Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-12-09

During the Continuance of slavery men went armed
shout their business and slept with arms under their
pillows. Since emancipation, thousands Of stands Of
arms have been put into the hands Of the liberated
slave, and well organized militia system established
among them
Crime At the end of three years from the date of
emancipation, only three murders had been committed
IN the lSand-two Of these by foreigners, and one by
an emancpated slave; and this in population of
100000, of whom 100000 had just been liberated
Vagrancy,--A vagratt law had been passed as a
precautionary measure, to go into effect with emanc
patton It is worthy of note that this law did mol have
respect to color; consequently white men subec
to its penalties Several years after, inquiry was
instituted to ascertain how many of the liberated slaves
had been arrested Migrants, and it found that
not had been, though number of ohdte men had
been enrolled on the list.
Mdrridge--At the time of emancipation there could
not have been fifty married planters in Jamaica. Ne
groes had never heard that they could be married..
In years afterwards $4,000 marriages had been re-
corded. Now, amagamation Of colored with white
people is scarcely known; formerly very common.-
Prejudice against color had disappeared to great
tent Coloed lawyers, doctors, editors, &C.,
at the Governors levees, ard at balls, Leading in the
dance with the Governors daughters; and no one is
fastidous as to find fault. Other indications of pros
perty might be seen in the increase of wages, in the
enactment Of udcious laws for the benefit of all class
esln the improvement of the dwellings Of the eman
cpued furniture food, dress, and mode of do
ing their work. They are also rapidly becoming free
holders, small scale, so to become legal voters.
1t should be borne 10 mind that there is class who
have always been opposed to emancipation, to whom
OF these indications of prosperity to the freedman
may seem to be adverse, and Of which they loudly
complain. For instance, much has been said because
the slave would not work for just what the planter
chose to give. Previous to the distribution Of the 20
millions among the planters, they called upon to
testify, under OATH what was the value of their slaves
daily labor. Thinking that the money would be APP
portioned among them according to the price which
they fixed upon the labor they swore it was worth 81
cents per day. The slaves knew this; and when they
had obtained their liberty they remembered it. The
planters got together to agree the price they would
pay for labor and fixed it at S cents, They told the
negroes to 90 to work and they would pay them.--
GLOW much, NASSAU" eighteen cents per day"-
They demanded the 81 cents and refused to work for
less. They could afford to lay still longer than the
planter could afford to have his crops neglected.
consequently, the planter had to give 81 cents Ano-
Their difficulty then The law under the appren-
ticeship system had specified what should be days
work. When this accomplished the negroes
shouldered their tools and started hCmeward They
were met by the overseer, planter, who demanded
where they were going. alone, Massa. Dayswork
all done" days work done it is only noon! You
must work till night" "Guess the law know what
days work be, massa" OF course, those who had so
long been accustomed to unlimited power could not
reconcile themselves without muruur to the idea Of
meeting those men, equal footing to rights
whom they had recently yrannzed over as brutes.
Another feature has appeared the result Of emanci
patton. Many of the plantations now number more
aborers than formerly in consequence Of the return of
the runaways to their old homes: The negroes are
extremely attached to their homes, and to the graves
of their ancestors From this he argued that the fear
expressed by many, that if slavery abolished in
the United States the slaves would all come to the
north had no foundation in philosophy or fact. On the
contrary, those who had fec to the cold barren regions
of the north would hasten back to their sunny homes
During the existence of slavery, oxen were rarely
employed, as they could not be worked to advantage
When used the negroes would be sent out to get the
cattle ogether-some 40 or SO of them in a yard Of
course, they would not feel interest enough to hurry,
and perhaps it / CT -, AM 81. before they were
yarded The next thing was to yoke them. To Go
this, rope procured, spnoose made, the cattle
huddled together and the rope thrown upon the horns
= of one. This done, the animal was hauled up and
made fast to post. Then another rope procured
another animal caught and fastened in the way,
? and so on till team was fastened up. Then they
were yoked hefers and steers together il happen
ed thew showing respect to Ser-not being
toned to such respect in their own persons. Then
great Numbering cart so big that it could not be brok
en-, hauled up by the negroes to the oxen and
made fast. The team is then ready for a start. A
stout negro takes rope and fastens it in the ring IN
the forward steers nose and goes forward to lead The
: remaining negroes arrange themselves on either side
and "shoo The team along" making much noise the
farmers in this country do in drawing barn. With
all this team they would draw about as much one
yoke of good oxen would draw at a load. And it of
ten happened that two or three Of the cattle would be
: melted down in one day.
Previous to emancipation, the negroes were really
in degraded state Of heahensm. They were grad
ualy emerging to a better state Most of those under
40 years Of age we're learning to read bibles had been
given to them as fast they got able to spell out a
t few words consecutively Their social condition is
improving, and vast field ripe for the harvest is open
: for missionary labor. He had found them willing to
listen to his teachings and contribute of their little
means to his support
e He concluded by soliciting money to aid in building
y churches for the colored population in jamaica His
remarks were listened to by large anu attentive au-
i dience Respectfully Yours,
Y Boston, Nov. %, lS47, Abb.
----
Oren in TSmont-~The Vermont (Windsorl Jour-
nal says that Mr.. Scofeld of Springfield lately scld
yoke of steers for l25 dollars; and Mr.. Lewis Gil