The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-11
Letter of Rev. ID. S. Ingraham.
To be continued.
| american MiSSionary.l
KINGSTON, JAM, Jan. II, 1873

KINGSTON JAM, Jan. II, 1889.
Dear Brother Benedict:
As the packet is to sail tomorrow, must dror
you a word, though this is bad time to state any
thing very definite in regard to the laborng popu-
aton of the Island The holidays are but lust
over, during which time there is never any work
done on the estates. No doubt you hear MANY
horrid accounts of the bad conduct of the people
here, but let me assure you that but very few ac-
counts you get from the papers of this Island can
be relied on at ALL have been crediby inform
i ed, and have no doubt of its TRUTH that many OF
the attorneys here, are using all the means in
their power to make the owners Of properties, who
reside in England, las most do) believe that their
estates are of little or no value so that soon they
will be for sale at so low rate that they will be
able to " make a good job of it." There is no
doubt but many of the people are ad-but you
know that when we see person expert at any
business, we are apt to ask, show did he become
so 2" and when see the poor negro unjust and
slothful. we are only to ask, who was his teach
er? how did he become so % | have travelled a.
bout the Island considerably and think can say
with truth, that the people are generally at work
where they are offered fair wages. have never
heard the people ask for more than what their
masters used to hire them for. The people were
often hired for so cents, generally 81 1-2 per day
and they now are generally satisfied with rs
cents per day, where no charge is made for their
houses and grounds. But many of the propre-
tors after receiving 81 1-2 cts per day for their
people, now turn round and offer them ~ 10
and some even 9 cts per day. After the LIST of
August, man came to his former master, and
wanted to make bargain and get on to work. :"
" WE'LL" said Massa, how much do you ask ~
" 0, | don't know" replied Sam" how much
will Massa give 2" Ten-pence 12 IL cts) per
day." was the reply of Massa Sam replied, "Mas-
sa you don't member dat me wish to buy me free
lass year, and you swear dat me wort four bits
(37 l-2 cts) day, and now you offer me ten
pence H.! no. me will 60 sit down fuss =
And so it has been in many cases, and the people
have been fooled aciM till they will scarcely work
for any price. Many of the masters charge the
people such unreasonable rent for their houses and
grounds, that it will take all the labor of the peo
pie to pay rent Some have charged the husband
and wife so cts each, and for each child 25 so that
many are not able to pay rent alone without great
exerions, and of course the people do not entirely
forget that they have toiled for nought all their
lives, and you see it would grind them tremen-
dously. The people are called by every hard
name, because they will not work for just what
they are offered, and o how ungrateful they are "
if they are not ready at Massa's call. o what
murderer is slavery-it murders both master and
Stare, and puts both in hell while on earth.
We see one glorious effect of freedom in this
Isle it has created great and, may say, unver-
sal desire for religious knowledge. Yesterday
had 80 scholars in my schools, and besides these,
have some 80 more in evening and Sabbath
schools; some are very young and some very old
Not long since poor old man came to me from
he mountains, and said he wanted TO get book
If me and "earn Two words if no more, before
ne die" But short time since man came |,
more than 20 miles to beg me to send some one
here to teach their children and tell them de
good word" l finally went to the place, and
ounu hundreds almost as destitute as they could
e' having no KIND OF school, or any gospel nearer