TENTH PROPOSITION.—­The negroes are more trust-worthy, and take a deeper interest in their employers’ affairs, since emancipation.

“My laborers manifest an increasing attachment to the estate.  In all their habits they are becoming more settled, and they begin to feel that they have a personal interest in the success of the property on which they live.”—­Mr. Favey.

“As long as the negroes felt uncertain whether they would remain in one place, or be dismissed and compelled to seek a home elsewhere, they manifested very little concern for the advancement of their employers’ interest; but in proportion as they become permanently established on an estate, they seem to identify themselves with its prosperity.  The confidence between master and servant is mutually increasing.”—­Mr. James Howell.

The Hon. Mr. Nugent, Dr. Daniell, D. Cranstoun, Esq., and other planters, enumerated among the advantages of freedom, the planters being released from the perplexities growing out of want of confidence in the sympathy and honesty of the slaves.

S. Bourne, Esq., of Millar’s, remarked as we were going towards his mill and boiling-house, which had been in operation about a week, “I have not been near my works for several days; yet I have no fears but that I shall find every thing going on properly.”

The planters have been too deeply experienced in the nature of slavery, not to know that mutual jealousy, distrust, and alienation of feeling and interest, are its legitimate offspring; and they have already seen enough of the operation of freedom, to entertain the confident expectation, that fair wages, kind treatment, and comfortable homes, will attach the laborers to the estates, and identify the interests of the employer and the employed.

ELEVENTH PROPOSITION.—­The experiment in Antigua proves that emancipated slaves can appreciate law.  It is a prevailing opinion that those who have long been slaves, cannot at once be safely subjected to the control of law.

It will now be seen how far this theory is supported by facts.  Let it be remembered that the negroes of Antigua passed, “by a single jump, from absolute slavery to unqualified freedom."[A] In proof of their subordination to law, we give the testimony of planters, and quote also from the police reports sent in monthly to the Governor, with copies of which we were kindly furnished by order of His Excellency.

[Footnote A:  Dr. Daniell.]

“I have found that the negroes are readily controlled by law; more so perhaps than the laboring classes in other countries.”—­David Cranstoun, Esq.

“The conduct of the negro population generally, has surpassed all expectation.  They are as pliant to the hand of legislation, as any people; perhaps more so than some.” Wesleyan Missionary.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the Governor, the Hon. N. Nugent, R.B.  Eldridge, Esq., Dr. Ferguson, Dr. Daniell, and James Scotland, Jr., Esq., and numerous other planters, managers, &c.  This testimony is corroborated by the police reports, exhibiting, as they do, comparatively few crimes, and those for the most part minor ones.  We have in our possession the police reports for every month from September, 1835, to January, 1837.  We give such specimens as will serve to show the general tenor of the reports.