The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-12

clpattOn De supposed 70 nave anecte0 II
2. What is the state of education nov, com
pared with what it was under Slavery?
3. Is there less crime now than formerly, anC
to what extent?
t. What is the price of land now, and wha
was it under Slavery? And whether the invest
ment is considered more advantageous now thar
it was then?
5. is there greater security of person and
pronNrty now than there was in the state of Sla
very?
Generally speaking, lie the days work Of
the free lsborer for wages greater or less thar
was that of the slave 2 And In what proper
tion7
Z. What was the estimated cost of slave Ia
Dor per diem-taking into account the proper
ton Of soOrkers TO sIdUes, the interest and rsl
of the investment in them, the Law and othel
charges to keep them in order, as well as main
tensnce in food, clothing, &c.-snd what il
now the daily cost Of free labor?
g. Do the lsborers usually work by the day
or job, or both? And how many hours consti
tute days work?
9. Are the estates, generally speaking, better
or worse cultivated under free labor than they
were under slave?
10. Comparing the cost of production, on the
whole, with the quantity of produce raised, apart
from its actual market value. has that cost been
increased or diminished under the free labor
system And are there any modifying circum.
stances, other than Emancipation, that might
be supposed TO have contributed to that result
IL. Is Emancipation generally acknowledged
In this Island to be blessing? And if not, by
what particular class or classes is it considered
otherwise?
II. Has there been, at any time since Eman-
cipation, any manifestation of vengeful feelings
on the part of the emancipsted, for the things
endured in Slavery?
IL. DO the laborers usually take greater
interest IN the Estate than under Slavery?
Ia. What time do the usual engagements for
Estate labor leave them for house work, or
work in their own grounds
Is. Are houses furnished them rent free on
the Estates2 Or, il they pay rent, how is it
rated, and what are the conditions2
l6. Are lsborers required to pay any taxes,
peculiarly affecting their condition and circum
stances?
IL. Have they the right of voting equally
with other classes?
Is. On the whole, have they been benefited
or otherwise By emancipation, and in what re-
spects
l9. What is the present condition of the poor
whites And how have they been affected By
Emancipation? CHARLES TAPPAN.
LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS.
BARBADOS, Feb. %, 1858.
Ny DEAR SIR: At Ter 9Th l sit down. in com
phsnce with your wishes, to eEdesVor to reply,
to the best OF my power, to such of the ques-
lions contained in the printed paper you kindly
put into my hands when here, as come more
Immediately within my province. | make the
attempt with reluctance, from a strong sense
of my inability, from various causes, 10 do the
subject justice, and only in Difference to your
request
Bot before proceed to specific questions,
would premise remark or two on the general
subject Of your paper, namely, The Advan-
tsges resulting in Barbados from the Abolition
of Slavery" 1t is a common mistake, think,
IN revolutions of this kind, to look for speedier
results of benz character than the nature
OF things admits. External changes inaugurate
a new state OF things; they do not at once &C.
complsh II the seed is sown, but the harvest
is not yet. In regard to Slavery in particular,
to person of your knowledge and ex perience,
and habits Of observation, | need not say that
Its sequels are not to be got rid of in one, or
two, or even three generations and as vet we
are IN the first. The habits and traditions Of
generations of ignorance, and thougbtlessness.
and vice, were not to be counteracted by twenty
years OF Freedom, especially in it's first rsw
though preceded by few years of preparation
for the change, first by religious instruct n,
and then by that, combined with the training
of the apprenticeship. To Judge fairly of the
success of this vast experiment, we must clearly
keep such considerations in mind, and not for
get either the disorganizing effect of so great a
change. nor yet the slow growth of character in
a people; and the difficulty of learning the
art OF selt-government, with the right use of
liberty, esp cially in a country where Slavery
and manual industry had been almost EQUIV.
aleut terus, and there was, in the expert.
ence ard observation of the emancipated,
nothing 10 refer to like fair precedent or
pattern OF free peasnntry, but liberty
seemed to imply exemption, if not from
work, at least from agricultural labor A diff
cult problem was to be worked out by an igno.
rant people, without any practical clue to ita
solution.
Looking from this point of view at the dan.
gers and difficulties attending the experiment,
L certainly think we have, in Barbados cape.
cislly, great reason to say that the advantages
resulting from the abolition of Slavery have
been quite as great as We could reasonably ex.
pect IN so short a time-much greater. indeed.
than the most sangnine amongst us, | believe
ever anticipated.
Bnt to proceed 10 particulars, in answer to
specific questions:
l. la your first question, you inquire respect
ing the religious condition OF the Island gen
orally" &c.
1t cannot be denied that there is in Barbados.
as IN other countries, those Of Europe not ex
cepted, nor perhaps of North America a de
plorable amount Of irreigiOn and vice, abso-
lutely considered but, viewing the matter
comparatively; do not hesitate to sny that
there has been within the last twenty or thirty
years, and especially within the last twenty, an
immense improvement Ia the religious tone and
character OF the community, and that to such
improvement the emanci patton has contributed
In many ways, and especially in this-by call
ing forth fresh efforts on a large scale, local rs
well as from England, for the diffusion of re-
igion efforts made not only from purely
Christian motives, but from the conviction that
the restraints of Slavery being removed, the
religious training of the peassntry, which before
was looked upon by many with suspicion, and
but coldly promoted by most, had now become
q necessary security for tie good conduct of The
people, and for the we'll being Of society. With
Slavery, religion was regarded as rather an in.
reference; in 6 state of Freedom, it is consid
cred necessity.
Some judgment may be form ed on this sub
iect, from the increase in the number of on,
clergy, and the amount of our church accom-
mediation, as Slavery began to wane, and still
more since Its final abolition:
s%z ISIS. 1884. 1871. IS5s
No. OF clergy in Barbados is % 33 az
Churches aud chapels II p 10 20
Amount OF church accommO- ,
dsuOn 5000 $50 22,5OO p OOC
Originally, the church establishment was on
a scale adapted to the wants of the white pop
ulation only; since 1926, and still more since
1884, 1.-THE year when the emancipation com