The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-12-11
MNSCEEEANEOU us.
FOR THE CALIFORNIAN.

ed in certain quarters about the i'll working of
emancipation in some of the British West lndla
Islands did not exhibit sckening evidence OF
strong prejudice, still existing in those quarters
against abolition, it would be quite amusing
The slaves haze been represented as wholly in
competent TO take care of themselves But now,
the CRY is, that they stand out for unreasonable
wages, and refuse to work unless they can re.
ceive more than can be afforded.
Something like the following seems to be the
truth on this subject: Emancipation in Anti
qua worked admirably The negroes there more
than in most other places, had for length OF
time been under the influence of a moral and
religious training. They painted for freedom as
the hunted hart for the cooling brook. They re-
ceived the boon with unutterable Transports
Their gratitude to man, if MOTTO u higher Pow
en- was unbounded. They placed great conf
dence in their religious teachers, and in other
public men who interested themselves in their
behalf ; and, together with their ministers, urged
on them the importance of quietly and prompt
ly complying with the propositions made them.
Amidst the OVERLOOKING of their JOY and graft
tude, they could not think of finding fault. They
felt as though the gift of freedom was almost
all they could desire. The power OF their mas
tiers and the fear of the lash removed, they could
almost live upon their liberty. And, TO show
how grateful they were to their benefactors, and
how fond they were Of freedom, and how well
they could use it, and how ready Ethey were to
follow the advice of their ministers, and other
good friends, they were willing to work for their
former masters for all but nothing 1t is pain
full to think what advantage was taken of this
state of feeling, connected, as it was, with the
ignorance and degradation inseparable from
state Of bondage, to engage their services for
something like fifteen cents day, with the ad-
dition Of some little perquisites. The change
in their condition must have given a prodigious
spring TO their industry. The result that
their.abor was found more profitable than before;
and plantations yielded a larger profit to the
proprietors. This, together with the removal of
all fear of instructions, and, Of course the pro-
cuction of a vast increase of comfort to the white
population, raised the value of proprietary es-
tates, from twenty to thirty per cent, and in
cases. to more than one hundred per cent. These
facts were doubtless well known to the planters,
and to the white population of the other Is
lands, "'and, probably, in many Instances, to the
slaves. When emancipation took place in JAM
aica, and other Islands, it was expected, doubt
less that the same game could be played with
the negroes that succeeded so admirably in An
tigua. Accordingly, about the same wages, in
some places q little more, were offered the new
made freemen for their work. But these MEN
took in their head to believe they were too low.
They somehow fancied they had worked for
nothing long enough. And that now they had
the po,rer to make one side Of the bargain they
would use it, Here was trouble. The planters,
or rather their agents, insisted that the sum Of
fered was all that could be afforded. Unfortu-
tunaely for them, however, the negroes Chose
HELPLESS beings so incapable Of taking care of
themselyes) remembered that in the time Of their
apprenticeship these very men had occasionally
sold them their time for four or five times that
sum per day, declaring it was worth all that to
che proprietors Remembering this, great num-
bers, according to the last accounts which have
noticed, were still refusing to work, unless they
could have something like two shiliings, or two
and six pence per day. How the matter will
end is vet to be seen. 1t is suggested that the
hired agents of the propretors are planning to
make much trouble out of this state of things
as possible, for the purpose of running the es-
tates in the estimation of the proprietors that
they may purchase them for song, and thus
make their own fortunes. If this be true, it is
to be hoped the proprieors will discover the plot
in season to hurl these blood suckers from their
places, and employ men of different character,
giving directions that the poor negroes shall be
allowed such wages as will not only induce them
to work, but permit them to enjoy small share
at least of the profits of those establishments
from which thew have been accustomed to real
ize many thousands every year from their unre-
Quilted toll.
Mean while, it is gratifying to learn that these
people, in the consciousness that they are men,
and fresmen, that their souls and bodies, bones
and muscles are their own, are resolved to insist