State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-22
EEorrid Effects OF Abolition!

! .4nthentic and recent ne,cS from Barbados.
A few days since we had the pleasure o
q call from AN old and respected acquain
lance, formerly a respectable attorney il
Vermont, now merchant in the island Of
I}arbadoes, where he has resided most Of
the time since September 1891. His char
acter, as Christian, and man of Ubser-
walton, renders his remarks and statements
worthy Of entire confidence. We took
some notes Of his conversation, during the
hour that he had to spare to us,betwccn the
time Of his arrived here and his departure
to visit his family, after so long a sepera-
ton, and from these notes we have prcpar-
ed the following sketch, every particular of
which corresponds, we believe, with the
statements he made:
The island of Barbados is one of the
most popuous portions of the earth. The
inhabitants arc reckoned to be ut least I2O,-
900, OH an island not more than 81 miles
long and u broad at the extremity. OF
these, it is estimated that $4,000 were slaves
before the abolition act took effect, Aug l.,
1881, and 10000 free people ofcolor. The
colonial legislature of Barbados did not
fully cmancipatc their slaves, as was done
in Bermuda and Antigua, but adopted the
pprenticcship system with all its absurdi-
ties and injustice to the emancipated slaves.
This system of apprenticeship had been in
operation nearly year and half when
our informant left the island. Many the
masters are now voluntarily emancipating
their apprentices, and such is the progress
ofthis, that it is probable nearly all will be
made wholly free before the expiration of
the legal apprenticeship. Intelligent men
now generally admit that it would have
been better for the island il the emancipu-
ton had been immediate and unconditional
at first
As to the effects of emancipation upon
the public safety, they now laugh at the
idea Of fear. They are talking of reducing
their military force. Ask them if they are
nos afraid The blacks will rise and cut their
masters Threats, and they reply, "What
should they do that for, when they have got
all they wanted 2" The free blacks are
organized into militia.
Many who opposed the abolition of slave
ry, step by step, to the last, are now III favor
of it. They say it has been good thing
for the is and. All their fears in regard to
evil consequences have been disappointed.
The capital, Bridgetown, is very popu-
our informant lad never kno ,vn s,.9si 49,.
disturbance to occasion person 10 walk
forty rods to see it. There is vice enough,
to be sure, but 10 combination of the vi
cious TO disturb the public peace. lie could
lie down to sleep there, out of doors, as quiz
city Us in any place in New-England.
There is no general complaint of the
want of labor. The crops are got in as
usual.--The blacks will work for pay, on
their own day, and extra hours, rs readily
and us much as ignorant and depraved
white people would do when paid for it.
They act Just as other people would do in
similar circumstances. 1t is common re-
mark that negro goes Of an errand quick
er, and loitcrs less, now he is paid, than
when lac was slave.
As to the fear that abolishing slavery will
lead TO amalgamatlon, our friend AYERS that
it operates preciscl y the other way, to scpa-
rate the two races. Amalgamation has had
its full run there, under the reign of slavery
You may 70 into church now, and sec $50
persons ut time, of whom you cannot de-
termnc confidently whether they are white
or colored. 1t has been a common thing
there for white men to keep colored women
Even married men did it. Every body
says this is becoming now far less common
and the colOred women, who used to be
kept as concubines of white men, are now
getting colorcd husbands. 1t takes the
minister in the cathedral at Bridgetown a
quarter OF an hour to publish the bauns Of
marriage.
The aversion between the blacks and
whites is dying away, and they meet at
church, and in business, us il there were no
difference. Our informant attended the an
nivcrsary Of the Wesleyan Mission, at
Bridgetown, where one of the speakers
was the attorney general of the island, Il
most respectable and talented lawyer, and
another, n man of color, rs black us could
be. They sat on the platform together
without dispnragement, nor was there any
thought of strangeness about II. About
thrce-iourhs Of the congregation present
were blacks.
The Bishop of Barbadoes is friend of
the blacks, and is luboring necessarily to
promote their improvements The Metho-
disls are also doing much good among them,
Seven thousand Bibles and Testamcnts
were recently received and distributed.
Since the abolition act took affect, all efforts
for the advancement Of the colorGd porua-
ton, in knowledge and religion, are greatly
increased, all obstacles are removed, and
every body is in favor Of it, without dis
senting voice. They see their safety in it.
They say, ave must make them intelligent
and moral, for our own safety" Every
teacher and preacher is allowed to have
free access 10 the people, as free as in the
free states of America. Saw almost daily
school containing over l4O colored boys
as well dressed and well behaved as any
boys. The same is true ofthe girls schools
Visited an estate where so children were
kept at school on the estate. Every body
speaks of these boys as the future citizens,
legislators aud magistrates of the country
and expects them to be as we'll qualified to
J take part IN the governments as any body