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NEGRO EMANCIPATION

A DIALOGUE
BETWEEN

MR. EBENEZER EASTLOVE

GILES

HOMESPUN

LONDON
PRINTED FOR THOMAS AND GEORGE UNDERWOOD,
32,

Fir.ET STREET.

1824.

.710

LONDON
PRINTED BY
J.

MOYES, GREVILLE STREET,

NEGRO EMANCIPATION
A DIALOGUE
BETWEEN MR. EBENEZER EASTLOVE
AND

GILES HOMESPUN.

Scene

Parlour
,

in the

White Hart Inn,

shire.

at

in

Eastlove,

seated near

Table,

which

is

covered with Pamphlets, Handbills,

scripts, 8^c, Sc.

Manu-

Eastlove,

solus.

Petitions we
is

shall obtain

our method

sure

no

general meetings

handhave

bills,

placards,
the way.

and

active

emissaries;

that

is

Yet the

colonists

4
bestirred themselves

it

was

to

be ex-

pected

loss

of income they endured

patiently
left to

enough

but

hope was

still

them

good times might return,

If

and, while the capital was preserved,

their case

was not quite desperate.

we

succeed, as I trust
effort,

we
at

shall, in

our

present

there

is

once an end
a wreck of

of their property
it

scarce
then

will

remain

and

yes, then,

we have

the field to

ourselves.

Free
is

negroes will not

certain.

make

sugar

that

But Churmars, Panicars,

the

Bocadaru and Batadaru Castes, with

other Eastern labourers (for
call them slaves^
)^

we

will not

will, if

proper stimu-

* Vide "Buchanan's Travels."

Vol.
II.

Vol.

I.

p.

19.

pp. 3,370, &c. &c.

lants

be used, amply supply our markets

life.

with that necessary of

To be

sure, this doctrine of

is

compen-

sation to the colonists

obstacle.

an awkward

Barham's statement on that

point makes a deep impression.

Why
his

does not S

come forward with

pamphlet,

and ingeniously shew that

?

they can establish no such claim

Does

he suspect that

his

arguments are too

?

subtle for British plain-dealing

ever, although

How-

we may
(as,

cautiously admit

the principle

in

some

places,

we

could not get on without doing so)

its

we may
to
it

so puzzle the claim,

and tack

such conditions, as will

make

operation insignificant; and, cost what

it

may, the great work

shall

be done

Let us but generate enthusiasm enough

in the powerful
justice,

names of humanity and

and, the greater the sacrifices

the

we demand,
be made!
I

more eagerly

will they

have sent for Friend Homespun

is

he

well

disposed,

and has much

shrewdness and plain good sense

was very useful

here he comes

to us

la^

he year Oh,
to

Friend
thee
I

Giles,

am

glad

see

thy

wife and children are well,

hope?

And how

goes

it

with the

farm?

Giles Homespun.

'

Thank you

kindly, Master Eastlove

;

we

are all bravely

and farming, bad

as

it is,

has somewhat

mended

since I

saw

you.

reckon, by

all

those papers

before you, that you are here again on

the same errand as last year?

Eastlove.

Thou
and
able

art right,

Friend Homespun;

I crave

once more thy zealous and

in

support

the

furtherance

of

another petition to Parliament for the

humane purpose of

setting

free

the

wretched slaves in our colonies.

Homespun.
I believe,

Master Eastlove, that

nor further
it.

shall neither sign

Eastlove.
Friend Giles, I

am

astonished at what
thou, then.

thou hast uttered!

Hast

been

communing with

certain

slave-

holders

who dwell in thy neighbourhood?

Ho MESPUN.

No

believe

me, no;

you

mean,

perhaps, Mr. Plantain and Mr. Sugar-

cane

? They are
it,

very quiet good gen-

tlemen, and spend their money, when-

ever they get

all

like princes.

We have

of us hereabouts been the better for

at

them
don't

one time or other; but they

to

seem

busy themselves about

it

what you are doing, much as

cerns them.
I

con-

have had no talk with

this

them at
after

all

about

matter

but, soon
petition,

you carried away our

there was,

you know, a debate

upcn
it,

in the
I

House of Commons

and

have

had some discourse with Mr. Manly

and with Squire Oldcastle, our members, concerning

what then passed.

Eastlove.
Well, Giles, and what then
those liberal
?

Surely

men

did not advocate the

?

horrid slave system of our colonies

Homespun.
Master Eastlove,
to spare,
I

have half an hour

telling

and don't object to

in

you

what has passed

talked with our
listen to

my mind
;

since I
I will

members

and

what you may have

I guess

to say

on

the other side.

that your pe-

tition this year, like that last year, is not

to

pray that no more slaves

may be

carried, either

from Africa or from any

10
other parts, into our colonies
for if such

a petition as that were necessary, I'd

go

to John-o'-Groat's

house to sign

it.

Eastlove.
Giles,

thou knowest,

as well

as

do, that this country has abolished the

African Slave Trade, and I must grant

(since
it

seems to be proved) that our

colonies have

now no concern

in it;

but surely, Giles, thou wilt allow that

the

great labour
till

of humanity

is

not

complete

all

British subjects,

be

they black or white, are emancipated,

and a system of heathenish and immxorality,

aptly terms
it),

irreligion

(as

Friend Wilberforce

of unprecedented degra-

dation and unrelenting cruelty, be utterly

and

for ever abolished.

11

Homespun.
Stop a
little,

Master Eastlove, you

There are in
about

move on

at a great pace.

our colonies,

as

understand,
slaves.

800,000 of these black

Eastlove.
Alas, Friend Giles,
it is

too true

HoMESPuisr.

And

all

these have lived in slavery-

all their lives.

Eastlove.
I
^

can

quite admit that Giles

some

^'

of the oldest of them might be powerful

men

in Africa; ay, nobles

and princes.

n
Homespun.
IVe heard
that matter

talked over,

and IVe read what Mr. Manly shewed

me

about

it;

think you

may

let that

argument
nobles, (if

rest;
it

African
to

princes and

be true that any of that sort

have been carried

our colonies,) have

compassion.

no great hold on

my

Eastlove.

But

this,

Giles, thou wilt not deny,

that slaves although they be,

and

slaves

although they

may have been

themselves,

born, they

have

not

sold

and

they

could not

sell their

offspring to slavery;

have

they not

then

a right to

their

freedom ?

15

Homespun.
Master Eastlove,
I don't

deny

their

natural right to freedom.

Eastlove.
Then, Friend Giles, there
the question
I
;

is

an end of

for the petition, to

which

ask thy support, only prays that Parliawill

ment
these
right.

do what

is just,

and give to
is

wretched

beings

what

their

Homespun.
IVe somewhat
right
to say
all

about what

is

and just
;

to

parties,

Master

Eastlove

but

may be

youll think

me

strange fellow

if I can't

allow that, be-

cause the slaves have that natural right

14

which you speak

of, it

would, therefore,

be either wise, or
parliament should
in possession of
it.

just, or
all at

humane, that

once put them

Eastlove.
Giles, Giles, thy honest

mind has been

perverted

thou knowest that

we do not

pray for immediate emancipation;

ask that the thing

we

may be done

discreetly^

but

that, at all events, it

may be

done.

Homespun.
Master Eastlove,
close
tell

you'll

beat
;

me
let

at

argument
that

am

sure

but

me
that

you

you are now admitting

a government

may be

justified in with-

holding, in some cases, from a

man

that

which

is his

natural right.

15

Eastlove.
Yes; but with the
delivering
it

fixed purpose of

to him, as

soon as

it

can

possibly be done, without material injury

to himself.

Homespun.

No

matter

still it is

admitted by you

that the delivery of their

freedom to the
to
is

negroes, their

natural right

which
not to

you acknowledge
depend upon

in the outset,

their

own

discretion, but

upon
and

the will and discretion of others

I don't

ask you for any other ground

than this for

ceedings.

my

objections to your pro-

Eastlove.
Explain
thyself, I

pray thee.

16

Homespun.
I understand,

from our members, that

one of the King's Ministers, in the House

of

Commons*, admitted

all
all

you can ask

men, black
a pledge

regarding the rights of

and white,
to the

to

be

free.
it

He gave

House

that

should be the anxious

care of Ministers to urge the West Indian

governments to such measures as would

best contribute to the present comfort

of the negroes, and also to their religious

and moral
to
fit

instruction, so as gradually
for the
full

them
;

enjoyment of
that in con-

freedom

and he declared

ceding freedom to the slaves, the rights

* See speech of the Right Honourable George

Canning, on the 15th of May, 1823.

IT of property should be considered and

respected.

Now it

seems to me. Master

Eastlove, that this was getting as

much

by our

petitions as

we had any
a
little

right to

expect; and that

it is

unreason-

able to be again so soon wishing to hurry

on measures, which, you yourself have

just granted,

must be done with great

to be

discretion

and caution

done welL

Eastlove.
Giles,

thou

hast

touched the sore

legislatures
!

place: those

West Indian
will

have done nothing,

do nothing

Homespun.

Why

that's
all

what you said

last year,

and what

your printed books say;

but I have been reading something on

18

the other side*;

asserted,

and there

I find facts

upon good

authority,

which

prove quite the contrary,

deal has been done and

is

that a great doing, that

negroes are well clothed and fed, nursed

when
and

sick,

and supported when old

and kindly used and

helpless, ay,

instructed,

besides,
if you'll

now

that Parlia-

ment has spoken

expect that,

so plainly, one

may

give those peppery

little

gentlemen in the West Indies a

time to cool, they will follow up what

they have done already with

new

spirit

and

activity.

Til tell

you

fairly, Masteir

Eastlove,

I'm inclined
the matter,
at

to

meddle no
for the

more

in

least

present.

* See List of Pamphlets appended to this Tract.

19

Eastlove.
Art thou then so hardened as to look
patiently

on and

suffer thy

poor black

fellow subjects to be driven like brute

beasts,

by the scourge of the

?

cart whip,

to hard labour

Canst thou endure that

the oppressive, cruel, and immoral acts,

of which our books shew thee numerous

instances, shall continue to be practised

with impunity?
are those
few^

Oh, Giles, Giles where

!

humane

feelings

which only a

months ago animated thy exertions

?

in our cause

Homespun.
Master Eastlove,
I

I feel

as

I did

have just the same horror of cruelty

detestation of slavery,

and

the

evil is

20
great

enough, though not,

as

now

think, quite so great as

you have repre-

sented

it.

I find that

you have picked

the horrid tales,

out and put together

all

whether old or new, that suited your

purpose
still
;

but were the case ever so bad,

to cure
it

we must not aim

only

it

by doing

wliat will

make

worse.

One
was

would wish,

to be sure, that there

no flogging either of negroes, or

or soldiers
;

sailors,

but

we

agree that the neall at

groes are not to be

made free

once

and immediately, and I'm afraid they

cannot be managed well, even as respects themselves, so long as they con-

tinue slaves, without corporal punish-

ment.

But

tell

me, however, honestly,

I hear,

there are
400,000

in

Jamaica,
black,

almost

people,

brown,

and

21
whi+e, and nine-tenths of them, or there-

abouts, are slaves,

in

do you think

that,

any year you can name, there are

in that

more horrid crimes committed

island than in

many

portions of Great

Britain and Ireland, containing just the

same number of inhabitants ?

our newspapers,
little

You read

dare say, and mind a

what

is

passing both here and in

Ireland.

Eastlove.
Friend Giles, thou forgettest that in

Jamaica nine-tenths of the population

are,

as

thou hast just admitted, sub-

jected to the oppressive power of the

slave-master

almost without protection

to
slave, are

from law, since laws, which profess

protect
the

not

executed.

22
Here, and in Ireland too, horrid acts
occasionally occur; but
ference,

mark

the dif-

they are prosecuted and pu-

nished.

Homespun.

Why,

in

my
is

thinking,

the

use

of

punishment
if it

to prevent crimes;

and
this

be found out that here, in

all

country, with

our laws and tribunals,

we

are growing worse and worse,

and

that in the
it

West Indies they

steps,

are,

though

be but by slow
better, I

becoming better

and

can't but conclude that

we might
home
that

find

other

matters

nearer
after

deserve

our looking
is

quite as well as

what

passing in the

Colonies.
in

But

there's another objection

my mind

to our further

meddling at

23
present
ring
there's danger, I think, of stir-

up

the negroes to risings

and rebel-

lions,

which can only end

in the destruc-

tion both of

them and of their masters.

Eastlove.

Friend Giles, I thought thee too wise

to

be caught in that snare.

Did we

not predict that these terrors would be

artfully excited,

and

that plots

would

be got up for the purpose?*

Homespun.
For one that
is

going about on an
is

errand of charity,
consistent,

that charge quite

Master Eastlove ?

Do people

* " Report of Debate on Buxton's Motion."

See Note
x.

page 227.

.24

get up plots,

which are

to destroy their

own property and endanger

lives
?

their

own

Eastlove.
Insurrections,
Giles,

must and
is

will

occur, where
that rules.
sults

oppression

the

spirit

They

are the inevitable re-

of that detestable system.

Homespun.
Ay, are they
so
?

These

late risings,

then, in Barbadoes

and Demarara, have

been caused, as you think, by oppression

and cruelty

to the slaves

Eastlove.
Perhaps not; but

25

Homespun.
.

Pardon me. Master Eastlove

hear what
it

is

want

to

just know you

see they can rise if they have a sufficient

motive

Eastlove.
Doubtless
sufferers
;

but, alas

poor deluded

Homespun.
Now, why,
if

the oppression

on them

be so severe and so constant as you

say
it is,

have they not been rising here

in

and there

some parts of the West

?

Indies from that cause only

find that they

cannot
let
is

have done so
told

but

them only be
going on at
their masters,

that
that
is

something
to

home

overrule
in

and up they are

ancither.

arms

in

one colony or

26

Eastlove.
Oppression, Giles
oppression,
stupifies

long
the

continued
ex-

man and

tinguishes hope; but let a ray of hope

break

in

upon the gloom

in

which

these wretched beings are plunged,

and

they are suddenly animated to exertions

for the recovery of their rights.

Homespun.
But you have admitted
that they are

not themselves able to judge at what

time,

and by what degrees,

their rights

ought to be put into their possession.

You

profess, in

many

of your writings,

that sudden tion

and unprepared emancipatheir destruction.

would be

How

then can you, Master Eastlove, reconcile

r
t

it

with true humanity, to be holding

'

'

^-m

such hopes nnd rays of

light, as

you

call

them, which have been

found to be the surest means of rousing

them

into rebellion^

and
it

to

end in

their

destruction?
let

Would

not be better to

instruction

go on,

and that

thej^

should, step by step, advance in their

fitness

for liberty?
is

Such, I must
and,
as
is

tell

you,

my

opinion;

feel

satisfied

that the

good work

going

on, I will have nothing to do with your

petitions this year.

Eastlove.
I

have done with thee, Giles.

I will

strike thy

name

out of our Society.

Homespun.
With
all

my

heart,

do

so.

have
if

understood, Master Eastlove, that

the

28
worst come to the worst with the West
Indies, you

may

find

some consolation

in other quarters as
I

and other concerns

for me^ I have

no such prospects.
will

hope the Colonies

be saved from

ruin

know many

places and persons

it

that will grievously suffer if so

be not

and

as

it is

plain enough that the

Colonists have Acts

their side for all they

of Parliament on

have done, I

feel

certain, that, if

we

injure their property,

for
it

we must indemnify them

and
our

God
that

forbid that

we
at

should be doing

which

will

once

add

to

taxes,

and take away from our means

of paying them

lEdt Homespun.

THE END.