That emanc.i.p.ation should be universally regarded as a blessing, is remarkable, when we consider that combination of untoward circ.u.mstances which it has been called to encounter--a combination wholly unprecedented in the history of the island. In 1835, the first year of the new system, the colony was visited by one of the most desolating hurricanes which has occurred for many years. In the same year, cultivation was arrested, and the crops greatly reduced, by drought.
About the same time, the yellow fever prevailed with fearful mortality.
The next year the drought returned, and brooded in terror from March until January, and from January until June: not only blasting the harvest of "36, but extending its blight over the crops of "37.
Nothing could be better calculated to try the confidence in the new system. Yet we find all cla.s.ses zealously exonerating emanc.i.p.ation, and in despite of tornado, plague, and wasting, still affirming the blessings and advantages of freedom!
SEVENTH PROPOSITION.--_Free labor_ is decidedly LESS EXPENSIVE than _slave labor_. It costs the planter actually less to pay his free laborers daily wages, than it did to maintain his slaves. It will be observed in the testimony which follows, that there is some difference of opinion as to the _precise amount_ of reduction in the expenses, which is owing to the various modes of management on different estates, and more particularly, to the fact that some estates raise all their provisions, while others raise none. But as to the fact itself, there can scarcely be said to be any dispute among the planters. There was one cla.s.s of planters whose expenses seemed to be somewhat increased, viz.
those who raised all their provisions before emanc.i.p.ation, and ceased to raise any _after_ that event. But in the opinion of the most intelligent planters, even these did not really sustain any loss, for originally it was bad policy to raise provisions, since it engrossed that labor which would have been more profitably directed to the cultivation of sugar; and hence they would ultimately be gainers by the change.
S. Bourne, Esq. stated that the expenses on Millar"s estate, of which he is manager, had diminished about _one third_.
Mr. Barnard, of Green Castle, thought his expenses were about the same that they were formerly.
Mr. Favey, of Lavicount"s estate, enumerated, among the advantages of freedom over slavery, "the diminished expense."
Dr. Nugent also stated, that "the expenses of cultivation were greatly diminished."
Mr. Hatley, manager of Fry"s estate, said that the expenses on his estate had been greatly reduced since emanc.i.p.ation. He showed us the account of his expenditures for the last year of slavery, and the first full year of freedom, 1835. The expenses during the last year of slavery were 1371_l._ 2_s._ 4-1/2_d._; the expenses for 1835 were 821_l._ 16_s._ 7-1/2_d._: showing a reduction of more than one third.
D. Cranstoun, Esq., informed us that his weekly expenses during slavery, on the estate which he managed, were, on an average, 45_l._; the average expenses now do not exceed 20_l._
Extract of a letter from Hon. N. Nugent:
"The expenses of cultivating sugar estates have in no instance, I believe, been found _greater_ than before. As far as my experience goes, they are certainly less, particularly as regards those properties which were overhanded before, when proprietors were compelled to support more dependents than they required. In some cases, the present cost is less by _one third_. I have not time to furnish you with any detailed statements, but the elements of the calculation are simple enough."
It is not difficult to account for the diminution in the cost of cultivation. In the first place, for those estates that bought their provision previous to emanc.i.p.ation, it cost more money to purchase their stores than they now pay out in wages. This was especially true in dry seasons, when home provisions failed, and the island was mainly dependent upon foreign supplies.
But the chief source of the diminution lies in the reduced number of people to be supported by the planter. During slavery, the planter was required by law to maintain _all_ the slaves belonging to the estate; the superannuated, the infirm, the pregnant, the nurses, the young children, and the infants, as well as the working slaves. Now it is only the latter cla.s.s, the effective laborers, (with the addition of such as were superannuated or infirm at the period of emanc.i.p.ation,) who are dependent upon the planter. These are generally not more than one half, frequently less than a third, of the whole number of negroes resident on the estate; consequently a very considerable burthen has been removed from the planter.
The reader may form some estimate of the reduced expense to the planter, resulting from these causes combined, by considering the statement made to us by Hon. N. Nugent, and repeatedly by proprietors and managers, that had slavery been in existence during the present drought, many of the smaller estates _must have been inevitably ruined_; on account of the high price of imported provisions, (home provisions having fallen short) and the number of slaves to be fed.
EIGHTH PROPOSITION.--The negroes work _more cheerfully_, and _do their work better_ than they did during slavery. Wages are found to be an ample subst.i.tute for the lash--they never fail to secure the amount of labor desired. This is particularly true where task work is tried, which is done occasionally in cases of a pressing nature, when considerable effort is required. We heard of no complaints on the score of idleness, but on the contrary, the negroes were highly commended for the punctuality and cheerfulness with which they performed the work a.s.signed them.
The Governor stated, that "he was a.s.sured by planters, from every part of the island, that the negroes were very industriously disposed."
"My people have become much more industrious since they were emanc.i.p.ated. I have been induced to extend the sugar cultivation over a number of acres more than have ever been cultivated before."--_Mr.
Watkins, of Donovan"s_.
"Fearing the consequences of emanc.i.p.ation, I reduced my cultivation in the year "34; but soon finding that my people would work as well as ever, I brought up the cultivation the next year to the customary extent, and this year ("36) I have added fifteen acres of new land."--_S. Bourne, of Millar"s_.
"Throughout the island the estates were never in a more advanced state than they now are. The failure in the crops is not in the slightest degree chargeable to a deficiency of labor. I have frequently adopted the job system for short periods; the results have always been gratifying--the negroes accomplished twice as much as when they worked for daily wages, because they made more money. On some days they would make three shillings--three times the ordinary wages."--_Dr. Daniell_.
"They are as a body _more_ industrious than when slaves, for the obvious reason that they are _working for themselves_."--_Ralph Higinbothom, U.S. Consul_.
"I have no hesitation in saying that on my estate cultivation is more forward than ever it has been at the same season. The failure of the crops is not in the least degree the fault of the laborers. They have done well."--_Mr. Favey, of Lavicount"s estate_.
"The most general apprehension prior to emanc.i.p.ation was, that the negroes would not work after they were made free--that they would be indolent, buy small parcels of land, and "_squat_" on them to the neglect of sugar cultivation. Time, however, has proved that there was no foundation for this apprehension. The estates were never in better order than they are at present. If you are interrogated on your return home concerning the cultivation of Antigua, you can say that every thing depends upon the _weather_. If we have _sufficient rain_, you may be certain that we shall realize abundant crops. If we have no rain, the crops _must inevitably_ fail. _But we always depend upon the laborers_.
On account of the stimulus to industry which wages afford, there is far less feigned sickness than there was during slavery. When slaves, the negroes were glad to find any excuse for deserting their labor, and they were incessantly feigning sickness. The sick-house was thronged with real and pretended invalids. After "34, it was wholly deserted. The negroes would not go near it; and, in truth, I have lately used it for a stable."--_Hon. N. Nugent_.
"Though the laborers on both the estates under my management have been considerably reduced since freedom, yet the grounds have never been in a finer state of cultivation, than they are at present. When my work is backward, I give it out in jobs, and it is always done in half the usual time."
"Emanc.i.p.ation has almost wholly put an end to the practice of _skulking_, or pretending to be sick. That was a thing which caused the planter a vast deal of trouble during slavery. Every Monday morning regularly, when I awoke, I found ten or a dozen, or perhaps twenty men and women, standing around my door, waiting for me to make my first appearance, and begging that I would let them off from work that day on account of sickness. It was seldom the case that one fourth of the applicants were really unwell; but every one would maintain that he was very sick, and as it was hard to contend with them about it, they were all sent off to the sick-house. Now this is entirely done away, and my sick-house is converted into a chapel for religious worship."--_James Howell, Esq._
"I find my people much more disposed to work than they formerly were.
The habit of feigning sickness to get rid of going to the field, is completely broken up. This practice was very common during slavery. It was often amusing to hear their complaints. One would come carrying an arm in one hand, and declaring that it had a mighty pain in it, and he could not 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 the stomach; a third came limping along, with a _dreadful rheumatiz_ in his knees; and so on for a dozen or more. It was vain to dispute with them, although it was often manifest that nothing earthly was ailing them. They would say, "Ah! me ma.s.sa, you no tink how bad me feel--it"s _deep in_, ma.s.sa." But all this trouble is pa.s.sed. We have no sick-house now; no feigned sickness, and really much less actual illness than formerly. My people say, "_they have not time to be sick now_." My cultivation has never been so far advanced at the same season, or in finer order than it is at the present time. I have been encouraged by the increasing industry of my people to bring several additional acres under cultivation."--_Mr. Hatley, Fry"s estate_.
"I get my work done better than formerly, and with incomparably more cheerfulness. My estate was never in a finer state of cultivation than it is now, though I employ _fewer_ laborers than during slavery. I have occasionally used job, or task work, and with great success. When I give out a job, it is accomplished in about half the time that it would have required by giving the customary wages. The people will do as much in one week at job work, as they will in two, working for a shilling a day.
I have known them, when they had a job to do, turn out before three o"clock in the morning, and work by moonlight."--_D. Cranstoun, Esq._
"My people work very well for the ordinary wages; I have no fault to find with them in this respect."--_Manager of Scotland"s estate_.
_Extract from the Superintendent"s Report to the Commander in Chief_.
SUPERINTENDENT"S OFFICE, _June 6th_. 1836.
"During the last month I have visited the country in almost every direction, with the express object of paying a strict attention to all branches of agricultural operations at that period progressing.
The result of my observations is decidedly favorable, as regards proprietors and laborers. The manufacture of sugar has advanced as far as the long and continued want of rain will admit; the lands, generally, appear to be in a forward state of preparation for the ensuing crop, and the laborers seem to work with more steadiness and satisfaction to themselves and their employers, than they have manifested for some length of time past, and their work is much more correctly performed.
Complaints are, for the most part, adduced by the employers against the laborers, and princ.i.p.ally consist, (as. .h.i.therto,) of breaches of contract; but I am happy to observe, that a diminution of dissatisfaction on this head even, has taken place, as will be seen by the accompanying general return of offences reported.
Your honor"s most obedient, humble servant,
_Richard S. Wickham, Superintendent of police_."
NINTH PROPOSITION.--The negroes are _more easily managed_ as freemen than they were when slaves.
On this point as well as on every other connected with the system of slavery, public opinion in Antigua has undergone an entire revolution, since 1834. It was then a common maxim that the peculiar characteristics of the negro absolutely required a government of terror and brute force.
The Governor said, "The negroes are as a race remarkable for _docility_; they are very easily controlled by kind influence. It is only necessary to gain their confidence, and you can sway them as you please."
"Before emanc.i.p.ation took place, I dreaded the consequence of abolishing the power of compelling labor, but I have since found by experience that forbearance and kindness are sufficient for all purposes of authority. I have seldom had any trouble in managing my people. They consider me their friend, and the expression of my wish is enough for them. Those planters who have retained their _harsh manner_ do not succeed under the new system. The people will not bear it."--_Mr. J. Howell_.
"I find it remarkably easy to manage my people. I govern them entirely by mildness. In every instance in which managers have persisted in their habits of arbitrary command, they have failed. I have lately been obliged to discharge a manager from one of the estates under my direction, on account of his overbearing disposition. If I had not dismissed him, the people would have abandoned the estate _en ma.s.se_."--_Dr. Daniell_.
"The management of an estate under the free system is a much lighter business than it used to be. We do not have the trouble to get the people to work, or to keep them in order."--_Mr. Favey_.
"Before the abolition of slavery, I thought it would be utterly impossible to manage my people without tyrannizing over them as usual, and that it would be giving up the reins of government entirely, to abandon the whip; but I am now satisfied that I was mistaken. I have lost all desire to exercise arbitrary power. I have known of several instances in which unpleasant disturbances have been occasioned by managers giving way to their anger, and domineering over the laborers.
The people became disobedient and disorderly, and remained so until the estates went into other hands, and a good management immediately restored confidence and peace."--_Mr. Watkins_.
"Among the advantages belonging to the free system, may he enumerated the greater facility in managing estates. We are freed from a world of trouble and perplexity."--_David Cranstoun, Esq._
"I have no hesitation in saying, that if I have a supply of cash, I can take off any crop it may please G.o.d to send. Having already, since emanc.i.p.ation, taken off one fully sixty hogsheads above the average of the last twenty years. I can speak with confidence."--_Letter from S.
Bourne, Esq._
Mr. Bourne stated a fact which ill.u.s.trates the ease with which the negroes are governed by gentle means. He said that it was a prevailing practice during slavery for the slaves to have a dance soon after they had finished gathering in the crop. At the completion of his crop in "35, the people made arrangements for having the customary dance. They were particularly elated because the crop which they had first taken off was the largest one that had ever been produced by the estate, and it was also the largest crop on the island for that year. With these extraordinary stimulants and excitements, operating in connection with the influence of habit, the people were strongly inclined to have a dance. Mr. B. told them that dancing was a bad practice--and a very childish, barbarous amus.e.m.e.nt, and he thought it was wholly unbecoming _freemen_. He hoped therefore that they would dispense with it. The negroes could not exactly agree with their manager--and said they did not like to be disappointed in their expected sport. Mr. B. finally proposed to them that he would get the Moravian minister, Rev. Mr.
Harvey, to ride out and preach to them on the appointed evening. The people all agreed to this. Accordingly, Mr. Harvey preached, and they said no more about the dance--nor have they ever attempted to get up a dance since.
We had repeated opportunities of witnessing the management of the laborers on the estates, and were always struck with the absence of every thing like coercion.