Settlers in Carolina

http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/growth/text1/carolinarandolphnorris.pdf

The article I have looked at offers two corresponding views of America and the British settlement in Carolina: one from an official in 1699, the other from a father in 1712. Both share their experiences of what they have seen in this new settlement and what they believe to be the future of Carolina.

The official Edward Randolph is reporting back to the English Board of Trade and Plantations, and recognizes the strength that the colony has in its plantations and the prosperous future this will hold.  Through the work of around 5000 slaves, he speaks of the growth of precious commodities such as cotton, wool and indigo, whilst also focusing on more basic possessions like rice, pitch and tar. Much to the probable delight of the readers, this will be for the benefit of the “revenue of the crown.” He even suggests that to keep this profit high back in England, that the government suspends the introduction of taxes to keep the planters from growing cheap products whilst margin is high for growing more expensive items. This is an unsurprising revelation that most of the early decisions made by the government back in England were influenced by officials in the colonies that were clearly unaffected by the harsh conditions that slaves worked in and were solely focused on the economic boom there work would stimulate in England. There is noticeable paranoia in Randolph’s letter however, as he senses incoming threat from the south as the French settle in Mississippi and have the opportunity to threaten the English settlements without much opposition. Incidents like these may have influenced the decision to send more of the English over to extend their settlement in future ways.

The second article with James Freeman, a Carolina planter, is even more unsympathetic to the slaves that work for him. His view is that the slaves are at his command for the payment of basic clothes, other necessities and a small wage. When asked if the English are slaves when they arrive in the country themselves, Freeman answers that there is no such thing as “Christian slaves” or that slavery is something that involves people from the “Queen’s Dominions.” To me this sounds like more of the same from this belief that the English are superior to their slaves, just as they had believed themselves superior to the Native people.