Year: 1859

The twenty-ffth anniversary of the abolition of
slavery in the British Colonies was celebrated on
the Sd of August, by public meeting at the
Music Hall, Bedford square, in London, over
which Lord Brougham presided.


The attendance was large and respectable and
upon the platform, in addition to the venerable
President, were many distinguished friends Of ne
gro freedom.


Lord Brougham, in opening the proceedings, af-
ter briefly acknowledging the enthusiastic recep-
ton which greeted him upon taking the chair,
said 1t naturally gives great satisfaction that
we have lived to see accomplished this great meas
ure of slavery abolition, than which there was
none il the whole history Of our career at all su
perior in Importance or in virtue, or in what may
be expected to be its beneficial consequence, and
that we have now, by the goodness Of PrGsidence,
been spared to witness the twenty fifth anniversa-
ly Of that great event, quarter Of q century to-
day having elapsed since the shackles of the slave
we're finally struck off.


Lord Brogbam then alluded to Spain and the
United States as nations who had failed to follow
the example of Great Britain. or the United
States he said


81 grieve to say that orr brethren, our kinsfolk
ia America furnish another exception to ex-
ample but Of that would speak tendery from
recolect;ng that America has acted admirably in
many respects, and even abolished the slave trade
year before we ourselves did. Even in Geor
gia which is as devoted to the'iusttution as they
are pleased to call it. as any Of the southern
states it was our fault, and not theirs, that they
ever had slavery, for we pressed it upon them,
and they refused it. They protested against it,
bu. we defeated them and it is cur fault that
that institution prevails in those states."


After glowing tribute to Wi!ber(orce, Clark
son, Joseph Surge, James Stephen Macnulay,
Henry Thornton, who, with himself, lGbored for
the cause of emancipation, and brief recital Of
the struggle for abolition, Lord Broug6am thus re-
ferred 20 the practical results of freedom


Now that emancipation has put the negro
the same footing as the white in point of rights
and privileges, it is Gt that we should for 4 mo-
ment stop to consider what his behavior has been
under the change; and nothing can be moro sat
isfaotory than all accounts Of the conduct of The
slaves. 1t was expected by some that on the lst
Of August, 1884, there would be an outbreak, and
that the sudden liberation Of persons who had so
long been confined ard under the influence Of op-
pi ession would occasion conduct that was not con-
ss,ent with the public peace Mover was any ap-
prehension more completely lalsifed by the result
Hear, hear. On that day there was all the
West Indies. venture to say, among the $4,000
negroes whom we had liberated, the most perfect
peace uninterrupted by riot or debauchery. In
that country where nature provokes the passions
and where the stimulus of intemperance is dealt
out with a profuse hand, there was no instance to
be found in all the Caribbean Sea, Of inoxication
or of riot from intoxication. On she contrary, the
churches and chapes filed. SUGGESTIONS of
congregations. one after another. frequented them
in order to testify their gratitude to God for the
great boon which Providence had bestowed on
them Cheers. Those people. as pious the
nature of man will allow, spent that day in pety
and devotion, and not the slightest breach Of the
peace or act of intemperance perceived Then
it was said They will not work. The result has
proved the contrary. They are not at all indispos
ed to work Give them wages aud they will work
No d, ubt they will prefer cultivatiug their own
yang gardens if you do not give them adequate
wages but, when they have adequate wages
they will work as well as can be desired, not on
ly at cotton and indigo, but at sugar also. 1t was
said at the time that the supply of sugar would
greatly fall off but we have positive proof from
the most undoubted authority that where they are
well treated and proper wages are given, the sup
ply OF sugar in the district is not diminished by
emancipation. Indeed, it was stated by the Mar
quis of Sligo some years ago in the House Of
Lords that there was district in his govern
ment, he having been Governor of Jamaica, in
which twofold greater produce ofsugar had been
made by free negroes than by slaves in former
times. That, l admit appears to have been pc
culiar case, and therefore do not mention it as
an average; /; but general rule say that there
he's been no diminution in the growth of sugar,
and no want of men to work at proper wages.
Hear hear This subject has lately been made
matter of controversy, and an inquiry is now
going on from which l hope truth will be obtain
ed, and from which we shall see whether there
are not exceptions-as don't doubt there mag
be-to that rule. For instance, ! am told that
Barbados stands in different position from ia
maica in that respect, and that Barbadoes is
Furnishing all the respectable testimony which
we have from Barbadnes is to the effect that there
is no want Of sugar, and that its growth has in
creased instead of falling off. The former slave
stands now IN uinerehl posi'ion WIN resPecl 'o
the community, in consequence of the change that
has taken place from that which he occupied be-
fore. He has the same Interest now as his mas
ter. 1t becomes his interests that the master
should profit for his wages are to be paid out of
gains of his master. The profits of she planter
are the fund out of which his wages must be paid;
subsequently, they have common interest, and
he ought TO rejoice in everything that tends reas-
onaby and without abuse to the profit OF the
planter. Hear, hear.l That many planters have
suffered, that many will continue tc suffer. is un-
deniable; and those particularly viii suffer whose