The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-09
FROM REV. J. Y. EDGHILL.
MoTdrian Missionary.

My DEAR SIR: / must, at the last moment,
write q few lines in answer to your queries, re.
ceived some time ago. The many duties
devolving upon me, as a missionary in this
town, and especially at the commencement oil
. new year, must be sufficient reason with
YOU for not extending my replies as / would dc
II time permitted.
1. The religious condition, at this time, of the
Island generally, and the emancipated classes
in particular, compared with that during Sls
very, is undeniaby superior. l am not in a
position TO give the number of churches and
chapels that have been erected since emanci.
patton. but am sure it is doubled, at the least
Sunday markets have been sbolished-Sabbalh
labor is no longer required-and the at.
tendance at all the places of worship, and
especially of the lately emancipated, proves
that there is a more general attention to the
claims Of religion. The sale of the Scriptures
an town and country, and the circulation OF
religious tracts, (which is extensively 90 to
establish the same fact. There are not want.
ing, also, interesting evidences that there is
more than profession of religion among the
people. Some interesting cases of devotion to
Christ and His service come to our notice from
time to time. Emancipation has undoubtedly
effected this state Of things, by calling forth eff
fort on the part OF philanthropists and others
by setting the former slave more at liberty to
seek instruction-and by dissipating the alb.
surd notion that once obtained in some quar-.
ters, that Africans, and the descendants OF
Africa, were rot capable of approaching the
mysteries of our holy religion.
2. What is true of religion, is true also OF
education. Schools have multiplied since
emancipation, and the number is increasing.
Efforts are made by all denominations to
bring the children of the emancipated under
moral and religious training. This gives an
impulse to all the schools. The middle and
higher schools have been improved. The
children of the emancipsted willingly attend
those schools in which they have confidence
They pay fair fee weekly or monthly for
instruction, and the crowds found in our Sab
bath schools evidence that it is not only secu
lar instruction which is desidersted. The
great majority of our teachers are persons who
were once slaves, or their children. We often
employ the same parties as native assistants in
our mission work.
3. Ny conviction is, that there is much less
crime, of an atrocious character, than formerly
There may be q larger number of persons in
the prisons, but it must be remembered thai
punishment which was formerly inflicted b,
the owner, must now be awarded by q tribunal
and offences once overlooked, or visited with 6
trifing punishment, are now psraded before
magistrate, and the offender sent to prison fo
periods ranging between one month and twelv,
months. There is less Indictment to murder
arson, burglary, rape, and the higher classes
of crimes, and they are therefore rare.
8. 1 remark, generally, on the question o
labor, that it is more regular, efficient, and sat
isfactory, than during Slavery. Job work il
commonly undertaken on the estates, and j
frequently happens that the people perform
two, and sometimes three jobs per diem. Cul
aviation has extended-the production of tn
staples of the island has been considerably In
creased. The island almost universally pre-
SCENTS the appearance of q garden.
III. Emancipation is acknowledged, univer
sally, 10 be blessing. 1 have never met will
an individual who avowed q different opinion
A few poor white or colored people, who de
pended on the labor of slave or two for main
serance, lament the loss of the monthly O
weekly wages but even these confess to tn
blessing Of emancipation.
II. have never heard of q single manifesta
ton of vengeful feelings, on the part of tn
emancipsted, for wrongs endured in Slavery
have known cases In which owners have bee
supported, in whole or in part, by their forme
slaves. One such case came to my knowledg
only yesterday. The female had been educate
IN England, Is now Iallen IN circumstance
and in her age and poverty fluids an asylur
in the house of her former slave.
l9. The effect Of emancipation on the poe
whites in the country psrishss he's been TO rel
der them selfdependent; to reduce the numbs
of beggars and, BY removing the stigma fol
labor, TO induce them to undertake field worl
to enter situations as grooms, carriers, and herd
men. In the towns, some suffering might 'hav
resulted. but it has passed away, or is passin
quickly away.
And now, my dear sir, accept my ferver
wishes for your personal prosperity, and fe
#. the success of the cause in which you are el
listed. The prayers of the missionaries and
their congregations in this island will folio
you. You viii often remember the happ
faces of the emacipated you saw, Sabbath aft,
Sabbath, worshipping Jesus in OR church, an
the intelligent children with whom you spoil
in our schools. You may SOW in tears, yo
will reap in Joy. May the day not be distsn
when every country shall see il duty and i
interest to be in proclsiming liberty to the CO
tive, and in permitting the oppressed to {