Read Online The Dominion's Dilemma: The United States of British America by James F. Devine - Free Book Online

Pretoria, Sir Galbraith Lowery-Cole, estimates about 100,000. Those are split between large planters, mainly British, and the small farmers, overwhelmingly Boer. That’s how the descendents of the original Dutch colonizers of Cape Colony style themselves.
       “Governor-General Lowery-Cole feels the British plantation owners, who also utilize slaves in the gold, silver and diamond mines, will reluctantly accept emancipation, as long as they are duly financially compensated. His estimate is approximately a half-million pounds. Remember now, these slaves do more than work in the fields and mansions. They carve out precious metals, too.”  
     “What about the Dutch, Frederick? How will they accept our decision?” Lord Brougham.
     “Not well, Henry, according to Sir Galbraith. But that may be a plus for us, nevertheless. You see, the Boers have been threatening to pull up stakes and migrate north---out of British authority---almost since the day we took control of the Cape. If this planned emancipation forces their hand, so much the better for us. We won’t have to pay them and, if they survive further into Africa, why, we send an armed force to take over their new colony whenever it suits us.”
       The ensuing laughter around the table wasn’t shared by the British American, who, nonetheless, determined to keep his dismay to himself.  Instead, Adams asked the rhetorical question: “Are we doing this for our conscience alone…or to help these poor people?  Surely we care as much about the blacks caught in slavery by the Boers as we do about those in the West Indies…or in the British American South!”
      It was Wellington who answered, expressing the prevailing view of most of his colleagues and countrymen: “Don’t bombard us with your self-righteousness, Mr. Adams. Your New England got religion after it got economics. Your predecessors decided slavery was a great evil after they realized it was too costly in your climate. You simply couldn’t afford to house, clothe and feed slaves 12 months a year when you could only have them in the fields for half that time… If Massachusetts had the growing season and could produce the tobacco and cotton that comes out of Virginia and the Carolinas, with slaves working 11 or 12 months per year, at least some of your people would be employing overseers to this day.”
        Wellington paused momentarily and looked around at the nodding faces of the other committee members. “I’m glad we’re agreed here to proceed in this most Christian---and overdue---endeavor, but don’t tell this Committee that this great crusade is something your region and state have been committed to long before the rest of us.”
     Adams, his head now entirely scarlet, stared at the Duke. “Your Grace, we in Massachusetts have traditionally favored freeing the Negroes…going back to 1775!”
      Wellington nodded condescendingly. “Yes, Mr. Adams, because your previous generation read its Adam Smith on those dark, snowy nights when it wasn’t plotting treason…”
       Lord Palmerston’s facial features had not yet turned the cartoonists’ delight that they would in coming years. Yet his nose and cheeks had become a bright pink. “Gentlemen, we are, hopefully, all on God’s side here. We must demonstrate a unified front in Parliament. No matter our particular partisan position, we must demonstrate that all parties are settled on this course of action.
     “I believe a short break may be in order. Then, if we can get back to the business of considering the issue in the British American South…”
     
    ___________
     
        Harry Bratton had begun wondering whether he should return to the American Desk. Whatever direction the secret meeting in the conference room had taken, it seemed his counsel wouldn’t be necessary after all. Then the door opened suddenly and Earl Goderich emerged. “We’ve broken for a few