Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-06-18
HIS TO RICAL.
From the .Nelo York Tribune.
Emancipation in the British West Indies,

were seriously entertained, that the removal of
the restraints of Slavery would introduce general
anarchy; and that the emancipated negroes, re-
fusng all subsection to law, would sweep over
the islands in predatory bands, burning the plan
tatlons and desoatng the country with violence
and blood None Of these fears, however were
realized. The act of emancipation filled the
hearts of the negroes with gratitude not with
rage Their love for their own wives and chill
dren, and humble homes, inspired them with in
tense desire to promote public order and to
prove themselves deserving of their restoration
to freedom
SAYS Professor Hovey-" hazard nothing in
saying that the people of Antigua are as free
from any apprehension of not or instruction,
as is the most peacibe village in New England
The militia which was frequently on duty during
Slavery, and especially on the Christmas holy
days, has not been called out for the purpose of
preserving the public peace, since the day of e.
Emancipation"
Now, be it remembered that this is not the
unauthorized assertion of an anonymous scrlbler,
but the careful statement of one of the most hon.
oIahe and intellectual men of New-England, aE
ter visiting the islands in the careful investiga-
ton of the results of this great experiment.
Twelve years have now passed away since the
shackles of Slavery were knocked from these
long lettered limbs, and yet no camor of war or
violence has been heard in those peaceful val
legs These twelve years have passed away in
uninterrupted tranquility and industry And
thus the question is settled, that immediate aud
unconditional emancipation IS Safc For this
experiment was not tried with few favored in
dividuaIs, but with eight hundred thousand
slaves. These slaves were as ignorant and de-
graded as are the slaves in our States They
had been treated with no more Kindness and
were no better prepared for freedom than are
the same class who toll on the plantations at the
to his slave as was the West Indian, and can
with equal safety set him free,
This experiment was not tried upon one is
land alone, where peculiar circumstances might
favor its success, but in nineteen of the slave
colonies of the British empire; and in every in
stance with perfect safety, and to the almost I'M
mingled satisfaction of both master and slave
The danger Of insurrecton exists only while
Slavery exists. Then the smothered passions of
the oppressed are ever struggling to break forth
Emancipation dispes this danger. There is no
longer motive for instruction, and all equally
interested in the public peace
Another fact established by the emancipation
of the slaves in the British West Indies is, that
the emancipated slaves may at once become in
dustrous and thriving laborers, melted by the
hope of wages rather than by fear of the whip
1t was very loudly declared through all the cities
and and villages of England, before the passage
of the act of emancipation, that the moment re-
straints of Slavery were sundered, the negroes,
spurning all control, would abandon the planta-
tons, and wander over the face of the land in
dleness, and re-asserted, that the slave, cherish
ing the idea that freedom fran WOrk is the choc-
est privilege Of liberty, would reject every in
ducement to labor, and that finally infinite mise
ry and ruin would be the result of a mistaken
philanthropy. But the experiment proved that
the negro loved his wife, and his children, and
his friends, and his home, as well as the white
man. He felt no disposition to abandon his
humble dwelling to rove the land in friendless-
ness, fugitive and vagabond, just in the mo-
ment when he had it in his power to surround
his home with new charms, and when he could
press his children to his bosom with the feeling
that they were indeed his own. The force of
early attachments and habits was so strong that
the freed slaves almost universally preferred to
remain on the plantations where they had been
born, and among the associates of their child
hood. AS general rule, not the slightest diff
Guilty was found in hiring them to cultivate the
plantations. And it is abundantly proved that
under the stimulus of wages, the negro has de-
veloped degree of energy which exceedingly
surprised the planters,
Says Professor Hovey-"As one of the great
est evils apprehended from emancipation was,
that the negroes wouH not wOrk, deem it of
the utmost Importance to say, that on those es-
tates which have conciIiating and judcous man
ayers, which give job work in due proportion,
there has been no falling off in labor, Such es-
tates we're never under better cultivation, and in
many cases even with diminished number of
aborers The wages usually allowed them were
the occupancy of the humble dwellings in which
they had lived, the right of cultvatng small
portion of ground, and about twelve cents day
for their labor On these terms the emancipa-
ted slaves sought for employment was re-
6 peaedIy assured that if the crops should be ever
so great they could be taken off without incon-
venience and that no person would hesitate to
commence any enterprise however arduous from
the apprehension that sufficient laborers could
not be obtained"
1t was formerly found almost impossible to IN
> troduce any new implements of husbandry.-
The slave would proceed in his old and indoIent
+. way, rejecting all innovations. The more clum-
! silly and slowly he could perform his work, the
better for him. For instance, a gentleman pur-
chased a lot Of wheelbarrows, with the intention
of having the negroes use them instead of trays,
to carry out the manure But the slaves not
fancying these new notions for expedihng then
! i Al. 4, N,