The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-21 00:00:00

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QUESTION.

COURIER.

TO B 1

R ANDREW HALLIDAY ON THE WEST INDIA'

ro THE EDITOR OF THE DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

Dcemb, .
Sir,—l have read with some attention, e
and amer
sorry to
add with some regret, the letters which have appeared in the
Courier' from my old and most esteemed friend Dr. Duncan,
of Ruthwell, on the " West India Apprenticeship System."
That a clergyman of the Doctor's good sense, sound judg-
ment, and high character, should.lend the sanction of his
name to the circulation of reports, in every instance grossly
exaggerated, and in many utterly false, has surprised me not
a little, and the more especially as the rev. doctor appears
to be very ignorant of the true bearing of the question on
which he has written. It may be possible that in Jamaica
some irregularities have taken place, and some cruelties have
been practised, but 1 can assure yot4 sir, that even in that
colony they could neither be so frequent nor- so continued
unless indeed, ail the authorities were asleep, and the law
totally disregarded. _ _

That this however is not altogether the case we have proof
in a late trial that took place in the island where an appren-
ticed labourer recovered thirty pounds' damages against the
keeper of a House .of Correction, for putting him to hard
labour, when the sentence of the magistrate was simply im-
prisonment. I have no reason to speak well of West India
planters. They persecuted me with a rancour that perhaps
never was equalled, because they supposed I was one of their
enemies—my character having preceded me, as a humble
philanthropist, and my zeal, like Dr. Duncan's, having out-
run my discretion.

A most horrid instance of cruelty and barbarity was de-
. tailed to me in a manner the most circumstantial, by a cler-
, gyman of great worth and long experience too, in the colo-
nies. He had the details from the suffering individual in a
public prison. The object of their being mentioned to ree,
was to get an investigation ordered from the colonial office,
(with which it was known I corresponded), as it was said tb'
local authorities wished to screen the guilty 'planter, and
had refused to hear the slave's complaint. Now, sir, through
my representation an inquiry was ordered—the whole rnatteas
fully and fairly investigated, and then it turned out to be an
artfully contrived tissue of falsehoods, founded upon a len;
trifling incident, or rather accident, which might have hap-
pened in even the best regulated European family, as well
as between a 'West India planter and his slave. If, then, a
man who had experience, who had resided for years in the
colonies, could he so easily imposed upon, we may well sup-
pose that a wandering philanthropist like Mr. Sturge, who
went out on purpose to collect such tales, would find uo lack
of informers. I never met with more shrewdness,' cunning,
aye, and sly wit, among any race of men than I found
amongst the negro population of the West Indies. They
will comprehend in a moment your object or intention, in
entering into conversation with them—more especially if a
stranger in the colony, and they are seldom at a lose in
framing a romance, to suit the taste of the inquirer, or eo
gratify himself with such information as they see he is in
quest of. But lam wandering from the subject, which is
the principal cause -of my addressing you—the question of
abolishing " the apprenticeship System." And now, sir, I
assert, without the fear of contradiction from practical men ;
and I can Isrove from documents the most ample and authen •
tic, that whatever may have occurred in Jamaica, the system
has worked well—is working well, and that to alter or inter-
fere with the existing arrangements would he far more
ruinous to the negro population than to their masters, the
planters. The apprenticed labourer is now as free as any
labourer in England, or any farm servant in Scotland. His
interests are more strictly cared for, and his comforts more
firmly secured, than are those of the labouring population in
Britain. Every bias of the law is in favour of the negro,
and against his qmployer, so that if cruelties are practised
or injustice done him, the whole power of the court is at his
command, and in the colonies (at least those which I have
visited) neither power, wealth, nor rank could save a guilty-
master from that punishment Which the law inflicted. But
as I have already said and shown that I have little reason to
praise West India planters, 1 must, in juetice to that
greatly. misrepresented and calumniated chase of men
state, and I do it with pleasure, that there have bein few
instances indeed in the windward and leeward colonies,
where any disposition was shown either to contravene the
law or ill-treat the negro. It is impossible to do so
with impunity. In the colonies where the proprietors are
for the most part resident, the utmost harmony and good
order prevails among all classes of the community. When-
ever there was anything like harshness in the commencement
of the system, it was only when the estates were under the
management of hirelings, and, I imagine!, the disorders that
have taken place in Jamaica may be traced to the same cause,
and from these hirelings, whether attornies, managers, or
overseers, not being so strictly looked atter as they have been
in the lesser colonies. It requires some person 'more ac-
quainted with human nature than an lion. earl or a noble
marquis, to govern properly a West India colony. Look at
the good order, industry, and happiness which such men ae
Sir James Carmichael Smyth can procure for a whole con,
munity, by merely carrying into effect the wholesome laws
which have been passed for their governance. Sir Lionel
Smith has neither the temper nor the talents of the Governor
of BI itish Guiana; but still, I am certain, that since he as-
sumed the command in Jamaica, the abuses upon which Dr.
Duncan has so largely commented, never could have taken
plaCe. But ought a whole nation to be ruined and laid deso-
latate because there are a few individuals, who may have cam -
witted robbery or murder, to be found within its boundaries
Are our West India possessions to be lost and destroyed be-
cause in Jamaica there are one or two cruel managers ? God
forbid! As well might you turn ten thousand children into
the streets of London, and tell them to provide for and manage
their own concerns, and expect that they would be able to
do so, as suppose for a moment that the great mass of the
negro population of our West India colonies could exist or
prosper, if released from the superintendence of their white
masters and employers. Except in some of our oldest colo-
nies, such as Barbadoes and Antique, the negro is a perfect
child in intellect, and perfectly without care or consideration
for the future. The present system ought rather to be pro-
longed than shortened, if we have any, the lease, regard for
the temporal or eternal welfare of our sable brethren. The
character of the people has changed more in the last three
years, than even the most sanguine could have anticipated :
the value of moral conduct begins to be understood ; religious
knowledge is eagerly sought after; the churches and chapels
are crowded, and schools cannot be built fast enough ; every-
day the people are becoming more orderly and industrious ;
and, instead of this country beine a loser hy the sut9,, larg
il e
souse 1 alUal Lav• ge
turned a thousand fold. Already have our exports to the
colonies been more than doubled, while the increase of their
staple products exceeds by a third the most productive sea-
son of slave labour. Let all such goodmen, as my rev. friend
of Ruthwell, join in petitioning the government to send out
only such men to the West Indies as are fit to be gorernors
and magistrates—men who will carry into effect the regula-
tions of the legislature, and act uprightly. Age and infirmi-
ties are not compatible with such important trusts ; and
neither political influence nor private friendship ought to
guide the minister in these critical times. If a colony is well
governed under the existing laws, there can be neither op-
pressors or oppressed. The utmost extent that a labourer
can be compelled to work is only 45 hours in the 7 days. If
he works 7.1- hours daily, he is employed for six days ; but if
he works for 9 hours daily, which was the term of slave la-
bour latterly, he has fulfilled his duty to his master in firs
days, and has the sixth to himself. This now is generally
the arrangement. and if the sixth day is given to his em-
ployer, he has regular wages. In fact, sir, 1 never witnessed
more contentment or real happiness than amongst the labour-
ing classes in our windward, and even leeward colonies ; and
why disturb their tranquility? All the now priedial will he
free in six or seven months, the prtedial in two years, from
August next. This now is perfectly understood by all, and
contentedly acquiesced in ; I never heard the least impatience
expressed in any quarter. But there are many men, alas !
who think they know better what is good for us than we do
ourselves ; and such, I fear, are the would-be philanthro-
pists, who have begun to agitate the question of the West
India apprenticeship system. I enclose a few remarks, ex-
tracted from a Demerara paper, and I can, from personal
knowledge, corroborate every sentence of what the editor has
stated.—l pray you find a place for this extract in your widely
circulated journal, and you will oblige, sir, yours, very truly,
(Signed) ANDREW HALLIDAN

SERIOUS ROBBERY AT ST. KATHERINE'S
DOCK, LONDON.

LA MBETII-STREET.—On Thursday evening, after the usual
business of the court was disposed of, Alfred List, a young
man who had held the situation of foreman in the A ware-
house of the St, Katherine's Dock, was placed at the bar
before Mr. Norton, for further examination on a charge of
plundering the dock company to a considerable extent.
Mr. Taylor, the superintendent of the dock police, as on
the previous day, when before Mr. Hardwick, stated, that in
consequence of information which had been received at the

dock-house, that the prisone-rTas .cma;:r;inTg. o-ria'ne;tens.We
system of plunder, he, Taylor, searched his honse in Richard-
street, Commercial-road, and there found upwards of 60
packages, consisting of tea, sugar, almonds, spices, and other
property, of which he, the, prisoner, could not give a satis-
factory account. He, Taylor, in consequence, took away
the property, which he then produced, and gave the prisoner
into the custody of the police.
Mr. Norton.—Are there any marks on these packages
which you produce that will enable you to say they have been
ten from the St. Katherine's Dock?
Mr. Taylor.—No, your worship, there are not.
Is there any of the property that you can swear to, as be-
longing to the dock company ?—I am not prepared with
evidence to that fact, your worship; but I beg to say that
all those articles which I found at the prisoner's residence
are of a similar description to the property of the dock com-
pany in the warehouse of which he is foreman, and to which,
of course, he had ready access.
The officer further stated he had every reason to suppose,
from information he had received since the prisoner's appre-
hension, as well as previously, that he had carried on a mostsys
mof plunder, and that a good deal of time
would to make the necessary examination of the
extensive
be
required
goods in the warehouses under his charge.
A solicitor, who attended on the prisoner's behalf, said he
thought he would he able to show, by witnesses, that the
prisoner, from his business, might reasonably be in possession
of such property as that produced.
Mr. Norton replied, that unless the property was sati-
factorily accounted for by the production of bills of parcels,
and the evidence of the parties from whom it had been pure
chased, he could not think of parting with the prisoner.
The solicitor said he was prepared to show that the pri-
soner, independent of his holding his situation at the docks,
had carried on the business of manufacturing a colouring used
by publicans, and therefore was likely to have a quantity of
sugar in his possession, as a quantity of that article was used
in the manufacture.

Mr. Norton ;;;;rked that it did not follow from this that
the prisoner might not have come improperly by the pro-
perty, besides he, Mr. Norton, supposed that tea, pepper,
and other articles besides sugar found, were not nteessar%
ingredients in the colouring stuff spoken of, and, under all
the circumstances, he would remand the prisoner for a week.
The solicitor applied to the magistrate to admit the pri-
soner to bail, but his application was peremptorily refused .

BONDING CORN IN THE PORT OF PRESTON.—On Thurs-
d ty evening last, a cargo of grain, brought by the brig, Al-
bion, from Lisbon, was bonded in the warehouse No. I,
situated on the Marsh, and set apart for the purposes of this
port, under the recent powers granted by the Board of Cus-
toms. This is the first grain which has been bonded in
Preston.—Pr•sston Chronicle.

CONTINENTAL RAILitODS.—On the other side of the
Rhine there are 200 leagues of railroads either already brought
into use, or on the point of being so. Further undertakings,
some of which have obtained a guarantee of the minimum
of interest, will afford conveyance by this means to the extent
of 400 leagues more within a few years. Of the lines
finished, or near being so, those in Holland run 30 leagues,
Prussia, 51, Austria, 50, Bohemia 18, Bavaria 18, Saxony
20, Frankfort, Nassau, and Darmstadt 11, Brunswick 21,
Duchy of Baden 4 leagues. Most of these roads have only
one line of rails.