Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-02-22
From the NJ " FORMAL Of Commerce
LETTER FROM w. R. HAYES ESQ, BAR
e. pApoxs, w. T., TO REV. II. G. LUD-
Low. OF NRw-HAvEN.
BARBApoEs, Dec. &c, 1893.


manner in which the first day OF cmnncipa-
tior, came and went in this island. We very
soon afterwards received similar accounts
from allthe neighboring islands. In all OF
them the day was celebrated as an occasion
"of devout thanksgiving and praise to God,
:. for the happy termination Of Slavery" In
all of them the change took place in man.
ner highly creditable to the emancipated, ana
intensely gratifying to the friends OF liberty.
The quiet, good order, and solemnity OF the
day. were every where remarkable. Indeed,
is il not fact worth remembering, that
whereas, in former years, single days re-
taxation from labor was met by the slaves
with shouting, and revelry, and merry-nak-
ing. vet now, when the last link oil slavery
was broken forever, sobriey and decorum
were especially the order OF the day. The
perfect order and subordination to the laws,
which marked the first day OF August, are
We, unbroken. We have had now nearly
FIVE months experience OF entire emancipa-
ton; and ventureto suy, that period OF
more profound peace never existed in the
West Indies There have been disputes a
bout wages, as in New-England and other
free countries but no concert, no combina-
ton even, here aud the only attempt al
combination was among the planters, 10 keep
down wages-and that but for short time
only
Twill not enter particularly into the ques-
iions whether or not the people will continue
10 work for wages, whether they will remain
quiei--or on the other hand, whether the
island will be suffered to become desolate,
and The freed slaves relapse into barbarlsm,
&C. These things have been specialized a.
bout. and gloomy predictions have had their
day the time has now come for the proof
People do not buy land & houses, & rent
properties for long terms OF years, in coun-
tries where life is insecure, or where labor
cannot be had. and the tendency oil things is
10 ruin and decay. In short, men, in their
senses. do not embark on board a sinking
ship. Confidence is the very soul OF pros
perty of the existence of this confidence in
this Island, the i'm mense operations IN real
estate, since the first Of August, areabundant
proof There are mulliiudes OF instances in
which estates have sold for $4,000 more
than was asked for them six months ago; and
yet at that time they were considered very
high. A proprietor who was persuaded a
few weeks since TO part with his estate for a
very large sum Of money, went and bought
u back again at an Advance of 5000. A
great many long leases of property have
been entered into An estate called Edge
.cumbe,n mentioned by Thome & Kimball,
has been rented for twenty-one years at 1900
dollars per annum. Another called the
Hope" has been rented for 10 years al e.
600 sterling. equal to 5000 dollars per an.
mum. Another, after Being rented at a high
price, was re-let by the lessee, who became
snirsIx, a6 us S; from the contract and took
a : l..ot II -. La Al
the names Of the parties. But It seems un-
necessary. The mere impulse given 10 the
value of property in this standby emanci-
paiion is thing as notorious here, as the
fact Of emancipation.
But are not crimes more frequentthan be-
fore? | have now before me Barbados
newspaper. printed two weeks since, in
which the fact is stated, that in all the coua-
ty prisons, among population of $4,000, on
" f,oo prisoners were confined for any cause
whatever
"But," says believer in the necessity OF
Colonization, /" how will you get rid of the
negroes ," Ianswer by adverting TO the
spectacle which is now witnessed in all the
Islands, Of the former proprietors OF slaves,
now employers Of free laborers, using every
endeayor to prevent emigration. Trinidad,
Demerara, and Berbice, s0ant laborers. The
former has passed law 10 pay the passage
money Of any aborer who comes to the Is
land leaving him free to choose his employ
.ment Demerara and Berbice have sent
Emigration agents to this and other Islands.
TO induce the laborers to join those colonies,
offering high wages. good treatment &C.
On the other hand, Barbados. Grenada. ST.
Vincent. and all the old and popnlous ISL
ands, individually and collectively, by legis.
lative resolves, legal enactments. &c. &C.
loudly protest that they have not a man to
spare What is still better. the old island
proprietors are on every hand building new
houses for the peasantry, and with great fore
thought adding TO their comfort knowing
that they will thereby secure their content
ment on their native soil
AS pleasing instance Of the good under
standiugwhich now exists between proprie-
tors and laborers. l will mention, that great
numbers Of The former were in town on the
24lh, bayipg up pork. hams. rice. &c. as
presents for their people on the ensuing
Christmas day which has this year pass
ed by amid scenes Of quiet. Sabbath devo-
tons, striking contrast to the tumult and
drunkenness Of former times cannot
= close this subject. without bearing my testi-
mony to the correctness of the statements
made by our countrymen, Thome and Kim
ball. They were highly esteemed here by
all classes, and had free access to every
source Of valuable information. II they