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Compulsory manumission : $b or, An examination of the actual state of the West India questionMcDonnell, Alexander

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Compulsory manumission : $b or, An examination of the actual state of the West India question

Name: Compulsory manumission : $b or, An examination of the actual state of the West India question
Author: McDonnell, Alexander

McDonnell, Alexander

Enslaved persons -- Emancipation -- West Indies, British; Slavery -- West Indies, British

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  TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

  Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.
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                       COMPULSORY MANUMISSION.

                       COMPULSORY MANUMISSION;

                                  OR

                            AN EXAMINATION

                                  OF

                           THE ACTUAL STATE

                                OF THE

                         WEST INDIA QUESTION.

                                  BY
                      ALEXANDER M‘DONNELL, ESQ.

                               LONDON:
                    JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET.

                             MDCCCXXVII.

                               LONDON:
                      PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES,
                           Stamford-Street.

                           ADVERTISEMENT.

It is fearful odds against a writer, when, at each stage of his task,
he is liable to encounter prejudice as an upholder of a condition of
society so repugnant to the feelings of Englishmen as that of slavery.

Greatly must those odds be increased, if a disposition be shown by
Government, hitherto believed impartial, to array the weight of its
authority against him.

But it is hoped that prejudice will not preclude inquiry. In the
following pages it will be found, that in setting forth the actual
state of the West India Question, the real and permanent welfare of
the slaves occupies a conspicuous place.

In regard to the display of power, let us conclude, that when a
measure can be demonstrated as positively bad, such disapprobation
will be manifested by the independent and disinterested members
of the legislature, as must exercise a salutary control over the
counsels of ministers.

Under this impression, the following pages are respectfully submitted
to the consideration of the members of both Houses of Parliament.

                              CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER I.

                                                                  PAGE

  _West India Party disingenuously treated_                          1

  CHAPTER II.

  _Compulsory Manumission contrary to the Spirit of the
      Resolutions of Parliament_                                    12

  CHAPTER III.

  _Infringement of the Right of Property_                           22

      _Sect._ 1.—The Conversion of good Servants into bad           22

      _Sect._ 2.—Loss arising, if a number of effective Hands
            be taken from the Plantation                            35

      _Sect._ 3.—Plantations burdened with Expenses, while
            the gross Returns are diminished                        44

      _Sect._ 4.—Contrary to the Law of Mortgage                    47

  CHAPTER IV.

  _Injury to the Well-being of the Slaves_                          51

      _Sect._ 1.—Counteracts the Incentives to Civilization         51

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Compulsory manumission : $b or, An examination of the actual state of the West India question

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