The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-02 00:00:00

Trii-rrt , -
EVENING EDITION.

rents concerning the good condu t of the labourers in
his own estate, and he adds the following general re-
marks :

To speak generally of the labourincr, population, from
try own knowledge and observation, I must say, that
never saw them so orderly and respectful iu their con-
duct and behaviour. I have never experienced difficulty
in waking bargains with them. Of course they try to get
as much as they can for their labour, which I try to get
as cheap as I can; but I have never known them pertina-
siously adhere to an unreasonable claim, when pains have
been taken to prove it so.
I am quite sure that the rents which became due on the
Ist of February would have been paid, but from a mistake
en the part of the people chosen, as to the mode of valu-
ing the grounds; this remedied, they express their readi-
nees, and I am certain will pay what is demanded.
As far as I am concerned, I should be very sorry to ex-
change the present state of foings for any system of re-
str-iLt whatever.

M:. Lyon in his report (20th February, 18`39) says—

Tee general deduction from those facts is, that where
n ) difficulties are interposed from want of means to pay
f..r the la.'Jour, or from want of confidence on the part of
tie labourers. in consequence of deviations from contract,
or unpuncznal payment of wages, the stimulus of reward is
sufficient to ensure all the labour requisite in the affairs
of the plantation.

Mr. Brown (;31st of January, 1539) closes his re-
yort with the following general remarks :
The generality of the managers are averse to give in-
formation respecting the cultivation of the estates. The
1-ibourers, on the other hand, are anxious for art inquiry
of :his nature. The former complaie that the labourers
do not perform a suficient quantum of work for the amount
of wages given ; the latter, of the low wages and high
rents, and notices to quit, which have been generally
served on them, and now acted upon by ejecting them from
their houses and land, although in some instances the party
was at work on the estate. Much bad feeling is engen-
dered by the managers having recourse to every means in
their power, however trifling, of annoying the labourers
when their slightest wish is opposed, such as detaining their
wages on some frivolous pretext, shooting their hogs,
making use of abuse, and grossly indecent language.
Those managers who pursue an opposite mode of manage-
meat meet with success, and find no difficulty in carrying
on the cultivation of the estates under their charge, as is
clearly exemplified is the case of Spring Garden and Her-
mitage estates.
From these extracts we feel assured that our readers
must be perfectly satisfied that the owners and managers
of West India property were greatly deceived in their
anticipations as to the ruinous results of the Emancipa-
tion Act ; and that a career of prosperity is open before
them if they will forego their wretched prejudices, and
he content to cultivate their estates as estates are cul-
tivated elsewhere. Justice to the labourer will secure
attention to the interests of the master, while on the
c. ntrary a continuance of old oppression and heart-
b irnings will be ruinous to both. We shall return to
this subject during the discussion of Lord John Rus-
sall's proposed measure, that public attention may be
thoroughly directed to proceedings so intimately con-
nected with the objects of the Emancipation Act.

STATE OP Tux LAW.-At this moment any plant-
ing Magistrate that pleases can have any negro, male or
female, taken up as a vagrant and flogged, to the extent
of 39 lashes, for refusing to work for what the Magis-
trates may choose to call " reasonable wages."
At this moment, under the Jamaica Contract for Ser-
vice Acte, the planting Magistrates may imprison the
negrees kr six months for anything they may choose to
call a breach of contract. At this moment none of the
Magistrates who act under the Jamaica Statute,
41 George III„ c. 29, constituting the corporation
of Kingston, can be removed by the Crown, let
them do what they may. Under the Jamaica Militia Law,
the militia—the same be it remembered whichfigured in
the servile war of 1832—may be called out by its own
officers without the consent of the Government. Now
pat these four acts together, and suppose a case. Sup-
pose an act of gross oppression to be committed on
some plantation, such as may occur at any moment un-
der the 35th Car. 11., c. 11, or under the Contract
for Service Act—suppose that it should lead, as is not
unlikely, to some disturbance or riot amongst the ne-
groes en the spot—suppose the neighbouring planters
willing to make an insurrection of the riot, and to call
the militia to arms under the Militia Act—suppose the
limes to spread, and Sir Robert Peel might write con-
ciliatory despatches for many a long year before he
would bring back Jamaica to where it stands at present.
--Morning Paper.