The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-04
Letter from Jamaica.
JAMAICA, March 18th, IS
To John G. Whittier, Esq. editor Of the Penn
sMyania Freeman, PHILADELPHIA:

To John G. Whittier, Esq editor Of the Penn
Sylcanaa Freeman, Philadelphia:
DEAR SIR Il dare say las a Christan) your
heart was filled with joy at the announcement in
the American papers, that slavery should no long
err exist in Jamaica, after the 1st of August last
Oh, how much have we to rejoice in this country,
that the ubiquitous and vanous system of slave
Try is forever driven from Jamaica. Our hearts
are filled with love and joy at the victory which
the God of love and mercy has given us over the
enemies of Freedom.
You have heard, suppose, how quietly the LIST
of August passed off; in so much 10y, so much
peace and the prospect of so much happiness, and
with so much credit to the behaviour of our des-
pissed race. 1t was indeed happy and merry
season.
The planters, to be sure have tried to make as
much bad news as possible, and some have gone so
far as 10 refuse labor on purpose that they might
say that emancipation was working badly. First,
they cried out about drunken excuses, then about
the affair at Falmouth, then at the rates the labor
ers demanded then at rents, then at small change,
and INSTRUMENTATION, dleness and other things too
numerous to mention. Were to attempt to give
you an account of their croakngs and misrepre-
sensations, might say, that all the books in the
world would not contain them.
them and why? Because they have refused to
come to their overbearing and oppressive terms
But have they idle since August? No, no..
They have in very many cases purchased land for
themselves, and have been working hard and
cheerfully since they have purchased. And have
the others been idle, who had not the money to
purchase land No. They worked their own
grounds we'll and industriously; until they have
at last come to terms with their employers who
appear just to begin to have dawn of light COM
ing upon them.
The planters still continue their croaking,-
through their organs, of the ruin of the island the
short crops, lazness of the laborers, scarcity of
corn, scarcity of small change, Baptist missiona-
ries, &c.
If, after all, Jamaica should be ruined whose
fault would it be The negroes No. They
have not refused to work, where they have been
treated kindly, fairly and honestly Then whose
fault will it be? lunhesitatingly say, and with
out the fear of contradiction, the planters and the
House of Assemblys' fault.
| expect your papers will be filled with bad re-
ports of the condition of the island and the inSub-
ordination of the laborers, &c. And how have
they obtained their information From captains
of vessels from your Southern States, (who OBJ
tain all their information from prejudiced persons)
anu WIN uollIS SlSdt ouoileSS III luilioCl1
-four, shingles, &c. They wiU not carry home the
truth
am happy to say every thing is going on qui-
city in Jamaica. The proprietors are mostly at
work throughout the island. The crops, | expect
will be very good, if the seasons are favorable
The planters have been holding meetings all over
the island and sending reports home to scare the
proprieors and the government. But have they
(the planters) reported any of the grievances ofthe
Iaborers No. They have kept that out of the case
altogether. Every thing was light on the part of the
planter, everything wrong on the part ofthe negro
Now Jamaica is not ruined, nor do | think it
will ever be. For why do rents keep rising so
high Why are parcels of land bought upas soon
as advertised and why are so few offered? The
out. They have taken the opportunity of scan
dalizng the negroes at that particular time, the
end of the year, and the Christmas holidays
Trade was better during the Christmas holidays
than it was ever known before. All the other ISL
ands made the same hue and cry.
Yours, dear sir, faithfully and truly,
H. K. BURKELL.
The planters took the opportunity of holding
their meetings just after the Christmas holidays
when they knew the laborers wanted to form new
and more permanent arrangements. The plant
ers would not pay 2s Cd. day, and the laborers
would not take Is. Sd. But now, the planters
have had to come TO fair terms, or else backee
won't work for them. He prefers working his
own grounds. H. X. B.