Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-05-30
in thc British West hn-
dics--No. 1.
BY JOHN S. c. .ABBoTT.

poetry of eloqnence, than the narrative,
Il by Thome and Kim ball, ofthe manner
in which the slaves of Antigua receiv-
ed their freedom. The Parliament OIL
Great Britain, after long and afduous
conflict, had passed the act Of Emanci-
patton. The last night of July, 1884,
had arrived, aud as the sun went down
behind the waves Of the Caribbean
sea, there were eight hundred thous-
and slaves, in the British West Indies,
and before that sun should again gid
the Eastern horizon. tic claims Of their
long bondage were to be sundered for
ever.
AS the evening proceeding their lib
Grafton cast its twilight over the island,
the slaves were seen dressed in their
best attire, fastening along the various
footpaths of the plantations. through
the valleys, and over the hills, to their
places of worship, there to keep their
night watch---to offer their evening
sacrifice, and their morning prisons.
I"The spacious chapal Of st. John"
says Thomc and Kimball, was soon fill
led with candidates for liberty. AL!
was animation and eagerness. A
mighty chorus of voices swelled the
song of expectation and joy. And as
they united in prayer, the voice of the
leader was drowned IN the universal
acclamations Of thanksgiving and praise
and blessing and honor and glory to
God, who had come down for their de-
liverance. In such exercises the eve
ming was spent, until the hour of twelve
approached. The minister then pro-
: posed that when the clock on the ca
thedral should begin to strike, the
, whole congregation should fall upon
: their knees and receive the boon Of
freedom in silence. Accordingly as
the loud bell tolcd its first note, the
immense assembly fell PROSTATE on
their knees. All was silence, save the
quivering, half-stihed breath of the
struggling spirit. The slow notes o.
the clock fell upon the multitude. Peal
on peal, peal on peal, rolled over The
PROSTATE throug, in tones of angel vol
ces, thrilling among the desolatec chords
and weary heartstrings. Scarcely had
: the clock sounded its last note, when
the lightning flashed wildly around,
and loud peal of thunder roarcd along
the sky-God's pillar Of fire and trump
of Jubilee. A moment Of profoundest
silence passing-then cSme the burst!
They broke forth in prayer. They
shouted. They sang Glory! Halle
lujah! They clapped their hands, and
leaped up, fell down, clasped each
other in their free arms, cried, laughed.
and went to and fro, tossing upward
rslsAilaafattered hands hut high above
the whole there was mighty sound,
which ever and anon swelIcd up. 1t
was the utterngs, in broken Negro dia-
lect, of gratitude to God.
/ After this gush Of excitement had
spent Itself, and the congregation be-
came calm, the religious exercises were
resumed and the remainder of the night
was occupied in singing andin prayer,
in reading the Bible and 10 addresses
from the missionaries, explaining the
nature Of the freedom just received,
exhorting the free people 10 be indus
Itrious, steady, and obedicnt to the laws,
and TO show themselves in all things
worthy of the high boon which God
had conferred upon them. Such was
the affeetionate and religious gratitude
which the gift Of freedom awakened in
the Negro breast.
The succeeding day, the first day of
their emancipation, was passed as sa-
cred jubilee. There were 10 intern
perate carousals; there were no riotous
mobs sweeping through The city, spread
ing terror and devastation through
the country, but the rejoicing free
men assembled in their churches,
with their pastors, who, with martyr
zeal, had suffered and toiIcd for them, |
and offered TO God the incense Of their
Thankful. hearts.
In the excitement OF this vast change,
when the slaves, though ignorant,
though degraded, were casting of the
Iintolerable burden Of ages Of oppres-
sion, and exuIting in their untried lib
erty, it is not known that SINCE drop
of blood was shed, that single blow
was struck, or that a single outrage
) as committed. All remembrance OF
past wrongs appeared to be forever OBJ
liberated, and joy and gratitude were
the only emotions winch were cherish
ed in the hearts Of the emancipated.
History" says Dr. Charming, soon
~.,crJ ,,,oro to,,chin0 than