nor Christian
conscience capable of the second, no course was left but to let planting
prosperity go its own way to destruction, and endeavor at least to save
the population of the island from extermination. This emancipation
effected, and this was its work. If it hastened the ruin of an interest
which not even Parliamentary subsidies and high protective duties could
prop up without the horrors of the middle passage, its trespass was
certainly a very venial one compared with its work of salvation.
Undoubtedly the great transition from slavery to freedom might have been
better managed had the planters, recognizing it as inevitable, concurred
heartily in efforts to smoothe the passage. The emancipationists in
Parliament had at first no thought of immediate or even of speedy
abolition. They did not suppose it wise or humane. Their first efforts
merely contemplated such ameliorations of the condition of the slaves as
common decency and humanity would prompt. They brought the Imperial
Government to propose to the slaveholding colonies the enactment of laws
abolishing the flogging of females, mitigating punishments, allowing the
slaves to testify in court in cases to which whites were parties,
providing for their religious instruction, appointing guardians of their
scanty rights, giving them one week day for themselves, and restricting
arbitrary sales of slaves. Not one of the colonies would agree to a
single one of these measures. That peculiar obstinacy which slaveholding
dominion seems to engender, made them, as with us, bent on having all or
nothing. All hopes of instituting a gradual preparation for freedom
being thus defeated by the stubborn refusal of the slaveholders to
concur, speedy emancipation became a necessity. But even yet the
abolitionists had not learned that if slaves are to be set free from
their masters, the more quickly they are put out of their hands the
better. A muzzled wolf, appointed to keep sheep he would much rather
eat, would make about as amiable a custodian as masters allowed to
exercise a limited authority over bondmen whom they have hitherto always
had at their own will, and know they are about to lose altogether. I
think it is generally agreed that the few years of apprenticeship were
more plague than profit to all parties, and made the alienation between
proprietors and laborers still more complete. At the same time, as the
hours of labor were limited to eight, and Saturday was secured to the