Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1839-02-28

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From the ~ y. Journal Of Commerce.
LETTER
From Wm. II. Hayes, Esq, Barbados, w. l.. to
Rev. Ill. G.. Ludlow, of New Haven.
BARBADOS, Dec. 26, 1888
l gave you in my last some account of the
manner in which the first day of emancipation
came and went in this island. We very soon
aiter.l.s -sis,,iar accounts from all the
nfi-nn1fTng islands. In all of them the day
was celebrated as an occasion "of devout thanks
giving and praise to God, for the happy termina-
ton of slavery" In all of them, the change took
place in a manner highly creditable to the eman-
cipated, and intensely gratifying to the friends
of liberty The quiet, good order, and soemn-
ty Of the day, were every where remarkable
Indeed, is it not fact worth remembering that
whereas, in former years, single days relaXa-
ton from labor was met by the slaves with shout
ing, and revelry, and merry-making, yet now,
when the last link of slavery was broken, forev-
err, sobriety and decorum were especially the or
der of the day The perfect order and subor-
dination to the laws which marked the first dav
of August, are yet unbroken. We have now
nearly five months experience of entire emanci-
patton; 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 other free countries but
no concert, no combination even, here; and the
only attempt at a combination was among the
planters, to keep down wages and that but for
a short time only. will not enter particularly
- the questions, whether not the people will
continue TO work for wages, whether they will
remain quiet or on the other hand, whether
the island will be suffered to become desolate
and the freed slaves relapse into barbarism, &c.
These things have been specialized about, and
rlo ictio hopa ba1 bot
has now come for the proof People do not buy
land and houses, and rent properties for long
terms of years, in countries where life is insecure
or where labor cannot be had, and the tendency
of things is to ruin and decay. In short men,
in their senses, do not embark on board sink
ing ship Confidence is the very soul of pros
perity Of the existence of this confidence in this
island, the immense operations in real estate
since the LIST of August, are abundant proof
There are multitudes of instances in which es-
tates have sold for $50 600 more than was asked
for them six months ago; and yet at that time
they were considered very high. proprietor
who was persuaded few weeks since to part
with his estate for a very large sum of money,
went and bought 1t buck again at an adcance of
$4,000. A great many long leases of property
have been entered into. An estate called edge
connie -, y Ineptyoned by Thome g.. Kimball. has
been tented for 81 years at $1,000 per annum
Another, called the "Hope," has been rented for
ten years at 2000L sterling, equal to 50 600 per
annum. Another, after being rented at a high
price, was re.iet, by the lessee, who became en-
tirely absoved from the contract, and took
$4,000 for his bargain. If required, | could
give you a host of similar cases, with the names
of the parties. But it seems unnecessary. The
mere impulse given to the value of property in
this island by emancipation, is thing as notori-
Al, Fad E
But are not crimes more frequent than before
| have now before me Barbadoes newspaper,
printed two weeks since, in which the fact is
stated, that in all the county prisons, among a
population of $4,000, only TWO prisoners were
confined for any cause whatever
"But," says a believer in the necessity Of Col
onization, show will you get rid of the negroes %
| answer by advertng to the spectacle which is
now witnessed in all the islands of the former
proprletors Of slaves, now employers Of free la
borers, using every endeavOr to preUen emgra-
ton. Trinidad, Demerara, and Berbice, rant
laborers. The former has passed a law to pay
the passage money of any laborer who comes to
the island, leaving him free to choose his en-
ployment, Demerara and Berbice have sent
emigration agents to this and other islands, to
induce the laborers to Join those colonies offer
ing 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 en-
actments, &c. &c, loudly protest that they have
not a man to spare! What is still better, the old
island propretors are on every hand building
new houses for the peasantry, and with great
forethought adding to their comfort knowing
that they will thereby secure their contentment
on their native soil. As a pleasing instance OF
the good understanding which now exists be-
Il II
ton, that great numbers of the former were in