Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-09-04

: nao,l- III tnelr condition. But fl
R1opie OF England were inexorable .
. n sad, Let the ships rot: lei u
9 :ga'lien De idle: let the revenue he dis
{ .aa'ed: but let Justice be DONE ITO,
appIauses-) The Government, bowevs
made munifcent gift of twenty milf,
~ pounds sterling, as compensation
.no planters for the loss ii was cunnosa
.ney would sustain by the emancipation ,
'nelI slaves. For though sanguine off
gooo mat would eventually result fror
such measure, yet the British neonI
expected as have said, that in the 6rs
"ae heavy pecnniary loss must b
encountered. They took it for prante
mat inc amount OF sugar and coffee nro
uuceo IN the Islands. would be less fha,
wnen he labor1of the producers was ex
acied by the whip of masters exertino >,
uncontrolled dominion over their Toll AM
tIlne. Besides which, the abolitionis,s .
Great Britain thought that the act of Par
.iament, which rescued the negro from
ms tyrant task-master, could not reasona
ply De expected to change the nature q
man, and they, therefore, feared that even
under the system OF freedom. establishad
oy tnat act, there would still be an attemnt
on the part of the local authorities So 10
shape their Legislation as still to coerce
Inc LABOR OF those who might be profess
ediy emdncipated. Their fears were 70.
aiized. IL say nothing about the system Of
apprenticeship, for that instead of the
emancipation. was slavery in its worst
lorm-during the four years of lis con.
lingance' the negroes underwent more
suner'ng' ana were compelled to perform
more labor than before, and nv detesta-
lon and adherence of the apprenticeship
plan IS even greater than that which {
lelt toward the system of avowed slavery
which preceded it. The British abol;.
tlonists expected that there would he for
a time, great diminution in the amount
oil produce exported from the islands
and this owing to various causes.
Since the emancipation of the negroes
me women have been partially withdrawn
rom the heavier duties of the plantation
Their duties had formerly been most Ia.
POROUS especially during certain seasons
d the year-during that time in which
ne crop is gathered, when the negroes
Always suffered most. The same amopnt
81 severe labor was exacted from the
women as from the men inthe CUTTING and
carrying of canes. All who have ever
this operation, have been aston
shed at the amount of labor the slaves
ire capable of performing under the fierce !
'ertlcaf sun of the West Indies. No
ooner was slavery abolished. however
han many OF the women were Withdrawn |
rom this arduous service. | rejoice at
his, as they now are permitted to reserve
0 themselves certain portion of their
line for the duty they owe to their fami- I
les, Tor marketing. and various domestic
vocaiions. Another thing we expected /
vas, that negroes who had been brought
p as domestics, or had been taught me-
hanic trades, would, when free, refuse to
perform labor as field hands-aE who I
know anything about slavery as it exists
n the West Indies, are fully aware that
agricultural labor has there been rendered
/ degrading employment, extorted by the
whip, the chain, the stocks and the dun
seon. The severest punishment which
ould be inflicted on favorite domestic.
vas 10 degrade him to field labor in the
'lantatlon; but during the universal hur.
y OF the crop it was usual for both do
nestlcs and mechanics to be turned out
With the other hands, This being no
onger the case, they continue in the
PURSUITS to which they have been trained
Another source of the apprehended dimi-
luton OF crops was the fact that children
n state of freedom would not be put so
arly to- labor; and this anticipation has
cen found also to be true Instead of
flowing their children at five and six
ears OF age to be carrying megass 10 the
oppers, or trask TO the mill, the negro
arents keep their children at school
again. the slaves during the time of crop,
rere compelled to labor in the boiling
ouse sixteen and eighteen hours out Of
ne twenty-four; and it was anticipated
lat when free laborers, they would not
onsent to work SO many hours; this
also has been realized. The
ays' work has been reduced to twelve or
'urteen hours. Add to all which. It was
, be expected that a number of those
rho would otherwise have been agricul-
lrists, if left free 10 choose, might change
heir employment: this has accordingly
and many of the youth are
ow brought up by their parents as trades
nen.
Put these things together-the with
rawal of females from severe labor, the
withdrawal of tradesmen and domestics
rom work In the field, the withdrawal of
he young children from employment 10
he megass house, the reduction of the
aborers' time, and the change of employ
hent from agricultural to mechanic pur-
uits and you will perceive that the Brit