The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-19
ppITISH WEST INDIES.

" ., from, Jomnicu as late the 2lst OF Jan. |
ro,ros.n, the condition of the people OF that Island
., that tune TO be not ola very promising character
Tbe free negroes refuse 10 labor on Inc plantations
=, Tho price the landlords oHer which they pretend
lana much as they can afford;-they are idle and
will not labor diligently even in cases when their
~ ,rice is paid them; and the consequence is,
the coffee and sugar crops perishng unharvest-
ed in the fields, The Governor having failed to
restore order, rather enforce industry the part
of tho blacks has sign6ed his intention of resigning
his office. With what credit these representations
should be received we know not. They appear to
be somewhat shaded with pro-slavery prejudice.
But the reader may now turn his attention TO an.
other Island where the state of affairs is more
pleasing.
EMANCIPATION IN BARBADoE s.-The following
letter is stated by the New York Commercial Ad-
vertser, to be entitled to credit. The writer
Mr.. Hays was formerly of Bratiehorough this
State.
Letter from ". Il. Hays, Esq Bar6adocs, ". L.,
10 Req H. G.. Ludlo,o, of .Neao Haoen
Barbados, Dec. 90, 1888.
I gave in my last some account of the manner
in which the first day of emancipation came and
went i'm this Island We very soon received similar
accounts from all the neghboring Islands. la all
of Them the day celebrated as an occasion "of
,devout thanksgiving and praise to God, for the hap
oy termination of slavery In all of them, the
Change took place in a manner highly creditabe to
4he einanc ipated, and intensely gratifying TO
the friends Of liberty. The quiet good order
and solemniy ofthe day were every where remark
able.
Indeed Is it not worth remembering that where
AS, in former years, sing,e days relaxation from
labor met by the slaves with shouting, and rev
ciry and merry making; yet now, when the last
link of slavery was broken, sobrety and decorum
were especially the order of the day? The perfect
oder and subordination to the laws which marked
the first day of August, yet un6roken. We
have now nearly five months experience OF entire
emancipation; and venture to say that period OF
more profound peace never existed in the West
Indies. There have been disputes about wages as
in New England and in other free countries; but
no concert, combination, even here, and tho on
iy attempt a combination, was among the plan
,ers to keep down wages-and that but for Shor
time only.
/ will not enter particularly into the questions
whether or not the people will continue to work
for wages, whether they will remain quiet,-or or
the other hand, whether the Island will be suffered
TO become desolate, and feed slaves relapse into
barbarism, &c. These things have been speculated
about, and gloomy predictions have bad their day
the time has now come for the proof. People
do not buy land and houses and rent prop
critics for long terms of years. in countries where
life is insecure, where labor cannot be had
and the tendency of things was to ruin and de
cay.
In short men in their do not embark or
board a sinking ship. Confidence is the very soul Of
prosperity; OF the existence ofths confidence in this
Island, the immense operation in real estate, since
the first of August are abundant proof. There are
nultitudes of instances in which estates have sold
for 800, 900 than asked for ;hem months
ago. and yet at that time they we've considered very
high. proprietor who was persuaded a few week:
since to part with his estate for very large sum o
money, went and bought 1t back again at an adoanc
of $4,000.
A great many long leases of property have beer
entered into. An estate called '.Edgecumbe, men
toned by Thome and Kimbal, has been rented TO
81 years $500 per Another called tn,
'Hope" has rented for 10 wears at $4,000 ster
ling, $4,000 per annum. Another, after being rent
ed at high price, was relet by the lesses, whc
became entirely absolved from his contract, anC
took $4,000 for his bargain, Ifrequired l coule
gveyou aihost ofsimar cases, with the names OF tn,
parties But it seems unnecessary. The mere
impulse given to the value of property in this Is
land by enamel patton is thing notorious here
the fact of emancipation.
But are not crimes frequent than before?
have now before a Barbados newspaper, prin
ted two weeks SINCE in which the fact is stated
that in all the country prisons, among population
ofS0,000, only two prisoners were confined for an.
cause whatever
'But' says believer in the necessity of colon
izalion, chow will you get rid of the negroes?'
answer by adverting TO the spectacle which is nov
seen in all the islands, Of the former propretors o
slaves, now employed of free Iaborers, using ever,
endeavor to Preoent ennis ration. Trinidad, Deme
rara, and Berbice ,oant laborers The former ha
passed law to pay the passage money ofany labor
er who comes to the Island, leaving him free t.
choose his own employment Demerara and Bor
,bice have sent emf grafton agents this and othe
islands, to induce the iaborers join those colonies
offering high wages, good treatment, &c. On the
other hand, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, and
all the old and poPulous islands, individually and
collectively, by legislative resolves, legal enact
ments, &c &c.-loudy protest that they have moi
man to spare!
What is still better the old island propretors
every hand building houses FOR the
peasantry, & with great forehought adding to their
comfort; knowing that twill hereby,secnre tieil
contentment on their native soil. AS pleasing
instance of the good understanding which now ex
lists between proprietors Il laborers will mention
that great numbers of the former were in town on
the 24th, buying up pork, hams, rice, &c. as pres
ents for their people on the ensuing Christmas;
day which has this yea. passed by amid scenes OF
quiet, SABBATH devotions, striking contrast to the
tumut and drunkenness of former times l can.
to tho correctness of,he statement made by our
countrymen, Thome and Kimbali. They were
highly esteemed here by all classes and had