FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1037   1038   1039   1040   1041   1042   1043   1044   1045   1046   1047   1048   1049   1050   1051   1052   1053   1054   1055   1056   1057   1058   1059   1060   1061  
1062   1063   1064   1065   1066   1067   1068   1069   1070   1071   1072   1073   1074   1075   1076   1077   1078   1079   1080   1081   1082   1083   1084   1085   1086   >>   >|  
g the blessing of freedom by the introduction of other things which must ever prove beneficial to the country. The vast improvements that are every day being effected in this island, and throughout the other colonies, stamp the assertions of the pro-slavery party as the vilest falsehoods. They glory in the introduction of banks, steam-vessels, and railroads; with the knowledge (as they would have us believe) that the island is fast verging into destruction. They speak of the utility and success of railroads, when, according to their showing, there is no produce to be sent to market, when agriculture has been paralyzed, and Jamaica swept to destruction." * * * * * The following copious extracts from a speech of Lord Brougham, on the workings of the apprenticeship, and on the immediate emancipation substituted therefor in Antigua and the Bermudas, are specially commended to the notice of the reader. The speech was delivered in the House of Lords, Feb. 20, 1838. We take it from the published report of the speech in the London Times, of Feb. 25:-- I now must approach that subject which has some time excited almost universal anxiety. Allow me, however, first to remind your lordships--because that goes to the root of the evil--allow me first to remind you of the anxiety that existed previous to the Emancipation Act which was passed in January, 1833, coming into operation in August, 1834. My lords, there was much to apprehend from the character of the masters of the slaves. I know the nature of man. * * * * I know that he who has abused power clings to it with a yet more convulsive grasp. I know his revenge against those who have been rescued from his tyrannous fangs; I know that he never forgives those whom he has injured, whether white or black. I have never yet met with an unforgiving enemy, except in the person of one of whose injustice I had a right to complain. On the part of the slaves, my lords, I was not without anxiety; for I know the corrupt nature of the degrading system under which they groaned. * * * * It was, therefore, I confess, my lords, with some anxiety that I looked forward to the 1st of August, 1834; and I yielded, though reluctantly, to the plan of an intermediate state before what was called the full enjoyment of freedom--the transition condition of
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1037   1038   1039   1040   1041   1042   1043   1044   1045   1046   1047   1048   1049   1050   1051   1052   1053   1054   1055   1056   1057   1058   1059   1060   1061  
1062   1063   1064   1065   1066   1067   1068   1069   1070   1071   1072   1073   1074   1075   1076   1077   1078   1079   1080   1081   1082   1083   1084   1085   1086   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
anxiety
 

speech

 

nature

 

slaves

 

railroads

 

destruction

 

introduction

 

island

 

August

 

freedom


remind

 

convulsive

 

existed

 

rescued

 
revenge
 

abused

 

operation

 

coming

 

character

 
masters

January
 

previous

 

apprehend

 
Emancipation
 

passed

 

clings

 
unforgiving
 

looked

 
confess
 

forward


yielded

 

degrading

 

system

 

groaned

 

reluctantly

 

enjoyment

 

transition

 

condition

 

called

 

intermediate


corrupt

 

forgives

 

injured

 

person

 

complain

 

injustice

 

tyrannous

 

London

 

knowledge

 

vessels