Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-04

ton with West India Emancipation. On
first Of August, 1884, the British West In
dia Emancipation Act went into force, and
ever since, it has Been the custom of a por-
ton Of the people, and especially the free
cOlOredpeOple, to mark the first of August
in each year with some kind of festive OBJ
serVance.
Many of the older citizens will remem-
Der the discussions and speculatiOns Ofthat
day, and the intense interest which was
excited in behalf of the experiment. The
ides prevailed that the slaves were not
prepared for freedom, and for this reason
preparatory system of apprenticeship
was devised, but in all instances, by actual
experiment, it was found that full emanci-
patton was not only safe, but in all re-
speOts preferable to any intermediate
state. So thoroughly did many of the
planters become convinced Of this, upon
experiment. that they readily threw up
the apprenticeship system, preferring to
accept full emancipation at once. The ap-
premiership system was only another
name for slavery.
And so it will be found in this country,
that no scheme Of gradual emancipation
will work we'll. Gradual emancipation
will be but prOlongatiOn of a curse and
crime, and of course will be unblessed.
The plan of gradual emancipation adopted
by the Missouri Convention, produces in
tense dissatisfaction, and can never be
made to work satisfactorily.
The theorists, anti-slavery in sentiment,
who anticipate, upon the close of our civil
war, the OutcrOpping of a system of grad
ual emancipation, had better take counsel
from experience, and the teachings Of his
tory, and seusrely and fairly come up to
the only proper and safe course, because
the only just one, that of full, immediate,
instant emancipation,
The Presidents proclamation of
emancipation embodies the true principle,
and to argue the possible, or desirable re-
cession from the ground therein taken is to
argue in favor of interminable cOmplica-
tiOns and disorders, till affections, like
Egyptian plaques, in grim succession,
shall extOrt, at last, the consent tO. let the
oppressed &c free.
The dire consequences predicted as sure
to ensae, if the slaves are at once turned
loose,7 are all imaginary. Such predic-
tions were rife during the discussions on
West India maneipatiOn, but the facts ex-
plOded them, as false prophecies.
In 1886 Thome and Kendall visited the
West India Islands, to investigate the
workings Of emancipation. Their inves-
legations were confined principally to the
islands Of Antigua, Barbados and Jamai-
ca. In the last two the apprenticeship
system was in vogue, but in Antigua, i'm
mediate and full emancipation had been
proclaimed. The testimony Of eseintelli-
gent, and candid observers at that time,
and all subsequent experience, establishes
the fact of the safety and better policy of
immediate emancipation.
The planters affirmed that the abolition
Of slavery put an end to all danger from
insurreOtiOn, rebellion, privy conspiracy
and sedition on the part of the slaves )
prejudice against color diminished, and
the blacks took the position of a working
psssantry for compensated labor, kindly,
quietly, and without the manifestation of
the least spirit of revenge, or i'll will
against their former masters.
The following thrilling cketcb, taken
from the narrative Of Thome and Kendall,
portraying the manner in which the slaves
on the Island of Antigua received the
boon of freedom, may not be new to every
one, yet it viii be to many, and will be
read with interest by ALL
This brief extract presents q historical
example, and embodies a philosophical
fact, worthy of the grave consideration of
all, and especially of those set in author
ity, and who, in the circumstances Of this
great civil war, are charged with the i'm
mense responsibility Of emancipating, as
an urgent and imperative military ne
cessity, the millions of slaves in rebel
States.
The event of emancipation in Antigua
passed peaceably. The following is the
record;
The First of August, 1884, is univer-
sally regarded in Antigua, as having pre-
sented q most imposing and sublime moral
spectacle. 1t is almost impossible to be in
the company Of q missionary, planter, or
an emanoipsted negroe, for ten minutes,
without hearing some allusion to that oo-
casion. Even at the time of our visit to
Antigua, after the lapse of nearly three
years they spoke Of the event with an ad-
miration apparently unsbated.
"For some time previous to the first of
August, forebodings Of disaster lowered
over the island. The day was fixed
Thirty thousand degraded human beings
were to be brought forth from the dungeon
of slavery and turned loose on the COM
munity n and this was to be done ain a
moment in the twinkling of an eye"
"Gloomy apprehensions were entertain
ed by many of the planters. Some timor-
GUS families did not 60 to bed On the nigh
of the 3lst Of July; fear drove sleep from
their eyes, and they awaited with futter-
ing pulse the hour Of midnight, fearing
lest the same bell which sounded the jubi-
lee of the slaves might toll the death knen
Of the masters.
1.-THE more intelligent, who understood
the disposition Of the neg oes, contemplated
the natural tendencies of emancipation,
through philosophical principles, and in
the light of human nature and history,