The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-26
FROM WILLIAM LEON, ESQ,
Planter and Merchant.

BRIDGETOwN, BARBADOS, Jan. &c, 1858.
DEAR SIR: As you have done me the honor
to address to me a copy of your Circular
lnterrogatories," touching the advantages which
have resulted to this island from the abolition
of Slavery, propose briefly to lay before YOU
the opinion 4 entertain on the several poipts
alluded to, and which has at least the merit
of being the result of several years observation
and practical experience.
l shall best satisfy you, if I conGne myself IN
the limits which you have prescribed. by deal.
ing with the Undergraduates which YOU have
framed, and replying, as far as l am able TO. in
the order you have laid down.
l. The emancpated class are, by far the
great majority of the population, and it ia this
class which has sweled and ia daily swelling
the congregations Of our churches and cbanels
And when / reflect that the places of wcrsbin
have been more than doubled since the times of
Slavery, ard that the Sabbath is now observed
Throughout the country by all classes with prom
er decorum, cannot doubt that the religions
condition OF the masses is at present really such
as does no discredit TO our civilization. Amman.
ances are hopeful enough
2. With regard to education, as distinct from
pulpit teaching, very great deal cannot at all
be said for IT, so far this country is concerned
We have not yet learned to appreciate its yalne
as powerful conservative agency. The Lepis.
lsture are niegard in the provision thew make
Tor dlrect educational purposes; yet, in spite of
great drawbacks, the number of boys and girls
OF the lsooring classes throughout the country
who are alb e now to read and write ia not con
temptible, considering everything. and esne.
cially the smalness OF the island. its nrodnct;vo
ness, our immense population, the lowuess of
wages, and the consequent necessity which ma.
rents OF the laboring class are under of divid;ng
the time OF children, even of tender years. be.
tween estates labor and the school-house -
5. Circumstsnced as We are here the induce.
ments 10 crime are great than thew would he
IN larger country with a thinner population
On the whole, however, / do not think that
crime has diminished but let me say tba,
whilst the prison statistics show that the num-
per OF criminals from the laboring classes are
out small per centage of the class. the crimes
are, as a general rule, only petty larcenies and
INJURY 10 persoF-ihe latter the result of ner.
sonsl quarrels, &c. POI
a. Labor, from the circumstances alroodr
detailed, is abundant, fciept. and cbean tn.
lsborer works hard, and is orderly and land
az coneidered the safest and beet invest, ont
The value Of estates has increased fulIv one
hundred per cent. since Slavery; and thew are
greedliy purchased at sl0O sterling the acre
on an average.
9th. Ire African is, / need hardly say, nat
Graiiy docile, long suffering, and forbearing
Inc laws OF the country are amply sufficient
tor the protection of person and propertv. both
OF which are decidedly secure.
9: The energies which the free laborer pnts
forth were thought impossible during Slavery
the tree laborer does now efficiently. and in >
shorter time, twice az much for a DAYS worb
As Inc gave was thought capable Of, by the
I. L have rot lie means at hand of answer
ing thi5 qnsry so particularly as is no doub
desirable, and as | could wish. But the nro
prietors of this colony have been lone sinc,
profoundly convinced that free labor ia not onl,
more elhc;ent, but cheaper, than slave labor
1t stands to reason that, with the market nr;c.
OF labor, OF tlrst quality, at shilling day OF
an average, free labor is cheaper than slay,
laoor, with The risks, cost, and other things in
cldental to the purchase and maintepance q
slaves. y
3. The laborers work both BY the dav and b,
the Job. Circumstances compel them to worl
hard, and they are always ready to work O,
the most advantageous terms that offer.
9. The estates are of course better cultivated
now than during Slavery. This country ha
not been stationary, whilst the whole world ha
moved on In the march of civilization and tn
Pies0ht IaCS vi proprletOts, managers, DC, ar
much better class of men, in every respect
than we had during Slavery. There ia 80,
doubtless, plenty of room for Improvement il
the management Of estates, when science shal
be more generally diffased, and capital shall b
more abundant, than at present. But, so far a
manual labor can contribute to the cultivation
of estates, ours are like beautiful gardens, an
present picture for the admiration of th
world.
10. The cost of production has been lessene
since emancipation, whilst the staples have bee
nearly doubled. - -
IL. Emancipation is felt and admitted b
every class in the colony to be blessing.
IL. Never; nor has anything ever occurre
to induce even the suspicion that snythin,
which occurred in Slavery has eDgendered fee
ings of hostility in the minds of the emancpate
against the other class.
Is. The laborers do not seem to me to sho,
auy sentimental interest in the plantations
They are employed upon the estates on certain
conditions, which they comply with.
L Il