West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-04-06
;erence moon religious matters.

b
But, so far, we have been speaking
of the dominant sects in each section
of the country. In the sects not
dominant, among the poorer classes
and in the wilder parts of the coun-
try, much was being done to vitalize
religion. The Baptists in Virginia,
for instance, who seem to have num-
bered now about 10000, we're enjoy
ing a great revival during these years
from 1856 to 1891. After the famous
conference at Baltimore at Christ
mas, 1884, at which Coke ordained
Asbury Superintendent" Method
ism spread rapidly, and it is said
had $4,000 adherents in 1889. As
to the number of the Catholics,
we have information given in let
ter of Marbois to Vergennes in 1855.
"The number of Catholics in the
United States merits, in fact" he
says, "the attention the Holy See
gives to it. There are in New-Eng.
land about 600; New York and New
Jersey, LOO; Pennsylvania and
Delaware, 1900; Maryland, ,freemen,
10000 slaves, S,000-20,00O; in the
States of the South, $500; at the
Illinois, at Kaskaskle, and several
other establishments, purely French,
on the Mississippi, $4,000; total,
44,500."
These statistics were given by
Marbols in connection with the dis
cussion which had arisen respecting
the appointment of a Catholic Bish-
op. 1t is familiar that the first
Episcopalian Bishops has also been
consecrated during the few years
preceding 1888. In all the denom-
nations, in fact, there had been
since the close of the war move
ment toward improvement Of organ
ization and the adaptation of it to
new conditions, and especially to
that of political independence. For
instance. the first general convention
of the Presbyterians was held in
1889. the first of the Universalists
in 1856. AS to the Unitarians,
there was at that time but one
church in the country fully COM
mitted to Unitarian doctrines. The
Presbyterians at that date number.
ed 1873 preachers, 4l9 churches.
The Episcopalians numbered some
what less than geo ministers, of
whom 6I were in Virginia.
"A word or two may be spared for
the subject of slavery. The num-
bers of slaves are known from the
census of 1890. Virginia had near.
ly 100000; Maryland, North Caro-
lima, and South Carolina 100000
each. Of Northern States New
York had the most. over 2l,OOO.
But of their condition it is harder
to speak with confidence. Many
things shocked the humane sensi-
bilities of the French travellers; yet
they recognize the desire OF the
Americans to rid themselves Of the
system. In the matter of the slave
trade, at least, an advance had been
made. Yankee shippers, according
to la Rocbefoucauld, were still bring
ing a few hundred Africans year
to Savannah; but Georgia vas the
only State which did not prohibit
the trade. These Africans sold for
about $500 each. Those from the
Gold Coast were best of all. The
Congo and Ibo negroes stood next.
The latter were the best laborers,
but frequently perished in the first
two years. Cooper gives the follow
ing account of labor in Virginia:
"Labor-Slaves only either purchas-
ed or rented. They are hired at
from &c to fS a year, the master
finding provisions and clothing and
paying the tax. The usual allow
ance to slave is peck and half
of the meal Of Indian corn per week,
sometimes picked and salted her.
ring or mackerel. The clothing is
very triiing."