Decio declared that the idea of going around to everyone, refunding money to those who had changed their minds and creating a joint treasury for the rest seemed fine to him, but he was opposed to signing a pledge of honor and especially to sanctions for those who missed a meeting. If someone missed a meeting they lost their vote and that was it. Dumas replied that, unfortunately, experience had shown that when someone missed a meeting it didn’t mean they didn’t still want a say in everything come the next day. And how was Decio supposed to tell the difference between people who had a serious reason for missing a meeting and people who just didn’t feel like it? Giacomo suggested that anyone who missed a meeting, whatever the reason might be, could delegate their vote to someone else. Dumas said in theory that seemed reasonable, but it would cause all sorts of confusion and the question was whether there hadn’t been enough confusion already. He said he thought a little discipline wouldn’t hurt, but on the other hand of course he didn’t want to force anything through without the consent of the majority, and we should move to a vote. Everyone looked around, but it seemed no one much cared to vote. Roland Allegret said that maybe it would be better if we took the Egalitarians’ motions one at a time instead of all at once, and who was in favor of that. Most people raised their hands. With that one of the Slavs stood up and said that he and his companions did not wish to shirk their obligation to vote but they did not understand what was this settlement we were talking about, and could we explain to them what Fraternitas is. He and his companions had suffered the chains of Austria and Hungary and had decided to go to Brazil in search of gold, which they would then send back to their friends who remained, so they could break their chains, and they needed money for revolvers and a free press. He and his companions were in favor of freedom for all nations and opposed to tyranny. People were clapping and shouting Bravo! Bravo! but Dumas looked even more disgruntled than before. One of the Austrians said that he was ashamed to be an Austrian, for his country had brought whole nations under its yoke, including Hungary, but it wouldn’t be long before all people would be free. Umberto said that no one could be blamed for where they were born, and Vito Ferroni said that borders were an invention of capital and the bourgeoisie. Roland Allegret said that he welcomed our Slavic guests, but unfortunately they could not take part in the vote, since that was a right reserved for settlers. But after the meeting he would be glad to explain everything to them, and if they wanted to become settlers, surely no one would have any objection to that. To which Decio said, What ever happened to admitting the Negroes? Roland Allegret said we would deal with that the day after tomorrow, once we clarified the issues that had been raised by his friend Dumas, and the Slavic fellow asked whether there were Negroes in our settlement and why. Decio declared that he had nothing against admitting the Slavs, but the Negroes were here first. Jean Allegret asked whether Decio was sure that the Negroes even wanted to be admitted to the settlement. Haymard said that he had tried to talk with them about it, but the Negroes spoke only English. He asked whether anyone knew English, but no one volunteered. Decio said we could ask the captain to convey our invitation to the Negroes, but Haymard declared that that would be against the captain’s interests, since if nothing else he was still going to need the Negroes to load the ship for the passage back to Europe. Decio said that in that case we should turn to our two American passengers for help, but Haymard said he had tried that, but the Americans only spoke English, just like the Negroes.
March 20th
The meeting dragged on into the night, but in the end we managed to pass most of the items. Penot, one of the Egalitarians, who supposedly used to be a clerk in a law office, kept a record of the voting:
Present: about 130 (children included).
Drawing up of new list of settlers:
For: 87, against: 8, abstained: about 40.
Passed.
Surrender of private funds to shared treasury:
For: 55, against: 42, abstained: 30 to 40.
Passed.
Drafting of pledge of honor and signing of same:
For: 65, against: 32, abstained: about 40.
Passed.
Voting age 13 and over:
For: 54, against: 31, abstained: about 50.
Passed.
Vote by chosen delegates for those under 13:
For: 41, against: 54, abstained: 30 to 40.
Drawing of lots in case of tie:
For: 91, against: 2, abstained: less than 40.
Passed.
Option to vote on questions not stated on agenda:
For: 64, against: 14, abstained: 50 to 60.
Passed.
Sanction for unexcused absence from assembly:
For: 86, against: 30, abstained: 10 to 20.
Passed.
Sanction for first absence — denial of food for 24 hours:
For: 45, against: 78, abstained: about 10.
Expulsion from collective for 24 hours:
For: 60, against: 68, abstained: 5 to 7.
Reprimand:
For: 96, against: 7, abstained: about 30.
Passed.
Sanction for second absence — expulsion from collective for 24 hours:
For: 62, against: 66, abstained: 5 to 7.
Second reprimand:
For: 83, against: 18, abstained: 30 to 40.
Passed.
Sanction for third absence — expulsion from collective for 24 hours:
For: 55, against: 66, abstained: about 10.