Chapter 100: Chapter 100
Chapter 98: The notice
"Mrs Brown?" Austin called her. She was quick to squeeze his cheeks and give him kisses on both cheeks. She'd always see him as a child even though he now towered over her.
"I've been meaning to have a word with you."
"Out with it then?" She continued to wipe the kitchen countertops.
"I'm sorry you had to constantly deal with me. I've come to realize, I was such a huge burden on you and my parents. It's never easy setting upright a rebellious child." Austin muttered ashamed. He could not count the many times, his parents were not aware of his location. For months or even years at a time. The trail of debts he sent their way. Austin loved the west. He loved the ignorance within America.
The transatlantic slave trade was abolished first with an act of Congress on March 2, 1807, followed with a British act of Parliament on March 25. This abolishment outlawed the international slave trade, but not slavery itself. In England, the abolishment of the transatlantic slave trade only pushed for saturation media coverage, academic conferences, a proliferation of propaganda asking for the end of slavery within, some of them government sponsored.
But in America ... silence.
America was the destination of ignorance. From 1807 till present day of 1833, now at the brink of the end of slavery. As protests took place in England with many asking mostly Christians fighting for the liberation of these people. Seeking equality and peace, something that would never occur not even in the 21st century. America stood in silence as the protests in England happened over the years. Austin often got sick of it all as his occupation was after all to do with the law. He enjoyed traveling to America where there was peace and quiet only for the moneyed whites. They did not care for the end of slavery even worse that they pretended to not hear of the protests in England. Some rendered them idiotic and not being able to control their people and animals; animals being the slaves.
It was as if, Britain had created the great America and now when everything had hit the fence; they could not control the monster and money hungry habitat they had created. America was built on blood, slavery and greed. It was only then the British realized they'd never be able to control America, it had grown to be powerful and ignorant to everything under the face of the earth. Regardless of their aims with royalty as well to end slavery, America was not hearing it; would never hear it. These little attributes contributed to the 21st century problems, where interracial couples in the UK are seen as a norm but in the US people still turn their heads as if it's 1833 once again. No one can ever claim that there is no racism in any place but one thing anyone can be certain of is certainly the UK seems more open to acceptance and treating black people rightfully as opposed to the US. This isn't a barrier that was created yesterday but a barrier that has been there from days of abolishment of the transatlantic slave trades.
Moving on from 1807 and 1823, abolitionists showed little interest in abolishing slavery itself. They had to present economic data in Capitalism and Slavery to show that the slave trade itself generated only small profits compared to the much more lucrative sugar plantations of the Caribbean, and therefore slavery continued to thrive on those estates. It was always keynote 'that slavery did not end because of sudden human sympathy or conscience but rather only because it did not make as much profit as it had in the beginning'. By the year 1823 the British Caribbean sugar industry went into terminal decline, and the British parliament no longer felt they needed to protect the economic interests of the West Indian sugar planters. People in power always shared great interests in what made them profits not human life. Merrigold had been born at the start of protests of slavery right till the almost near end. Her life and those of her people would only be valued depending on how much profit they could bring in, not anything to do with the mere fact that; they were also human beings who deserved their own rights and ownership of themselves.
The end of slavery was as a result of all efforts put by all British colonies not only the slaves within England. During the Christmas holiday of 1831, a large-scale slave revolt in Jamaica, known as the Baptist War, broke out. It was organised originally as a peaceful strike by the Baptist minister Samuel Sharpe. The rebellion was suppressed by the militia of the Jamaican plantocracy and the British garrison ten days later in early 1832. Because of the loss of property and life in the 1831 rebellion, the British Parliament held two inquiries. The results of these inquiries contributed greatly to the abolition of slavery with the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.
"I'm proud of the man you're becoming, I'm very very proud." Mrs Brown told him. Right then and there, Austin was called forth by his father into the study. Noting that it had to be in the study, this only meant it was serious. He wondered what had he done now? Hopefully it had nothing to do with him.
When he entered, his father seemed in distress.
"Close the door!" He yelled clearly in a somber mood. Throwing the formal letter at his son. Walter walked back and forth around the office. Hands on his waist, if he said he was not upset he'd be lying. He was very upset.
"Mr Cunningham
Re: An important notice.
As one of the plantation owners we ought to bring you news as you're aware after 26 years of protests, talks and so forth. A decision has been made and in a month will be accented by the royal family. Please note you will not lose any property or wealth.
The Act had its third reading in the House of Commons on 26 July 1833, three days before the death William Wilberforce (the leader of the abolishment of slave trade.) May his soul Rest In Peace, May he be glad all the years of his work is finally coming to light. The act will receive the Royal Assent a month later, by 28 August, and hopefully come into force the following year, on the 1st of August 1834.
In practical terms, only slaves below the age of six will be freed in the colonies. Former slaves over the age of six will be redesignated as "apprentices", and their servitude will be abolished in two stages: the first set of apprenticeships come to an end on 1 August 1838, while the final apprenticeships will be scheduled to cease on 1 August 1840. The Act specifically excludes 'the Territories in the Possession of the East India Company, or to the Island of Ceylon, or to the Island of Saint Helena.' The exceptions will be eliminated in 1843.
The Act will provide for payments to slave-owners. The amount of money to be spent on the payments is set at "the Sum of Twenty Million Pounds Sterling". Under the terms of the Act, the British government will raise £20 million to pay out for the loss of the slaves as business assets to the registered owners of the freed slaves. Half of the money will go to slave-owning families in the Caribbean and Africa, while the other half goes to absentee owners living in Britain. The names listed in the returns for slave owner payments show that ownership will be spread over many hundreds of British families. Rest assured, you will not lose a dime.
We hope to have your co-operation as we embark on this great change of history.
Kind Regards
Liverpool governance
—
"They will pay you, what is the problem father?"
Walter wouldn't stop mumbling and babbling as the racist in him came out. "They're making them equal to us. All my life as old as I am. I never ever in my life imagined such a life. To hell with equality! Ofcourse I care for Merri and accept her in our family only because she isn't as barbaric as the rest of them. We raised Merri and she is as Caucasian and well mannered as could be. Have you seen those other animals back at the plot? Have you? They eat with their darn fingers Austin. This is ABSURD ABSURD I CURSE THE GOVERNMENT FOR THIS THEY HAVE FAILED US! Failed failed failed—" he yelled at the top of his lungs.
Austin smiled lowly.
"Leviticus `chapter`` 19 verse 18 says 'thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."
Sneering at his son. "Since when do you read—"
"Father calm down you will be fine. I'd advise you not to speak to mother or go out displaying such hatred. Rather have some time to yourself and properly process this. It does not affect you in any manner your anger is coming from a very racist place that you refuse to acknowledge. You will be fine."
"I will..." Walter muttered taking a seat. "That was very wise of you, I will be fine."
"You will be fine, father." Austin gave him a pat on the shoulder. Before heading for the door.
"Austin?" He called.
"Yes?"
"I'm so proud of you, you're becoming an even better man than I could ever be."
Austin felt the urge to cry from joy. This was something he had always yearned to hear from his old man.
"I was going to free Merri regardless of this notice."
"I'm glad." Austin muttered, closing the door behind him. He could not wait to share the news with Merrigold, his flower. One that Blooms naturally in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights. Beautiful Floral heads generally with both ray florets and disc florets. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman, he could only think whoever named her knew what they were doing. They had seen her beauty and quickly compared it to the most beautiful flower there is. Her inner beauty was more mesmerizing than anything else.