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 Estates; 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 usual, 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 inquire into the cause of such an assemblage as then filled
the Court Yard, below the building. In answer 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, but 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 enactment 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 greatest affability, and
concluded by exhorting them, to return quietly home, like good folks, and
resume their avocations under employers who, doubtless would treat them kindly,
and indeed the new laws ensured them good treatment; they nevertheless stood immovable,
and would not retire; the Governor then left the balcony, 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 vociferation 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 arrived 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 withdraw peaceably and without delay, or it would become his
painful duty to use compulsion; but no, the foolish people were deaf to his remonstrance
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 especial 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 earnestly exhorted them to
withdraw, but in vain, they would not - torrents of rain fell, but had
apparently no effect on those people, they remained immovable, 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 obstinacy 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 was 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 have 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 retire; 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 ariettes of,
probably, their own composition on the goodness of King William in granting
them freedom - which Colonel 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 refractory
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 quietly 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 the 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 formally perpetrated at St. Domingo were on the eve of being committed in
Trinidad”.
