The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-25
From the Philanthropist.
Letter from Jamaica.

GRAND RIDGE, COFFEE MT. MARCH 10, 1889.
Dear Sir Il have often thought it would be
a pleasure to send you facts relative to the work
ing of emancipation of this island, but have as of
ten been prevented by desire to wait till coulo
communicate intelligence which might be critic
rion by which to judge of its prospects in time tc
come.
By travelling in several of the States, before
left America, | was made more fully sensible Of
the deep solcitude felt by the friends of liberty
for the success of the experiment which has just
been made in this and neighborng islands.
trust have been with you in solicitude and fer
vent prayer, that the enemy might not gain an
advantage by Witnessing even a partial failure OF
the good which it was hoped would be done to
the cause. of universal emancipation by the step
which had been taken here. trust our prayers
have not been in vain. | could fill this sheet in
enumeratng the benefits which have resulted to
the Island but should then fail to do more than
partially express them. But this is not, partlcu-
larly, the subject of anxious thought The ques-
ton which much agitates the mind OF a large por-
ton of the public is, what benefits are gained or
lost by the owner of the SOIL Here will not par
ticuarze; but will just say, one benefit is this
Whereas formerly much of the planters happi-
ness was destroyed by fearful apprehensons for
ing danger. Any one who should express fear for
the safety of his person or property, would be
laughed at by every planter in the island. The
for mentioning this Isl few days before
left America rumor was about that the reign OIL
anarchy had commenced here, that the people
would not work-that the Governor had resigned
&c. The venerable Governor, so far from having
resigned his office, still sits in his chair the ty
rants foe, the peoples friend" He is certainly
entitled to the thanks of all the friends of justice
H. rice of elorery etill oxietS in the hearts o.
many OF Its former advocates. 1t is often mani
Tested IN some form of oppression, which Cover.
nor Smith is quick to detect and bring to Justice.
Thus, by an honest, upright course, he has bro't
upon himself the displeasure and even the anath-
emas ofthe arstocracy of the land. The public
prints in speaking of him are always full of as
perlty and abuse. In a recent paper, the editor,
after speaking of the stipendiary magistrates with
abusive vulgarity, adds" The minions of Sir
Lionel Smith, weak and tyrammical old man,
whose knowledge of political jurisprudence nev-
er rose higher than the white belts and black but
tons of Buckinghamshire recruit drawn up for
inspection" Governor Smith is doubtless the
friend OF humanity and equal rights, and regret
that Professor Thome, through inadverency, or
mlsinformation, should, in any part of his Jour
nal, hold language derogatory TO the character of
so excellent man.
TO say the least, the people are in many parts
of the island, at work ,OeH. do not say they la
Dor as aceN as could be wished throughout the ISL
and, but do say, there are many good reasons
why they do not.
First-Many proprietors are not willing to be
just-nor willing to give the laborer what is actu-
ally right.
Second-Some proprietors offer more to la
borers than will be afforded by others.
Third-On many properties the people are en-
ployed at task work orr by the job which makes
those very uneasy who labor on different plan
From these three particulars it will be seen dis
tinctly that the planters are not united in their
plans and efforts for securing prompt labor This
confusion among the owners of the soil-this ex-
pertinent in order to ascertain some way to secure
labor without pay, as formerly, is, doubtless the
cause Of all the difficulty experienced in getting
the people to work. | recently had conversation
with an aged and respectable proprietor, who made
the following remark" have no doubt that, had
the propretors at first fixed upon definite price
for labor, and not differed among themselves, all
soould haze gone on aDeU." His interests in COM
mon with other planters were against such an ac-
acknowledgement. but he was an honest man and
stated what is obvious to any candid observer.
There is, in addition to- the above, one other
evil, than which nothing has proved more detri-
mental to, the planter. refer to the practice OF
charging the people rent for their houses and pro-
vision grounds. These grounds are usually lit
tie parcel, often four five miles from home, and
on the sides of steep mountains. For these they
are often charged two macaronies, or fifty cents a
week doubtless too much by half But the evil
of the injustice separately is not half so great as
that of the impolicy of charging rent at ALL 1t is
not to be doubted for moment that it has been a
most unwise STEP The testimony of the gentle
man above referred to Evors this opinion. He
says, nothing sogreatly confuses the negroes, as
the practice Of charging them rent. They do not
see the justice Of it. If sick, for two or three
weeks, they reason thus when gets well den
Massa hab all de money for a week to pay de
rent. This is sufficient to discourage them and
make them, Discontinued with their present home.
have taken a different course with mine.
en- arge them no rent and if sick have them ia