1794-Jun.-11: Upon receiving the first word of the French Convention’s decree abolishing slavery, white leaders in Charleston held an emergency meeting to di…

1794-Jun.-11: Upon receiving the first word of the French Convention’s decree abolishing slavery, white leaders in Charleston held an emergency meeting to discuss preventive measures. They feared the “diabolical decree” would further elevate the spirits of local slaves and lead to open rebellion. The committee considered screening all incoming vessels and implementing strict controls to insulate the city from the news. This reaction highlighted the plantocracy’s desperation to suppress the legal precedents of liberty established in the French Empire. The decree’s arrival forced the local government into a state of heightened vigilance against any “evil consequences”.