that the emancipated negroes
manifested great anxiety for the education of their children. They
encouraged them to go to school, and labored to support them, though
they had strong temptation to detain them at home to work. They also
contributed a small weekly sum for the maintenance of schools."
Concerning the moral condition of Antigua, Mr. Thome furnishes a
quantity of Police Reports, from which I quote the following, as fair
samples of the whole: "St. John's, Sept. 1835. Capital offences have
much decreased in number, as well as all minor ones. The principal
crimes lately submitted for the investigation of the magistrates seem to
consist chiefly in trifling offences, and breaches of contract.
"Oct. 1835. Although instances do occur of breaches of contract, they
are not very frequent; and, in many cases, I have been induced to
believe that the offence has originated more in want of a proper
understanding of the time, intent, and meaning of the contract into
which the laborers have entered, than from the actual existence of any
dissatisfaction on their part.
"Jan. 1836. (Immediately after the Christmas holidays.) At this period,
when several successive days of idleness occur among the laboring
classes, I cannot but congratulate your Honor on the quiet demeanor and
general good order, which has happily been maintained throughout the
island. During the holidays I had only one prisoner committed to my
charge, and his offence was of a minor nature.
"Feb. 1836. I beg leave to congratulate your Honor on the vast
diminution of all minor misdemeanors, and the total absence of capital
offences.
"Sept. 1836. The agricultural laborers continue a steady and uniform
line of conduct, and, with some few exceptions, afford general
satisfaction to their employers. Every friend to this country, and to
the liberties of the world, must view with satisfaction the gradual
improvement in the character and behavior of this class of the
community, under the constant operation of the local enactments.
"Jan. 1837. (After the Christmas holidays.) I cordially congratulate
your Excellency on the regular and steady behavior maintained by all
ranks of society, at this particular season of the year. Not one crime
of a heinous nature has been discovered. I proudly venture to declare my
opinion that in no part of his Majesty's dominions has a population of
30,000 conducted themselves with more strict propriety, at this annual
festival, or been more peaceably obedient to the laws.
"Feb. 1837. Crimes of any heinous nature are very rare among the
laborers. I may venture to say that petty thefts, breaking sugar canes
to eat, and offences of the like description, principally swell the
calendars of our Quarterly Courts of Sessions. In general, the laborers
are peaceable, orderly, and civil; not only to those who move in higher
spheres of life, but also to each other."
The foregoing Reports are all signed by "Richard S. Wickham,
Superintendent of Police."
TESTIMONY OF CLERGY AND MISSIONARIES IN ANTIGUA IN 1837.
Rev. Mr. Jones, Rector of St. Phillips, said to Mr. Thome:--"The
planters have always been opposed to improvements, until they were
effected, and the good results became manifest. They first said that the
abolition of the slave-_trade_ would ruin the Colonies; next they said
the abolition of _slavery_ would be the certain destruction of the
islands; and now they deprecate the _education_ of the emancipated
children, as a measure fraught with disastrous consequences. But
emancipation has proved a great blessing to the people, and the planters
in this part of the island are gratified with the working of the system.
The benefits of education are extending, and religious privileges
greatly increasing. There has been manifest improvement in the morals
and manners of the children, since education has become general. With
regard to marriage, there has been a complete revolution in the habits
of the people.
"The Superintendent of the Wesleyan Mission informed us that the
collection in the several Wesleyan Chapels, in 1836, independent of
occasional contributions to Sunday Schools, missionary objects, etc.,
amounted to more than $6,000. Besides giving liberally, according to
their small means, to the Bible Society, the emancipated slaves formed
several Branch Associations among themselves, for the circulation of the
Scriptures. The contributions from Antigua and Bermuda, the only two
islands which had then adopted _entire_ freedom, were _double_ those
from any other two islands. Among the Wesleyans, the freed negroes had
formed four Friendly Societies, to help the aged and infirm, nurse the
sick, and encourage sobriety and industry. In 1836, they raised money
themselves and expended for those objects £700 currency ($2,100). In
1837, they had £600 ($1,800) in their treasury." To estimate this
liberality properly, it must be remembered that the wages of these poor
people was only a shilling a day, about twenty-four cents: and that they
boarded themselves; also, that, until the last three years, they had
received no wages at all for their labor. There was no public poorhouse
in Antigua; a fact highly creditable to the emancipated people.
A Report published by the Wesleyan Brethren, alluding to the emancipated
slaves, says: "They always show a readiness to contribute to the support
of the Gospel. With the present low wages, and the entire charge of
self-maintenance, they have but little to spare. Parham and Sion Hill
(taken as specimens) have societies composed almost entirely of rural
blacks; about 1,350 in number. In 1836, these contributed above $1,650,
in little weekly subscriptions; besides giving to special objects
occasionally, and contributing for the support of schools."
The West India Association for Advancement of Christian Faith, in its
Report for 1836, makes a statement which shows that marriages in _one_
year, at that time, were _twice_ as numerous as in _ten_ years, during
slavery.
TESTIMONY OF THE EMANCIPATED SLAVES IN ANTIGUA, IN 1837.
Mr. Thome says: "A young negro, who had been a slave, rowed us across
the harbor of St. John's. We asked him about the first of August, 1834.
He said: 'Dar was more religious on dat day, dan you can tink of.' When
we questioned him about the laws, he said the law was his friend. If
there was no law to take his part, a strong man might knock him down;
but now everybody feared the law. The masters _would_ sometimes slash a
fellow, let him do his _best_; but the law never hurt anybody that
behaved well.
"We asked an old negro what he did on the first of August. He replied:
'Massa, we went to church, and tank de Lord for make a we all free.'
"We asked two men, who were masons on an estate, how they liked liberty.
They replied: 'O sir, it is very comfortable; very comfortable indeed.
The day when freedom come, we was as happy as though we was just going
to Heaven. We used to think very much about being free; but we did not
hope it would ever be, till death delivered us from bondage. Now we've
got free, we wouldn't sell ourselves for any money. The money would soon
be gone; but freedom will last as long as we live.' We asked if they
wouldn't be willing to sell themselves to a man they were sure would
treat them well. They immediately replied: 'We should be willing to
_serve_ such a man; but we wouldn't _sell_ ourselves to the best man in
the world.' They said they were very desirous to have their children
learn all they could, while they were young; for education was a great
thing.
"On our way to Grace Bay, we met some negro men at work on the road, and
stopped to chat with them. We asked them if they danced on the first of
August. They quickly replied, 'Oh! oh! no fiddling _den_! No, me massa.
All go to church _dat_ day.' One of them said, 'I always thought much
about freedom, but I no hope eber to be free. One morning, bout four
o'clock, I was walking along de road, all lone, and I prayed dat de
Saviour would make me free; for den I could be _so_ happy! I don't know
what made me pray so; for I wasn't looking for de free; but in one month
de free come.' They told us they worked a great deal better, since they
were paid for it. I asked one of them whether he wouldn't be willing to
be a slave again, if he could always be sure of a good master. He
exclaimed: 'Heigh! me massa! Me nebber be slave, no more! A good massa a
bery good ting; but freedom till better.' They told us it was a great
blessing to have their children go to school.
"An intelligent colored gentleman informed us that while the negroes
were slaves, they used to spend, during the Christmas holidays, all the
money they got during the year; but now they saved it carefully, to buy
small tracts of land for their own cultivation."
At the examination of one of the schools, several women who worked on
the estates, who had children in the school, put on their Sunday's best,
and went to hear the classes recite. When Mr. Thome spoke to one of them
about the privileges her children enjoyed, her eyes filled with tears,
and she replied, "Yes, massa, we do tank de good Lord for bring de free.
Never can be too tankful." She said she had seven children present, and
it made her feel happy to have them learn to read. Another said, when
she heard the children reading so well, she wanted "to take de words out
of da mouts, and put 'em in her own." She added, "I tell you, massa, it
do my old heart good to come here."
"Old Grandfather Jacob, who had been a deacon in one of the Moravian
churches, told us of the dungeons in which the slaves used to be
confined; and with much feeling, said his wife had once been put into a
damp dungeon. Some got sick there, and were never well afterward. He
knew one that died there. He had been flogged twice for leaving his work
to bury the dead. 'Can't put we in dungeon _now_!' exclaimed Grandfather
Jacob, with a triumphant look. 'No lick we! If dey no like we, tell we
to go away; dat's all.' We asked if he was provided for by the manager.
He said no, his children supported him. 'Now, when ole man die, him
children make coffin, and put him in de ground!' We asked whether it was
not better for an old man to be a slave, so as to get food and clothing
from the manager. He darted a quick look at us, and said, 'Radder be
free.'
"Mr. and Mrs. Möhne, Moravian missionaries, told us that, though the low
rate of wages was scarcely sufficient to support life, they had never
seen a single individual, who desired to be a slave again. Even the aged
and infirm, who sometimes suffered, from neglect of the planters, and
the inability of their relatives to provide adequately for them,
expressed the liveliest gratitude for the great blessing the Lord had
given them. They would often say, 'Missus, ole sinner just sinkin in de
grave; but de good Lord let me ole eyes see dis blessed sun."'
FOOTNOTE:
[4] This is accounted for, in many instances, by the women being
withdrawn from field labor, to attend to their households; and by
children being sent to school.