preparatory state—­no transition—­the chains being at once knocked off, and the negroes made at once free.  For the first time within the last thirty years, at the Christmas of the year 1834, martial law was not proclaimed in the island of Antigua.  You talk of facts—­here is one.  You talk of experience—­here it is.  And with these facts and this experience before us, I call on those soi-disant men of experience—­those men who scoffed at us—­who laughed to scorn at what they called our visionary, theoretical schemes—­schemes that never could be carried into effect without rebellion and the loss of the colonies—­I say, my lords, I call on these experienced men to come forward, and, if they can, deny one single iota of the statement I am now making.  Let those who thought that with the use of those phrases, “a planter of Jamaica” “the West India interest,” “residence in Jamaica and its experience,” they could make our balance kick the beam—­let them, I say, hear what I tell, for it is but the fact—­that when the chains were knocked off there was not a single breach of the peace committed either on the day itself, or on the Christmas festival which followed.

Well, my lords, beaten from these two positions, where did the experienced men retreat to under what flimsy pretext did they next undertake to disparage the poor negro race?  Had I not seen it in print, and been otherwise informed of the fact, I could not have believed it possible that from any reasonable man any such absurdity could issue.  They actually held out this last fear, which, like the others, was fated to be dissipated by the fact.  “Wait only,” said they, “till the anniversary of the first of August, and then you will see what the negro character is, and how little these indentured apprentices are fit to be entrusted with freedom.”  Was there ever such an absurdity uttered, as if my lords, the man who could meet with firm tranquillity and peaceful thankfulness the event itself, was likely to be raised to rebellion and rioting by the recollection of it a year afterwards.  My lords, in considering this matter, I ask you, then, to be guided by your own experience, and nothing else; profit by it, my lords, and turn it to your own account; for it, according to that book which all of us must revere, teaches even the most foolish of a foolish race.  I do not ask you to adopt as your own the experience of others; you have as much as you can desire of your own, and by no other test do I wish or desire to be judged.  But I think my task may be said to be done.  I think I have proved my case, for I have shown that the negro can work without the stimulant of the whip; I have shown that he can labor for hire without any other motive than that of industry to inspire him.  I have demonstrated that all over the West Indies, even when fatigued with working the allotted hours for the profit of his master, he can work again for wages for him who chooses to hire him and has wherewithal to pay him; I have also