his devise upon the decease of their mother."

PETITION FOR COMPENSATION FOR THE LOSS OF SLAVES BY EMANCIPATION IN
THE DANISH WEST INDIES[530]

We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the West India Islands St.
Thomas and St. John, beg leave most respectfully to present to
the Rigsdag of Denmark, this Petition, praying that just and
equitable compensation may be granted us for the loss we have
sustained in our property, in consequence of the ordinance of the
Governor General, bearing date 3d July, 1848, by which he took
upon himself to abolish Negro Slavery in the Danish Colonies, and
which act received the Royal sanction on the 22d September of the
same year.

If, notwithstanding the heavy loss thus sustained, we have
hitherto been silent, it should be attributed to the hope we had
entertained, that the government, without being called upon to do
so, would have taken steps to obtain compensation for us; and to
the sentiments of sympathy with which we beheld the struggle of
the mother country in the trying situation in which the revolt of
the Duchies, and war with many powerful enemies had placed her, a
struggle which required all her resources, both intellectual and
material, of which she could dispose; and thus it would have been
inopportune had we at that time obtruded ourselves on the notice
of the government. But now, that the clouds which obscured the
political horizon have been dissipated, now, that a glorious war
is concluded, and peace sheds its blessings over Denmark, we can
no longer defer our just demand for compensation, lest our
silence should be construed into acquiescence with the act, by
which we have been despoiled of our property, or interpreted as
an abandonment of our claims. We had as good a title of property
to our negroes, as to our land, houses, or any other property we
possess; this right was established not only by law, but the
government had moreover ever encouraged the subjects to acquire
such property as being advantageous to the state. For this
purpose the government granted loans to the colonists upon
reduced interest from the so dominated "negro loan." The
government bought and sold such property, took it in mortgage,
levied duties upon their importation, and imposed a yearly
capitation tax, consequently not a shad