The people had all fulfilled the required
conditions ere the ten years expired; and a good round sum for extra
earnings was found in the bank. The Rosebrooks kept faith with their
slaves; and the happy result is, that Rosebrook, in addition to the
moral security he has founded for the good of his people-and which
security is a boon of protection between master and slave-has been
doubly repaid by the difference in amount of product, the result of
encouragement incited by his enlightened system. The family were
bound in affection to their slaves; and the compact has given forth
its peaceful products for a good end. Each slave being paid for his
or her labour, there is no decline of energy, no disaffection, no
clashing of interests, no petulant disobedience. Rosebrook finds his
system the much better of the two. It has relieved him of a deal of
care; he gets more work for less money; he laughs at his neighbours,
who fail to raise as much cotton with double the number of negroes;
and he knows that his negroes love instead of fear him. And yet,
notwithstanding the proof he has produced, the whole district of
planters look upon him with suspicion, consider him rather a
dangerous innovator, and say, that while his foolish system cannot
be other than precarious to the welfare of the state, time will
prove it a monster fallacy.
A happy moment was it when the time rolled round, and the morning of
the day upon which Rosebrook would proclaim the freedom of his
people broke serenely forth.
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