I DINNA often agree wi Tam Devine, but he is right on the impossibility of achieving the abolition of slavery during the 1790s (Scottishness and the growth of the British Empire, October 27).
Not only was Britain embroiled in the French revolutionary wars – the Atlantic slaving trade routes and the Caribbean Islands were being viciously fought over, meaning there was little chance of abolition becoming a reality whilst the conflict continued – but the democratic movement in Britain had also been pretty much dismantled through intense repression and a series of Scottish show trials.
Organised by Dundas, these meted out draconian sentences agin onybody that dared to stick their heid above the parapets (such as George Mealmaker in Dundee, besides dozens of others throughout Scotland).
The extent oa the surveillance state built by the likes oa Dundas actually beggars belief – this was a defining period when the British ruling classes perfected their strategy of rule through the “politics of fear”, “left-baiting” and black flag operations, which delivered them an Empire.
For my ain part, I believe that his central role in nurturing this reactionary surveillance state is actually mare significant than the essentially secondary role he played in developing and administering the British slave trade. The general hatred for him amongst ordinary fowk (demonstrated when his Edinburgh home was attacked by pro-reform mobs) is the probable reason why it was felt necessary to build such a tall column for his statue.
His statue should be removed so that he can no longer lord it over a city and country that he mis-ruled for so lang.
Dr Anthony Cox
via email
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