Forty-Seven
Slavery
23
June 1824
John
told me that as a child, he witnessed slaves being offloaded from northern and
from Dutch boats, to be sold at auctions.
He told me the conditions these creatures were presented in, worse than
horses. The slaves that were left unsold
often then were left to fend for themselves, or worse, far worse. For the ship's crew could not take the slaves
anywhere else, and something needed to be done with them. Sometimes the sick and the dead slaves that
were left on the boats were dumped into the harbor, the stench being so bad
that you could choke from it on certain days.
John
told me that in his faith, Mr. Wesley had preached abolition quite strongly,
but that in England , Mr.
Wesley had not encountered slavery, nor what John saw happening in Charleston
John
said that slaves were allowed to keep the money that they earned from selling
things on Sunday, and that often, these funds came back to the church in the
form of tithes. He said that this caused
an issue at his church, because the negroes had grown in number so much that
they soon outnumbered the whites, and but that they had no say as to what their
money that was being contributed would be used for. This understandably caused tension.
He
told me that after services, the slaves were instructed in scripture, and were
taught to read as a part of the instruction, although this was surreptitious
for the most part. He said that the
legislature and governing officials could not interfere with the running of
churches on this matter, and that otherwise, it is forbidden to instruct the
slaves in reading, due to the feared dangers of insurrection.
John
said that his parents owned a few slaves, one or two inherited, and one bought
at auction as one who would have otherwise gone unsold and thus disposed of in
some way. He told me that his father
paid the slaves some money when he was able to hire their work out to others. He said that he thought their slaves were
treated fairly, for the most part, but that he was very much troubled that they
were not free. He talked of the laws
that do not permit the freeing of slaves without the ability to provide for
them after freedom, for it is thought that slaves are like children, and we do
not turn children out on the streets to fend for themselves. He said that in Alabama ,
slaves are not permitted to be freed at all, there being nowhere for them to go
as there is in Charleston
John
then looked at me, and I am not certain what expression I had on my face, for I
have frankly never really thought on these things before. Slavery is just a part of my family's way of
life; they are like family to us, or so we like to say. When I think on it, of course, they are not
like family, for they do not stay in our houses with us, and they do not eat at
the table with us, and they are not free to come and go as they wish.
And
then I remembered Susie, and what Father had told me. And I think that before John and I get more
serious, I shall have to tell him what Father has told me. I fear what will happen then. What will John think, or what will he
do? I believe him to be a fair man, and
a wise one, too. I hope that he can help
me decide what to do. But I fear that he
might not wish to be involved in these matters, and that he will turn away and
see me no more. For why should he be
involved with a family that has so many troubles, and has brought such shame
and scandal, when he can surely find someone without all of these
problems. Most of me wants to trust him,
though.
I
cannot live with this secret and become close with this man without sharing it,
and tonight, I shall.
Tension rising! I await the next installment with bated breath!
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