EMANCIPATION SAFE IN EVERY INSTANCE
"Right _never_ comes wrong."
--_Old Maxim._
Whenever immediate emancipation is urged, the "horrors of St. Domingo"
are always brought forward to prove it dangerous. This is one of
numerous misstatements originating in prejudice, and afterward taken for
granted by those who have not examined the subject. The first troubles
between the white and black races in St. Domingo were the result of
oppressive and unlawful treatment of the free colored population, who
were numerous, and many of them wealthy proprietors. The whites were
determined to wrest from them certain rights which the French government
had secured to them. The next troubles were occasioned by an attempt to
_restore slavery_, after it had been for some years abolished. It was
never the _granting_ of rights to the colored people that produced
bloodshed or disturbance. All the disasters to the whites came in
consequence of _withholding_ those rights, in the first instance, and
afterward from a forcible attempt to _take them away_, after they had
long been peacefully and prosperously enjoyed under the protection of
French laws.
In 1793, the National Assembly proclaimed liberty to all slaves under
the dominion of France; more than 600,000 in number; and history shows
that the measure proved safe. _In St. Domingo emancipation was both
peaceful and prosperous in its results._ Col. Malenfant, a slave-holder
resident in the island at the time, published "A Historical and
Political Memoir of the Colonies," in which he says: "After this public
act of emancipation the negroes remained quiet, both in the south and
west. There were estates which had neither owners nor managers upon
them; yet upon those estates, though abandoned, the negroes continued
their labors, where there were any of the inferior agents left to guide
them; and where there was no white man, in any capacity, to take
direction of affairs, they betook themselves to planting provisions.
Several of my neighbors, proprietors or managers, were in prison; and
the negroes on their plantations were in the habit of coming to me to
direct them in their work. If you will take care not to talk to them of
the restoration of slavery, but to talk to them of freedom, you may with
that word chain them to their labor. In the plain of the Cul de Sac, on
the plantation Gouraud, I managed four hundred and fifty laborers for
more than eight months after liberty had been granted them. Not one of
them refused to work. Yet that plantation was reputed to have been under
the worst discipline, and the slaves the most idle of any in the plain.
I inspired the same activity into three other plantations, of which I
had the management. Ninety-nine out of a hundred blacks are perfectly
well aware that labor is the process by which they can obtain means to
gratify their wants and their tastes; and therefore they are desirous to
work." In describing the latter part of 1796, Col. Malenfant says: "The
Colony is flourishing. The whites live peacefully and happily upon their
estates, and the negroes continue to work for them." Gen. Lecroix, who
published "Memoirs for a History of St. Domingo," speaks of wonderful
progress in agriculture in 1797. He says: "The Colony marched, as by
enchantment, toward its ancient splendor; cultivation prospered, and
every day furnished perceptible proofs of progress."
SUCH WAS THE EFFECT OF EMANCIPATION IN ST. DOMINGO!
In 1801, Gen. Vincent, a proprietor of estates in St. Domingo, went to
France to lay before the government the plan of a new Constitution for
the island. He found Napoleon Bonaparte, then First Consul, preparing to
send out an armament to restore slavery in St. Domingo. General Vincent
earnestly remonstrated against the expedition. He assured the Consul
that the negroes were orderly and industrious, and that every thing was
going on peacefully and prosperously for all parties; that it was
unnecessary, and therefore cruel, to attempt to reverse this happy
state of things. But there was a class of old despotic planters who
clamored for the restoration of the arbitrary power, which they had most
cruelly abused. Unfortunately, Bonaparte considered it good policy to
conciliate that class; and he persisted in his purpose. He tried to
_restore slavery_, by military force, and the consequence was that the
French were driven out of the island, with great bloodshed.
In Guadaloupe, where liberty was proclaimed at the same time as in St.
Domingo, the sudden transition took place with perfect safety. The
reports from the Governors, for successive years, bear testimony that
the emancipated laborers were universally industrious and submissive to
the laws.
Gen. Lafayette, the consistent friend of human freedom, made a practical
experiment of emancipation, as early as 1785. In the French Colony of
Cayenne, most of the soil belonged to the crown, and he was able to
obtain it on easy terms. He expended $30,000 in purchasing land and
slaves. He employed an amiable and judicious gentleman to take the
management. The first thing the agent did, when he arrived in Cayenne,
was to call the slaves together, and in their presence burn all the
whips and other instruments of punishment. He informed them that their
owner, Gen. Lafayette had bought them for the purpose of enabling them
to obtain their freedom. He then stated to them the laws and regulations
by which the estate would be governed, and the pecuniary advantages that
would be granted, according to degrees of industry. This stimulus
operated like a charm. The energy of the laborers redoubled, and they
were obedient to the wishes of their manager. He died from the effects
of the climate. But when the slaves in all the French Colonies were
emancipated in 1793, the laborers on this estate in Cayenne waited upon
the new agent, and said if the land still belonged to Gen. Lafayette
they wished to resume their labor for him on the old terms, giving as a
reason that they were "desirous to promote the interests of one who had
treated them like men, and cheered their toil by making it a certain
means of freedom."
In 1811 the British authorities emancipated all the slaves in Java. This
also proved a complete success; as any one can ascertain by examining
the account given by Sir Stamford Raffles, who was Governor of the
island.
At successive periods, between 1816 and 1828, the South American
Republics, Buenos Ayres, Chili, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala
emancipated all their slaves. In some of those States means were taken
for the instruction of young slaves, who were enfranchised on arriving
at a certain age. In other States, slaves of all ages were emancipated
after a certain date, fixed by law. In no one instance were these
changes productive of any injury to life or property.
In 1828 the British government emancipated all the slaves in Cape
Colony. 30,000 Hottentot Helots were admitted by law to all the rights
and privileges of the white inhabitants. The slave-holders in the Colony
remonstrated vehemently against this measure. They declared that the
Hottentots were stupid, sensual, brutal, vicious, and totally incapable
of taking care of themselves. They predicted awful outrages, as the
consequence of emancipating a horde of such degraded wretches. But the
event proved quite otherwise. The poor creatures were grateful for their
freedom, and tried to behave as well as they knew how. All went on as
peaceably as before, as concerned the white inhabitants, and much _more_
peaceably, as concerned the blacks, who had previously suffered shocking
barbarities at the hands of their masters. In the sunlight of freedom
even the Hottentots have been gradually emerging out of barbarism. Year
by year they pay more for British manufactures, because they wear calico
and woollen cloth, instead of sheepskin mantles. They have horses and
wagons, and flocks of their own, and their small weekly contributions to
the Missionary Societies at the Cape amount to many hundreds of dollars.
From the time that Mexico became independent of Spain, in 1821, there
was an increasing conviction in the public mind, that the existence of
slavery was inconsistent with their professed principles as a Republic.
This feeling soon manifested itself in laws. The prices of slaves were
fixed by magistrates, and they were required to work, at stipulated
wages, till they had paid for themselves. Protective laws were passed,
enabling the servants to work for others, if they were not justly and
humanely treated by their masters. Transfers of service might also take
place to accommodate the masters; but never without consent of the
servants. Mr. Ward, the British Minister to Mexico, in his work on that
country, speaks very highly of the beneficial effects produced by these
regulations. He says they gave a powerful stimulus to industry, and
rapidly increased agricultural prosperity. A Mississippi slave-holder,
who went to reside in Matamoras, was also so much pleased with the
results of this experiment, that he wrote of it with enthusiasm, as an
example highly important to the United States. He declared that the
value of plantations was soon increased by the introduction of free
labor. He says: "No one was made poor by it. It gave property to the
servant, and increased the riches of the master." Free labor commended
itself so much in this process, that on September 15th, 1829, President
Guerrero published the following decree: "Being desirous to signalize
the Anniversary of Mexican Independence by an act of national justice
and beneficence, we hereby declare slavery forever abolished in this
Republic. Consequently, all those individuals who, until this day, have
been considered slaves, are free!" No interruption of public peace or
prosperity followed this just decree.
In 1831, 3,000 prize negroes received freedom in South Africa; 400 in
one day. No difficulty or disorder occurred. All gained homes; and at
night scarcely an idler was to be seen.
In 1848, the French government, after careful examination into the state
of things in the British West Indies, decreed immediate emancipation to
all the slaves in their Colonies. M. Arago, formerly member of the
Provisional Government, wrote thus, in 1851: "Much has been said of the
ruin which the Act of Emancipation has scattered over our Colonies. But
it should be remembered that _they were in a deplorable condition for a
long time previous. The Chamber of Deputies resounded daily with their
lamentations._ Extreme and utterly inadmissible measures for their
_relief_ were continually proposed. The Act of Emancipation cut
peacefully one of the most complicated questions our social state
afforded. Free labor has taken the place of slave labor without much
resistance. So far, it has been attended with results sufficiently
favorable, and these cannot fail to grow better." O. Lafayette, grandson
of General Lafayette, member of the Chamber of Deputies, wrote thus, in
1851: "In one day, as by the stroke of a wand, 150,000 human beings were
snatched from the degradation, in which they had been held by former
legislation, and resumed their rank in the great human family. And this
great event occurred without any of those disorders and struggles, which
had been threatened, in order to perplex the consciences of the friends
of abolition."
In 1841, the Bey of Tunis prohibited the exportation or importation of
slaves, and declared all children free that should be born in his
dominions after December 8th, 1842. In 1846, he proclaimed that slavery
was abolished entirely, "for the honor of God, and to distinguish man
from the brute creation." To these measures he was greatly influenced by
the British Minister, Sir Thomas Reade.
Not far from the same date, Sweden proclaimed emancipation in the Island
of St. Bartholomew, the only place under her dominion where slavery
existed.
Christian VIII. of Denmark, and his Queen, Caroline, were so openly in
favor of emancipation, that the price of slaves in their dominions
became greatly reduced. The kind-hearted Queen obtained a promise from
the King that he would celebrate the anniversary of their Silver Wedding
by a decree of universal emancipation. Accordingly, on the 28th of July
1847, it was proclaimed that all children born on or after that day
should be free; and that all the slaves in the Danish possessions, about
30,000 in number, should receive their freedom in 1859. This was
intended to give time to prepare for the change; but it worked badly. It
made the negroes restless to hear of freedom without obtaining it; and
this feeling was increased by intercourse with the neighboring French
islands, where all had been proclaimed unconditionally free. The masters
were opposed to emancipation, and not at all disposed to conciliate
their laborers. In July, 1848, local insurrections broke out. A good
deal of property was destroyed, but few lives lost, except those of
slaves who were executed. The panic produced caused a proclamation of
immediate emancipation; since which there have been no insurrections,
nor any fear of them. Fifty dollars for each slave was awarded to the
masters, who have never ceased to grumble against the government and
against the negroes. Such a transition, of course, could not take place
without temporary evils and inconveniences. The effects of a system so
bad as slavery cannot be suddenly outgrown, either by masters or
servants. But improvement is more and more perceptible as years pass on.
A gentleman writing from St. Thomas to the _N. Y. Tribune_, September,
1854, says: "The former owners are constantly complaining of the
ignorance, faithlessness, and degradation of the negroes, without
seeming to have any consciousness of the fact that they themselves have
brought them to this very character and condition. Whether their state
is _at once_ bettered is not the decisive question, but whether they are
in a condition where there is a chance for improvement. And for my own
part, the respectability attained by many persons of color in this town,
and the industry and capacity manifested by large numbers, in various
employments, as artisans, clerks, bookkeepers, and public officials,
give me a hope I never before entertained, of the certain advancement of
the African race, wherever they shall become disembarrassed of the
shackles of slavery, and of an unjust social prejudice."
A Boston gentleman, who visited Santa Cruz in the spring of 1859, writes
thus: "You would be delighted with the effects of emancipation, as we
see them all round us, with abundant opportunities to examine them. The
pay which the Danish government has settled for voluntary labor sounds
very low [five dollars a month]. But the artificial wants of the
laborers are so few, and the necessaries of life are so easily supplied
in this perpetual summer, that the thrifty and industrious have already
succeeded in laying up enough to build comfortable little homes, and
bring up their children to trades. The vice which had always been
encouraged among them, for their masters' gain, carries its poison among
them yet; but they are gradually acquiring a pride of matrimony. A noble
young Episcopal minister is laboring unweariedly for their moral and
intellectual elevation, almost unaided by the white population, who look
coldly upon his labors. The progress made in two years has been
surprising indeed."
In 1857, the Dutch abolished slavery in their West India Colonies. The
government paid a certain sum to the masters, and took the entire
control of the slaves, who were to work till they repaid the sum
advanced for their freedom. Children under five years were free at once,
and moderate prices were fixed by law for all the slave population,
graduated according to their ages. As soon as the stipulated price was
offered by any slave, he became a freeman. Wages were also fixed by law;
and in case any planters refused to submit to the prescribed
regulations, rural settlements were formed where the colored people
could find employment, under the superintendence of managers appointed
by government, aided by colleagues who were elected by the laborers. Of
course, the success of this experiment will greatly depend on the
good-temper and good judgment of the men who manage it. I have no means
of ascertaining the degree of financial prosperity in the Dutch West
India Colonies since emancipation began to take effect; but I know that
_before the abolition of slavery, they were complaining of "ruin" and
begging for "relief."_ The Colony of Surinam, _under slavery_, made this
statement. "Out of nine hundred and seventeen, plantations, six hundred
and thirty-six have been totally abandoned. Of the remainder, sixty-five
grow nothing but wood and provisions." The small balance of estates not
included in this description, were declared to be on the road to
destruction. Whether free labor works better results, time will show.
But one thing is already certain; the transition was made with perfect
safety. In 1859, the Dutch abolished slavery in all their East India
possessions; where it had existed under a comparatively mild form. There
was one very remarkable and beautiful feature in this transaction. The
government offered an assessed compensation to the masters; but _many of
them refused to take it, while others took it and gave it to the
emancipated slaves, who had worked so many years without wages_.
History proves that emancipation has _always_ been safe. It is an
undeniable fact, that not one white person has ever been killed, or
wounded, or had life or property endangered by any violence attendant
upon immediate emancipation, in any of the many cases where the
experiment has been tried. On the contrary, it has always produced a
feeling of security in the public mind.