Dr. Daniell, Proprietor, Member of Council, Attorney of six estates, and Manager of Weatherill’s.
“One of the blessings of emancipation has been, that it has banished the fear of insurrections, incendiarism, &c.”
Mr. Favey, Manager of Lavicount’s.
“In my extensive intercourse with the people, as missionary, I have never heard of an instance of violence or revenge on the part of the negroes, even where they had been ill-treated during slavery.”
Rev. Mr. Morrish, Moravian Missionary.
“Insurrection or revenge is in no case dreaded, not even by those planters who were most cruel in the time of slavery. My family go to sleep every night with the doors unlocked, and we fear neither violence nor robbery.”
Hon. N. Nugent.
Again, in a written communication, the same gentleman remarks:—“There is not the slightest feeling of insecurity—quite the contrary. Property is more secure, for all idea of insurrection is abolished forever.”
“We have no cause now to fear insurrections; emancipation has freed us from all danger on this score.”
David Cranstoun, Esq.
Extract of a letter from a merchant of St. John’s who has resided in Antigua more than thirty years:
“There is no sense of personal danger arising from insurrections or conspiracies among the blacks. Serious apprehensions of this nature were formerly entertained; but they gradually died away during the first year of freedom.”
We quote the following from a communication addressed to us by a gentleman of long experience in Antigua—now a merchant in St. John’s—James Scotland, Sen., Esq.
“Disturbances, insubordinations, and revelry, have greatly decreased since emancipation; and it is a remarkable fact, that on the day of abolition, which was observed with the solemnity and services of the Sabbath, not an instance of common insolence was experienced from any freed man.”
“There is no feeling of insecurity. A stronger proof of this cannot be given than the dispensing, within five months after emancipation, with the Christmas guards, which had been regularly and uninterruptedly kept, for nearly one hundred years—during the whole time of slavery.”
“The military has never been called out, but on one occasion, since the abolition, and that was when a certain planter, the most violent enemy of freedom, reported to the Governor that there were strong symptoms of insurrection among his negroes. The story was generally laughed at, and the reporter of it was quite ashamed of his weakness and fears.”
“My former occupation, as editor of a newspaper, rendered it necessary for me to make incessant inquiries into the conduct as well as the treatment of the emancipated, and I have never heard any instance of revenge for former injuries. The negroes have quitted managers who were harsh or cruel to them in their bondage, but they removed in a peaceable and orderly manner.”