Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-08-30
.HAYTI.

The population of Hayti, on moderate
calculation, must exceed 100000. The
Romish religion is predominant. but has nc.
exclusive rights or privileges-a Iul! tolera.
ton being allowed, by law, 10 all-and there
is no restriction on the importation or cir
culation of any books which are not of an
immoral character. !
: The government is norainaily republican,
BIZ: essentially despoic, though moderate
in its administration. The president has
the entire command Of the army, is ap.
pointed for lie, and has right 10 nomi.
nate his successor.
The manners and habits Of the people
have been considerably influenced by the
past connection with the old French regi-
me. A large degree Of politeness is inter-
mixed with q tuste for refnemen!s,' cspecI.
alvin ornamental furniture.
By the laws Of the island no white per.
son can hold real property; but they are
permitted to trade as wholesale merchants,
and mary European and American houses
are established in the various towns. Which
persons arc invariably treated with consider.
able Difference and respect.
They learn nothing useful or valuable
from the priests, who officia:e among them.
Mmnmery and external show being almost
the exclusive character Of their miscal!ed
religion; and morals are proportionately
depressed
1t is by no means the policy of the pres.
eut government TO encourage rapid and ex-
! tensiye changes, even win yiew TO i'm.
pyovcu,cnt. The principle on which they
now ac:, is, that things require restand eu.
! CT for some time to come. But the minds
Of the people are awake, and there is q de-
sire infused among them Tor intellectual
Improvements, and | believe education is
never neglected when there are favorable
opportunities for its attainment. | do no,
think that, in any part Of the world, intel.
lcctual elevation, if employed with a view
to raise the moral standard of the people,
would operate, with greater force than
among the l1ytians. A man or woman,
devoted to the cause Of God, anu The sal.
vation ofsouls, and by patient continuance
in well doing, keeping an eye steadily ei-
rcctcd to his work, would | feel assured,
find door open, and path gradually
widening.
Hay,i has been visited by protested
Christians, for many criminal, many doub:-
full, and many commercial purposes but
very seldom for holy and evangelical OBJ
iects. Two or three missionaries are there,
from the London Wesleyan Society, who
report very fayorably Of their reception.
On two occasions, agents from the British
and Foreign Bible Society have visited the
country, and they both give the mos, encou:
raging accounts. believe no person,
with feelings alive to the enlargement of the
Redeemer's kingdom, has recently visited
the island, but will adopt the language Of
car Lord" Say not We, There are yet
four months and then comeih The Larvcss
behold say unto you, lift up your eyes.
and look on the fields, for they are white
already to the harvest"
The language may easily be acquired
Six-sevents of the, people speak patois
French, the rest a pa,ois Spanish. There
are several large towns. The climate is
generally healthy. The former French
inhabitants are Said to have been mostly
long lived, aad the present population is be.
lieved 10 be considerably or the increase.
The people are sociablc aaa commun:ca.
tive, -
The difficulties % be met arc those which
every Christian VII! naturally expect, where
ignorance and vice have SO long prevailed.
| cannot but think that great encourage.
ment is held out to missionary exerlion, from
the promise of active agency, arising from
among themselves, TO carry forward and
extend the work when commenced. 4
native Iiaytian when cancelIiug debt liz
Cured iii behalf Of the British and Fore ign
Bible Societies, took up stone and holding
it liz his hands, with the tears standing in
his eyes, said,-" Once my heart was hard,
Ike this stone, but the God of heaven soft.
ened my heart. give this little sum CRATE.
fully to God-not TO you-not to the So.
cictv.