FIFTH PROPOSITION.—­There has been no fear of house breaking, highway robberies, and like misdemeanors, since emancipation.  Statements, similar to those adduced under the last head, from planters, and other gentlemen, might be introduced here; but as this proposition is so intimately involved in the foregoing, separate proof is not necessary.  The same causes which excite apprehensions of insurrection, produce fears of robberies and other acts of violence; so also the same state of society which establishes security of person, insures the safety of property.  Both in town and country we heard gentlemen repeatedly speak of the slight fastenings to their houses.  A mere lock, or bolt, was all that secured the outside doors, and they might be burst open with ease, by a single man.  In some cases, as has already been intimated, the planters habitually neglect to fasten their doors—­so strong is their confidence of safety.  We were not a little struck with the remark of a gentleman in St. John’s.  He said he had long been desirous to remove to England, his native country, and had slavery continued much longer in Antigua, he certainly should have gone; but now the security of property was so much greater in Antigua than it was in England, that he thought it doubtful whether he should ever venture to take his family thither.

SIXTH PROPOSITION.—­Emancipation is regarded by all classes as a great blessing to the island.

There is not a class, or party, or sect, who do not esteem the abolition of slavery as a special blessing to them.  The rich, because it relieved them of “property” which was fast becoming a disgrace, as it had always been a vexation and a tax, and because it has emancipated them from the terrors of insurrection, which kept them all their life time subject to bondage.  The poor whites—­because it lifted from off them the yoke of civil oppression.  The free colored population—­because it gave the death blow to the prejudice that crushed them, and opened the prospect of social, civil, and political equality with the whites.  The slaves—­because it broke open their dungeon, led them out to liberty, and gave them, in one munificent donation, their wives, their children, their bodies, their souls—­every thing!

The following extracts from the journals of the legislature, show the state of feeling existing shortly after emancipation.  The first is dated October 30, 1834: 

“The Speaker said, that he looked with exultation at the prospect before us.  The hand of the Most High was evidently working for us.  Could we regard the universal tranquillity, the respectful demeanor of the lower classes, as less than an interposition of Providence?  The agricultural and commercial prosperity of the island were absolutely on the advance; and for his part he would not hesitate to purchase estates to-morrow.”

The following remark was made in the course of a speech by a member of the council, November 12, 1834: