State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-22
WHOLE NO. 93O.

The effect of abolition on the financial
condition OF the country is quite remarkable,
Our informant says that real estate is rising,
for the last six months has risen rapidly, in
many instances has risen one third in n
year. If persons had bought real estate
two years ago, great fortunes might have
I been made. The consumption of dry goods
has also wonderfully increased, and dealers
in dry goods are making fortunes. The
negroes now dress like other people. Some
| years ago, if IL colored women had been
seen in the street wearing a straw bonnet,
it would have been almost signal for
mob. Now they dress us well as any peo-
! pie of their standing.
The imports generally are doubled. A
| very great increase has taken place in the
importation of Aamerican productions.
The blacks begin to live like human beings.
The importatlons were never so great as
the last year.
A gentleman of very extensive acguaint-
ance and trave ,one Of His Majesty's Coun-
Gil for the island of Barbadoes said that for
mery, when he went home TO England the
negroes on his plantation used TO receive
him OH his return with sulen silence, re-
gardng him as tyrant returned among
them. SiEce the abolition, he had visited
tEdlll, anu Itlllliltts uHtl HC SIOhC
with tears in his eyes of the Joy his people
manifested at his return, receiving and well
coming him as a friend and benefactor.--
Think Of that, We brethren who hold slaves;
when will such pure JOY be yours?
A hurricane in 1881 destroyed most of
the parish churches OH the island, exceptin
Bridgetown. Many of them have lain i'll
ruins till the past year. Now they are rap
idly rebuilding The gentleman above re-
ferred to, said, that when they commenced
the work III his parish the negroes came to-
gether without any suggestion or solicita-
ton, and offered their services to work on
the building on their day, Saturday The
offer was at first declined, out of considera-
ton for them, but they would not be put of.
They insisted on it, at belongs to us, this
is our church as much as yours, this is our
country now, our children will worship
here" &c. The women came with the men
all animated with one spirit, and all taking
the deepest interest in the work. How
much more grateful 10 the heart than colo
nization
The change of feeling on the subject of
abolition is entire. Our friend was surprised
on his first arrival to hear the subject so
freely spoken of Immediately after the act
took OBJECT. He supposed he should have
to talk carefully and in whispers, as at the
south. The papers are beginning TO publish
in favor Of the act. While it was talked Of,
the people and The papers were violent and
gust, seeing no disturbance They began to
congratulate each other Now they arc
coming around entirely and already begin
to reproach America for continuing tho
system of slavery. This change does not
seem to have arisen from any new views Of
slavery as Il SIN but from what they see of
the effects of abolition they are satisfied it
is n great benefit And they say it will
come to the same result in America, when
ever abolition takes place. Said our friend,
81 felt ashamed of my country, to hear it
rcploached for the absurdity and inconsis-
tency and sin of slavery. and | could make
no reply. Here, among our own people,
one does not feel it so much, bur when we
get abroad, we feel it keenly."
1t is not the case that the negroes became
impudent towards the whites, in conse-
quence OF emancipation. On the country,
it is universally said that they are more civil
than they used to be.
In short, one only needs to see the West
Indies, to be convinced Of the safety and
utility of abolishing slavery. The expert
ment of emancipation has already gone on
long enough to prove that negroes are like
other people if you give them their rights
they are greatefn and have sense enough
TO see that it is now for their interest to sup
port the laws, and that if they make distur-
bance they punish only themselves.
The whites on the island are rather a
pleasure loving people, hospitabie and polite,
but there is little serious piety apparent a.
mong them. We regret.to learn that the
Temperance Reformation has yet to begin
on this interesting island.
Multiiarious as are the forms in which
nur Lrpt brpn Of Tho prpSS ara wont IN nrpSl