Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-07-04

bout five months on ground provisions and sal
fish, and seven months ON corn meal and salt
fish. The saving is very great where people
were fed entirely fom abroad, and there is an
apparent loss, where they were principally sup
piled from the plantations. Much, of course,
depends upon the rate a; which ground proVis-
ions, grown upon the estateare estimated but
we have the opinions of several first rate plan
teis, that the saving on the whole is consdera-
bic, aud several comparative statements have
been furnished US, showing large baaoce in
favor of the free system.
The three general and important advantages
which have resulted from freedom are very OBJ
vious.
The trade Of the island has revived, and its
imports have largely Increased
MOI n single estate has been abandoned, but
several estates which had been long abandon
ed, have been resumed.
The credit Of planters with their merchants
il much improved.
Houses and lands have risen in value.
Estates which have been sold, have been ca
gerly bought up, and have fetched very high
prices. One small estate, was sold lately for
GOO currcncy--the half OF which was offer.
cd 10 gentleman some years ago for 4OOL.-
At this present moment, estates are worth more
without slaves than they were ten years ago
.
consequent upon the agitation of the abolition
question
The negro is beginning 20 be profitable
cons umor Of agricultural produce. He purcha-
ses provision in considerable quantity from the
planter, and is beginning to buy sugar and
inola ssCs.
Many Of the laborers, also, who have saved
money, orc very DESTROYS 10 purchase or clear
small lois Of land, and as they grow richer they
will become still more anxious 10 60 so, and
the planters will at length be induced by inter-
est TO become not only agrIculturisis and man.
ufaciurers, but landlords. AT present they re-
fuse TO sell on fear that the negro will for
sake estate labotng, and become an independ-
ent ltivatcr.
One imp rtant exception must be made to
these general remarks on the prosperity OF the
planters. Several estates have been dlsOreani.
zcJ, if not ruined by the change but this RI.
suit can be traced, in every instance, 10 the
harsh and iniudclous conduct of the managers.
-Four fine estates, lying compacily together in
the centre of the slund are IN this predca-
ment. They belong TO wealthy absentee pro-
pretor, and were all under the management OF
one individual. Before emancipation, this per.
son treated The slaves with great severity, and
after that PERIOD so far from adopting differ
cnt course towards them, he commenced the
new era by turning the cattle OF the estate into
their little gardens. About two thirds of The
people consequently lett the CT tate and sought
employment elsewhere, and the remainder be-
ing insufficient to keep up the cultivation, the
estates are overrun with destructive weeds.
The success Of emancipation on the different
estates has been TO considerable extent deter
mined by the iaracler Of managers. With the
striking exceptions above noticed, it may be
! said TO have succeeded on all The estates but
on some, where an unusually enlightened and
indulScnt course has been pursued towards the
people, its success has been more distinguish he'd
than OH others. In general the task.wor sys-
ten, by which the laborers are paid not by the
day, but according 10 the quantity Of work per-
formed, has been found TO answer best for both
parties. But as the negroes are for the most
part ignorant Of numbers and calculation, and
from their long habits Of disrust are apt TO
suspect that the terms of, red them are too
low, and TO refuse arrangements for their own
advantage, il requires mere patience and tact
TO remove the difficulties 10 lis introduction
than all managers possess.
/ 1t might have been expected that when en-
anciPaIcd, the negroes would qnit the field and
geek employment and subsistence in other
modes. This has taken place only TO very
moderate extent, and not in such a way as to
injure the agricultural prospects of The island
The supply and demand for labor are at the
pre- ent moment fairly balanced.
/ No negro, who can work, has an excuse for
VACANCY, and the deficiency is not gree ter
than is really advantageous 10 the colony, by
promoting the more general use OF the plou oh
and the introduction OF agricultural improve
ments and modes Of cconomizng human labor.
To be continued