The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-04 00:00:00

to a British magistrate—l ask you to say whether humanity
should bid me arrest that immigration. fling these human
beings back to oppression and to famine—and why ?—be-
cause their labour benefits our fellow British subjects and
saves a British colony from ruin. You object to the
system of indentures to a master. Just hear the answer
as it is supplied to me by the Immigration Commissioners
—" It has, however, been objected that the Coolie, being
paid for a certain timo under indenture, is in reality in a
state of bondage. The answer is that, before the inden-
ture system was esablished, the Coolies abandoned their
work and wandered about the country, and, in many
instances in the West Indies, perished miserably from dis-
ease and want." Their condition was thus described in
August, 1859, by Mr. Carberry, a stipendiary magistrate in
British Guiana, whose sympathies are much more with the
coolies than with the planters. "With the indentures,"
he says, " the immigrant becomes a useful and industrious
member of society. His labour is alike profitable to him-
self and his master. Without it he too often becomes a
wandering mendicant, a nuisance, and disgrace to the
colony, and finishes his career in the public hospital ; in the
interest, therefore, of the coolie himself the indenture sys-
tem is necessary." But it is said there has been great mor-
tality on board the immigrant vessels from Calcutta. Un-
doubtedly there was in the years 1856-57. But it is fair,
while allowing this fact, first to remind the house that the
rate of mortality was taken from selected vessels, and that
it may be as much accounted for from causes that do not
apply to coolie immigration alone. Take the very worst
cases that occurred. In Calcutta ships the average mor-
tality was in the years 1856-57 a little more than 17 per
cent. ; but in 1847, on board the vessels that carried the
Irish immigrants to America by a far shorter voyage, the
mortality was much the same—about 17 per cent. Imagine
what advantages would have been lost to Ireland, Eng-
land, and America if, on account of that melancholy
average, the Irish exodus had been stopped. I hold
here recent reports of the mortality of coolies from in-
quiries instituted in India. The causes are most carefully
analysed; remedies which will receive the most dili-
gent attention are suggested. The most searching
of all the inquirers, Mr. Morant, who is the inspector of
gaols and prisons, thus sums up :—" I am distinctly and
decidedly of opinion that the great sickness and mortality
of 1856-57 need not recur ; that whether exceptional or not,
it can be prevented by proper care and attention, and that
there is no need to prohibit the continuance of immigration
on grounds either of humanity or policy." What he thus
says is borne out by facts and figures; for I have here a
return showing the average of mortality on board Calcutta
vessels during the whole 11 years immigration has taken
place. 94 ships have been sent from Calcutta to the West
Indies, and the average mortality in these years had been
but 6 1-sth per cent. ; while on board 311 vessels sent from
Madras to the West Indies that average has been under 2
per cent.. and it will be satisfactory to the house to learn
that in the last year there has been a marked decrease in
mortality, both in Calcutta and Madras ships, for whereas
in 18.57-58 the mortality in the first was 13 per cent., in
1858-59 it has been only 6 1-6th per cent. ; while in the
Madras ships in 1858 59 the mortality has been a seventh
part of 1 per cent. Stress has been laid on the Coolie im-
migrants in Jamaica. In most of the petitions that have
been before me it is stated to be 50 per cent. What are the
facts ? I find by the last return, August, 1858, that the
total number of Coolie immigrants since the immigration
began was 4,451, and that the number of those who had
died, disappeared, or were unaccounted for during those 13
years was 1,597. lam told, in fact, that a number of these
immigrants chose to re-emigrate to Jamaica to work at the
railroad, and lost their lives by that climate ; but that was
their own fault. But suppose they all died in Jamaica ;
calculate that mortality, as taken for the 13 years, it gives,
not a percentage of 50 per cent., but a percentage
of only 2 1-6th per cent. But, taking it, as I think you
ought, by calculating the average mortality of those who
had returned to India during the 13 years, you only get
about four per cent. And this is a specimen of the exag-
geration by which honest and well-meaning men have been
deceived. As to the colonies generally, we find by returns
that the average mortality among the Coolies in the
Mauritius is a little more than three per cent. In British
Guiana it is under four per cent. ; in Trinidad it is singu-
larly low, stated at not above one-half per cent.; in Grenada
it is two and one-sixth per cent. I think there is here some
mistake, and I estimate the mortality as under three per
cent. I turn, then, to the second class of argument—viz.,
that which condemns the present system of immigration as
unfair to the Creole. It is said that there is really no
scarcity of hands to meet the habitual requirements of the
labour-market in the West Indian colonies; that intnigration.
is an attempt on the part of the planters to beat down the
wages of the negroes. But surely it is a sufficient answer to
tha assertion that the proprietors pay an extra sum to obtain
elsewhere the labour which you say they can find more con-
veniently at home. Is that human nature ? Do men do so
even in the West Indies ? Does Barbadoes do so ? No.
Barbadoes sends for no immigrants, because Barbadoes has
a sufficient population, and that population is eminently
industrious. But does the absence of immigration keep
up wages ? No. Wages in Barbadoes are lower than those
in any of the colonies to which emigration has been ad-
mitted. Compare the average wages of Barbadoes even
with those at Jamaica, where you say the planter wishes
to drive so hard a bargain with the Creole. Wages at Bar-
bedews since emancipation have ranged at ls. 11d. per day
to 10d. At Jamaica they have ranged from is. 6d. to Is. ;
and in the colonies, where immigration is admitted freely, a
man, be he Creole or Indian, can obtain by task-work at
least 2s. a day. But is the immigrant a competitor for
labour at less wages than are current;with the native ? No ;
it is provided that the immigrant shall receive as a mini-
mum the current rate of wages paid to an unindentured
labourer, and these wages cannot be low if, as we have seen,
they enable the coolie to return home in a few years with
what to him is affluence for the rest of his life. But it is
said, "At all events, for this importation of labour the
planters should pay exclusively ; the population should not
be taxed for the labour that competes with their own." Sir,
I grant at once that the planter should pay the greater por-
tion of this expense, that is a condition which both my pre-
decessors and myself have kept steadfastly in view. And,
according to the Jamaica Act, the planters pay two-thirds ;
but that is not all. The money applicable for the payment
of the first immigration is the sum of £50,000 remaining on
the imperial guaranteed loan of £lOO,OOO. The repayment
of that loan is to be effected by an export duty, and an ex-
port duty falls on the producer, that is, the planter. But
granted that a portion of the expense does fall on the general
community, if the immigration conduces to its prosperity it
may fairly be expected to contribute towards it. Increased
civilisation is always followed by increased taxation; more
money is required for schools, for religious worship, for
public works; every individual in the country rises higher
in the scale in proportion as it becomes more pros-
perous; is it, unjust to call on them to pay some-
thing towards what enriches and exalts the country ?
Well, sir, then I venture to think there are really no grounds
for this committee. So far as the West Indies are concerned
there are no petitions from them demanding this inquiry,
nor are there any special measures for their benefit proposed.
So far as information is concerned, it is given to you every
year in blue books as numerous and as bulky as the most
passionate student of blue-books could desire. And we are
now printing for Parliament papers upon nearly all the sub-
jects to which the hon. gentleman has referred. But it must
not be supposed that we shrink from inquiry. And I make
the hon. gentleman two proposals-Ist, Let him wait till
the papers about to be printed for the use of members are
on the table ; if he then wants more information let him
specify the points ; if the Government cannot give them let
him have his committee upon those ; or, 2dly, if he insist
on a committee immediately I will grant it, provided he
thus defines its inquiry—viz., To inquire into the present
mode of conducting immigration into the West Indian
colonies, and the best means of promoting that object. I
think that is fair;, but if he take my advice he will
wait for information before he decides on any commit-
tee at all. (Hear, hear.) Let me say in conclusion a
few words to the friends of the Anti-Slavery Society. I
have fought by their side in my youth,
and now, when I
think they have been misinformed, I still believe that our
object is the same—namely, to give complete success to the
sublime experiment of negro emancipation. It becomes them
above all men to do their best to bestow prosperity on the
colonies in which slavery has been abolished. (Cheers.)
Every hundredweight of sugar produced by the immigrant
at Jamaica is a hundredweight withdrawn from the market
of Cuban slaves. (Cheers.) Will slave States follow our
example, unless capital flourish under it ? Can capital
flourish unless it has the right to hire labour wherever la-
bour is willing to be hired ? (Cheers.) I warn them, that
if in any indiscretion of over zeal on our part our Westllndian
Colonies become vitally injured, it is wo who shall rivet the
bonds of negro slavery wherever it yet desecrates a corner
of the earth. (Cheers.)
Mr. LABOUCHEILE said—l rejoice to say, especially
at this time of night, that I do Rot feel the least disposi-
tion to trespass more than a few minutes on the attention
of the house ; but having recently filled the situation which
is now occupied by the right hon. gentleman, I feel it in-
cumbent on me to address a few words on the present occa-
sion. I think the house must have observed of recent years
a great alteration in the triode in which colonial subjects
have been treated within its walls. I, at least, can remem-
ber when no class of subjects was debated with more acri-
mony—indeed, it was often the favourite battlefield when
domestic policy did not present any point particularly
tempting for these conflicts. But a much better feeling has
of late years arisen upon these questions. lam bound to
acknowledge that during the two years I had the honour to
be Secretary for the Colonies I received from gentlemen
who were opposed to me in general policy nothing
but counsel and assistance. I ie not recollect that a
single hostile motion was made by any gentleman,
and both from my sense of duty to the colonies,
as well as the recollection of that circumstance, I trust I
shall always endeavour to view colonial subjects entirely
free from party bias. (Cheers.) On the present occasion
I am glad to say that I am able to express an almost com-
plete coincidence of opinion with the right hon. gentleman.
I agree in hoping that my hon. friend who has brought
forward this motion with such ability, and in a manner so
becoming his name and position, will not, on the present
occasion,invite the house to undertake an inquiry into the
general state of the West Indies, which I am sure is unne-
cessary, and may be mischievous. (Hear.) I think this
house should be sparing of inquiries into the state of our
colonies. (Hear.) I have never said, and I will never
say, that this house should not keep a vigilant eyo u.ponthe
British Colonies as well as upon every other great interest
committed to it, but I do say that very sparing interference
is wise. (Hear, hear.) This house may depend upon it
that there is growing up in the colonies a jealousy not only
of unnecessary interference on the part of the Executive,
but on the part of the Legislature itself. They think
justly that they aro able to manage their own concerns
better than we can manage them for them. The house
may depend upon it that they will best preserve the su-
premo authority in the last resort respected and revered, by
exercising it only on the greatest and not on light and un-
necessary occasions. (Hear, hear.) That being the case, 1
ask what reason can be given as to the necessity of any in-
quiry into the general condition of the West Indies ? From
my knowledge of the colonies, I have no hesitation in say-
ing that it would be adverse to the feeling of the British
West Indies. (Hear, hear.) Jamaica has a great popular
constitution—a great popular Legislature ; and I think
they will. consider any inquiry into their affairs on the part
of this house unnecessary. I see no good in such an inquiry
—and, seeing much evil, I cannot but join with the right
lion. gentleman in hoping that my hon. friend will not
press that part of his motion on the present occasion.
(Hear, hear.) The general picture of the West Indies
at this moment is extremely gratifying. There can be
no doubt they have struggled through that period of
distress which long weighed on them. Some are in a
state of great prosperity. They are all in a state of improve-
ment. With regard to their moral and social position, I
hope the two races, black and white, are becoming amalga-
mated, and acting in greater harmony together. I know
that black and white lawyers sit side by side as barristers in
their courts of justice. I know that official situations are
held by men of colour, and when I had the honour of hold-
ing the seals of the Colonial-office I always rejoiced to find
a man of colour, of character and ability, to whom I could
give an appointment. If those causes are left to operate I
think the house may rely on an improved condition of the
colonies, both socially and morally, being produced. (Hear,
hear.) The general state of things with regard to the
sugar trade is very curious and interesting. I believe it is
the Maio); to say that the West Ladies, as sugar prpdaciAs