State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-11-22
From tho Friend Of Man.
LETTER FROM TIE WEST INDIES.

siding in British West India Island, to
Gerrt Smith,ot Peterboro'. This gentle
man was formerly an inhabitant OF the
United States. His letter dated, September
30, 1856.
al am highly gratifed to witness the
course you are pursuing in regard 10 that
overwhelming curse of our country, Slavery.
In the providence Of God have been
placed in circumstances to know what
slavery is, and has been in the West Indies,
and daily non to see aud feel what cplan-
cipation is. | went to Trinidad in Nov.
1891; ] had heard, at home, of the pcrsc-
vering opposition which emancipation had
met with in these Islands, and | naturally
supposed that it would be necessary to be
very guarded in my remarks about it. l
therefore kept very still, thinking that per
haps even few words might occasion
tumult, as had been taught to believe, that
the liberated negroes only wanted an occa-
sion 10 rise and murder oil the whites.
very soon found that no alarm was felt,
people speaking as freely about emancipa-
lion as of any thing else. All the negroes
appearing cheerful and harmless, and not
seldom did | hear the remark, euen from plan
terS, that emancipation ,OaS great JleSsimg'
The scales fell from mig eyes! found that
all the predictons.I had heard of massacres,
Instructions, &c, &C., were no better than
nursery tales Indeed, it was plain to he
seen that emancipation had been the very
thing to take away at once and forever all
danger of violence on the part of the col
ored people. l afterwards visited Grenada
and ST. Vincent. The same may be said
Of them as Of Trinidad. l have resided
on this Island [Barbadoes,l with the OK
ception of visit at home last winter) con-
stanty since January 1855. The town
contains say 10000 inhabitants, and the
Island 10000, of whom not more than
10000 are whites. On the LIST of August
1881, the number of slaves liberated was
something over $4,000. What place for
the exhibition of that ferocity which we
are told exists in the breast of the African |!
How great an exhibition ought we not to
see here of mobs, and burnings and negro
insolence, &C.! Now venture TO declare
that since the LIST of Aug. 1884, there has
not been tho slightest popular disturbance
or even the rumor of one in any part of
tho Island. And this is not because the
blacks are ovcra,Ced. They are themselves
n part of the Island militia, and declare il
rs my firm conviction that as a people, they
are rs orderly and as little inclined to VIC
lcnce, as any people on EARTH
The general sentiment in this Island,
believe TO be now as much in favor of
emancipation as, three years ago it was
opposed to it. 1t has done my heart good,
to hear people of the highest standing here,
and those who owned great numbers of
slaves, freely admit that their opposition
10 emancipation was all ,Urong that it was
one of the greatest blessings that ever
came upo the country, and that nothing
would induce them TO return to slavery.
When read of the fears Of the people in
America, in regard to emancipation; Of the
prejudice against color, and Of the way in
which they declare against abolition, as
something that is going to open the flood
gates of war, disunlon, &c. &c, my won
der is only second to that which feel,
when l reflect upon what was once my
olon feelings upon the same subjects. If
all the opposcrs of abolition in the United
States, including Shareholders themselves,
could spend six months, in any part of
the British West Indies, abolition societies
might dissolve themselves at once-the!r
occupation would be gone.
How miserable seems all the defamation
of our learned American d. DIS and our
Judges and digniaries of every department
when upon the subject of the impossibilty
Of white and black men living together in
the same community on terms of equality!
Were they here, they would soon perceive
that the impossible thing is for the whites
10 maintain their distinction, if the blacks
are allowed to possess equal rights. do
not pretend to say that ill the West Indies
the distinctions of color are done away
with, but every day is weakening them,
and it is demonstrated that these distinc-
tons are founded only on prejudice, crca-
ted by slavery, and are uincibLe.
The alarm which was felt in the West
Indies, rs TO general depreciation of prop
erly and stagnation of business, has proved
quite groundless. The Islands have rarely
If ever been so prosperous as at present,
aud in this Island, think may safely say,
there have been more improvements in
buildings, agriculture, &c, in the last two
years than in any preceding two years.
Decidedly has the greatest comfort ard
happiness increased, education and rcli-
gious knowledge been promoted, and pub
lie morals been greatly improved.
= Tear may weary you, but, sir, when
look at this country and witness the blessed
changes which have been brought about
by emancipation, and when contemplate
my own country, straining every nerve to
maintain system SO franght with evil as
slavery, my heart is full. Slavery in the
West Indies, as every where else, has al
ways stood in the way of the progress of
Christianity. Hence the continually re-
peuted complaints against the missionaries
in all the Islands. Slavery and Christiani-
" we're pitted against each other the one
,mploring secresy and darkness the other
demanding light. Mark now the difference.
In this Island numerous parish churches
which have been in ruins since the hurri-
cane of 1881, are rising from their ruins.
The Methodist missionaries are extending
their stations, and multiplying their preach-
erB and assistants IN every direction Tho