An Eyewitness’ Account of
Emancipation Day
1st August, 1834
given by Lieutenant Colonel
Capadose, a British Army Official, while stationed in Trinidad.
Published by Capadose in 1845
in the book ‘Sixteen Years in the West Indies’
“I was present, with the late
Colonel Hardy, at the Government House (or Office) at Port of Spain, Trinidad,
on the memorable 1st August, 1834, when, as the first step to freedom, the
quondam slaves of all British Dominions, were denominated apprentices - the
Governor and Council were all assembled to listen to a representation, or
rather an interrogatory, of a number of negroes, regarding their supposed,
unlimited, emancipation - these people appeared to be a deputation from a few
French Eststes; and were for the most part very old men, old women, and
children, the only young man among them was their spokesman, who was probably
selected, because he spoke the French language well - it was he who addressed
the Governor, with the question, whether the King had not granted them (that is
all slaves) unqualified liberty, from that date? That they understood so, and
yet their managers and overseers insisted on their working, as ususal, that
Morning on the estates.
I must here explain that French
gentlemen, managers and overseers, accompanied these negroes to the Government
House, H.E., the Governor, Sir George Hill, followed by the Members of Council,
the Judges and other official Gentlemen, had repaired to the balcony of the
Council chamber to enquire into the cause of such an assmblage as then filled
the Court Yard, below the building. In anwer to the above question, be mildly
observed that His Majesty had indeed been most graciously pleased to grant them
Freedom, that they were consequently no longer slaves, bu free British subjects
from that day forth - yet, His Majesty had decreed that they were still to
reside on the estate and serve, under certain enactments for their benefit, as
before; in capacity of apprentices during six years, after which they would, in
1840, be free to go wherever they pleased - scarcely had His Excellency
pronounced “Six years,” than the negroes, old women and men, vociferated “pas
de six ans, point de six ans” (not six years, no six years) - hardly would they
allow His Excellency to be heard in conclusion, so loud did they repeat “pas de
six ans.” etc.
The Governor however continued
speaking to them, in their own language, with the greates affability, and
concluded by exhorting them, to return quitly home, like good foks, and resume
their avocations under employers who, doubtless would treta them kindly, and
indeed the new laws ensured them good tetamnet; they nevertheless stood
immoveable, and would not retire; the Governor then left the baalcony, and lest
he might not have been properly understood by the multitude below, he directed
one of the Secretaries, or Government Officers, present, to take his place, and
explain more fully what he had said, which was done, but with no better
success, the same vociferations being repeated at the words “six years” “pas de
six ans!” etc.
At this time two gentlemen
entered the council chamber, military officers, Captain Hay, and Captain
Mackenzie, just arrivced from England, on appointment, as Special Magistrates,
to see the act for the apprenticeship carried into effect. One of these
magistrates was accordingly directed by His Excellency to replace the previous
speaker, at the balcony, and explain to the infatuated people below, their
error; which the magistrate did in the most clear and intelligible manner;
read, and explained to them, the printed act, that he held in his hand;
exhorted them to wirhdraw peaceably and without delay, or it would become his
painful duty to use compultsion; but no, the foolish people were deaf to his
remonstrances and ever and anon vociferated “Pas de six ans, nous ne voulons
pas de six ans, nous sommes libres, le Roi nous a donné la liberte!” “No six
years, we do not want six years, we are free, the King has given us liberty!”
at different pauses, or cessation of noise, the young spokesman represented in
good French, and with eloquent and respectful tone, that they had toiled all
their lives, had enriched their masters by the sweat of their brow, that the
King was surely too good to exact of them six years more of servitude, that
their masters might take advantage, so as to work them, during that period, to
death, or so immoderately, that they could not live long after service - at
this, the magistrate assured them that he and his colleagues would take
expecial care to prevent such abuse, that the act provided for so many hours
moderate labour per day, and such and such allowance of food etc., and that it
would be impossible for anyone to ill-treat them - again he most earneslty
exhorted them to withdraw, but in vain, they would not - torrents of rain fell,
but had apparently no effect on those people, they remained immoveable,
vociferating “Pas de six ans” etc. - the Members of Council, and some other
gentlemen present, then lost all patience, and forcibly advised the Governor to
declare Martial Law - the Militia was under arms in various parts of the town,
and artillery drawn out at different points, an insurrection being apprehended,
though no symptom of it appeared beyond the pobsinancy of foolish old people in
the government courtyard, headed by a single young man, and none of them had
even a stick in their hands - nevertheless gentlemen (civilians) about the
Governor, were vehement in their demands for Martial Law - His Excellency
appeared perplexed, and at length requested the opinion of Colonel Hardy, who
had till then remained a tranquil spectator but on being asked whether he
deemed it advisable to declare Martial Law, he replied, decidedly not.
“Martial Law!” exclaimed he,
“against whom? - I see only old men, women, and children, poor ignorant people,
who come to ask a question, and know no better -” or words to that effect. The
chief Judge, and to the best of my recollection, the Attorney General, also,
coincided in opinion with the Colonel, that there wa necessity for Martial Law,
that the police could disperse the obstinate people.
It is to be remarked, that had
Martial Law been proclaimed, Colonel Hardy would have been invested with the
chief command, would have commanded the Militia, together with the regular
force throughout the colony, whilst the Governor’s authority, in a great
measure, if not entirely, would have been suspended - yet it was generally
believed that had the Colonel advised it, Martial Law would certainly habe been
declared in Trinidad. Towards the close of the evening, that is about sunset,
the police were called in to act, and by persuasion more than force, caused the
obstinate apprentices to ritre; soon after which, Colonel Hardy took me with
him, in his gig, to St. James Barracks, on our way we saw bodies of militia,
cannon planted at the entry of the streets, with militia artillery-men and
lighted matches, as if prepared for a fierce encounter; and as the gig rolled
on, a number of girls danced about in the streets, singing French arriettes of,
probably, their own composition on the goodness of King William in ganting them
freedom - whcih Colonal Hardy observed “looked mightily like insurrection.”
The two or three succeeding days
more negroes flocked to town and would not return to their masters, so that the
magistrates were compelled to exert the power vested in them, and make some
examples by having corporal punishment inflicted on a few of the strong and
regractory men, which had the desired effect, and the apprentices returned to
the Estates and re-commenced work.
At Naparima the apprentices on
some Estates were still more refractory, and several examples were made, which
restored order, and all proceeded quitely afterwards.
For about a week to ten days
after Aug. 1st, 1834, the inhabitants (many of them) were very apprehensive of
insurrection and revolt; the French were the most alarmed. A lady, who had been
driven from St. Domingo at the early part of teh French Revolution, told me
that the troubles in that Island, commenced by deputations of old persons
coming forward in the first instance; and, that consequently, when she heard of
the assemblage before the Government House, she dreaded lest similar horrors to
those formely perpetrated at St. Domingo were on the eve of being committed in
Trinidad.”
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