The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-08-17

was free from his master! The plan
tiers informed us that they went to
the chapels where their own people
were assembled, greeted them, shook
hands with them, and exchanged the
most hearty good wishes"
Alas for the prophecies of the boders
Of evil things 10 come from the according
to human nature lis rights. Verify no
blood flowed the clash of conflict was
no. heard 20 disturb the sabbath day still
ness Of that peaceful scene; and to this
day we may challenge the impious soul,
that still doubts whether it be quite safe
TO urn men loose, las though indeed they
were made for aught else under heaven
TO point US 10 the single case of murder.
TO even one case of common assault ard
battery, or breach of the peace, which is
;raceable to emancipation there.
All accounts agree, that the emancipat'
ed have made wonderful advances in edu-
cation, in morals, in purity, in the arts
aad comforts of civilized life. The num-
Der and atrocity of crimes have amazing
" decreased. So secure are life and
property felt to be, that q great part of the
military force in those colonies has been
dis5anded, and the civil and military po.
lice in good part is made up of the negro
population. Under the genial influences
of freedom new villages have sprung into
existence, lands have been subjected to
culture which under slavery had been
suffered 10 run 10 waste, neat cottages
have in multitudes been erected, stored
with comforts all unknown before
Churches have been greatly multiplied.
Missions to the Colonies are about at an
end, for the freed people are now able and
willing withal to sustain their own teach.
,ers, and have even raised funds to send
the gospel to Africa. A most surprising
spirit of education has arisen; all are anx-
ious TO be taught the rudiments of learn.
ing. There is good reason to believe
that a more general desire for education
pervades that people than prevails in most
of the slave States of this Union. In.
deed it is said, that in one of the islands
a child over ten years of age can not be
found, who is unable to read. Where ia
the world eau be found a people, who
have made such Astonishing advances in
education, in so brief a period, as this
same despised and oppressed race? 1t
was said that the negro would not work
in a state OF freedom, without the COM
pulsion of the lash. But experience has
proved how false was this argument
against nature. Most Of the negroes re-
NAMED upon the same plantation to which
they had before been attached. and now
remain there, cheerfully working for
wages, whereas before they toiled grudg-
in2ly by compulsion. Bat it is urged,
that since emancipation the exports from
the islands have somewhat fallen off; but
the tables show that the imports have very
much increased. This makes nothing
against the industry of the people, but
rightly viewed is an argument IT. favor of
emancipation, which touches a mans
heart. Under slavery, the interest of the
proprietor was to expend tho least posi-,
bic upon the comforts of the slave, and
yet acquire the greatest possible return Of
run and sugar. But under emancipation
new interests, with a new people, have
come into existence 10 be cared for. Free
10 follow what occupation suits each best,
some have left the old plantation to open
new ones for themselves, not Immediately
productive; some are building school.
houses and meeting houses all are build
ing comfortable cottages for themselves,
aud cultivating small patches of ground
for their family provisions. Some have
gone into trade. The magistracy-yes,
the magistracy, the Legislature, the army,
the chair editorial have taken some. The
old and feeble are now suffered to rest
the little children, instead of being in the
cane.feld, are in The sc~hool,house; and
the women. instead Of toiling half naked
in the field, are busted with the more
appropriate charge of household affairs.
Before, the slaves whole toll was weigh
ed in the hogshead, or measured in the
puncheon. Now, he has a wife and chill