N.Nugent_.
"There cannot be said to have been any _anti-slavery party_ in the island before emancipation.

There were some individuals in St.John's, and a very few planters, who favored the anti-slavery views, but they dared not open their mouths, because of the bitter hostility which prevailed."-- _S.

Bourne, Esq._ "The opinions of the clergymen and missionaries, with the exception of, I believe, a few clergymen, were favorable to emancipation; but neither in their conduct, preaching, or prayers, did they declare themselves openly, until the measure of abolition was determined on.

The missionaries felt restrained by their instructions from home, and the clergymen thought that it did not comport with their order 'to take part in politics!' I never heard of a single _planter_ who was favorable, until about three months before the emancipation took place; when some few of them began to perceive that it would be advantageous to their _interests_.

Whoever was known or suspected of being an advocate for freedom, became the object of vengeance, and was sure to suffer, if in no other way, by a loss of part of his business.