Admission to the society was to be strictly individual, except in case
of children under fourteen years of age, who might be admitted with one
or both parents, reared and educated until twenty years of age, and
emancipated at twenty-one. The society planned to buy slaves from those
people who wished to emancipate their slaves but who felt that they
could not sustain such expense. The society did not buy old men, women,
and children; but would take them and support them. In 1827, Miss Wright
presented the society with eight slaves and the work of a family of
females.[31]
The economics of the scheme were typical of the communistic philosophers
of the period. The slaves were charged with the capital invested on which
they were expected to pay six per cent interest; the farm equipment,
consisting of farming implements and live stock, was loaned them on the
condition that they constantly replace the same from their earnings.
One-half of the produce of the plantation was placed to their credit, and
purchased by the society at the market price. They shared equally with
the society the proceeds derived from the sale of all live stock raised
on the plantation. By a system of weekly accounts of income and expenses,
they knew their financial status at the end of each week. As soon as any
slave had a credit equal to what the society had paid for him, he was
emancipated. If he wanted to leave the state for Hayti or Liberia, he was
given the privilege of remaining in the society until he had sufficient
means to pay his transportation to one of these colonies.[32]
The character of the management of this society is very interesting.
The slaves were not put under an overseer and lashed to work, but were
directed in their work as if they were free laborers. The idea was to
make men and women who would voluntarily develop habitual industry under
advice and encouragement, rather than to exact labor from them by a
decree of force. They were to be fitted for a state of freedom by being
developed into self-governing men and women, and responsibility was
substituted for discipline just as rapidly as self-initiative could be
developed.
The negroes were fed, clothed, and housed. Those who showed any interest
in acquiring information were taught. A constant aim of the organization
was to improve their habits and conduct. The organization’s chief
purpose was to develop humanity, rather than to net the society any
pecuniary gain.[33] The society was not a success because of Miss
Wright’s absence in Europe and the impracticability of the plan. The
trustees resigned in 1831. Miss Wright emancipated the slaves and sent
them to Hayti. The trustees redeeded the plantation to Miss Wright in
1832. The estate became involved in court and some minor points remained
in controversy as late as 1886.[34]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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