Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-02-04
From tie Richmond Republican
RESULT OF EMANCIPATION IN THE
ISLAND OF JAMAICA

Misunderstanding recent visit to the ci
ty of Baltimore, became acquainted with the
Rev. VIM. Downey, a Baptist minister. OF the
Island of Jamaica. Mr. D., as learn, brought
TO respectable merchant in Baltimore letters
of introduction very satisfactorily youching
his high moral character. He recently made
two extensive tours in the Island, the last co-
sing on the 18th of November, 1s47. for the
purpose of acquiring accurate general infor-
nation of the effects of emancipation. Hav-
ing long resided in Jamaica. he was we'll quail
flied to form a correct judgment on the sub
ject. The picture which he draws of the con-
dltlon OF the colony Is most melancholly.-
Lands have every where fallen to one fourth
or one-eight of their former value-the ex.
ports of the Island have been diminished two
thlrds-many of the finest estates are not cul.
tivated at all-and not more than one fourth
Of those that are. defray their contingent ex-
penses. The negroes are indolent and thriftess
demand exhorbilant prices for their lalor; re-
fuse TO perform job or task work, and, when
employed by the day, will not labor more than
tour or five hours per day, nor more than four
days in a week. Many of the planters, to re-
tain them on their estates, and 10 stimulate
them to exerton, sold them small grounds for
dwellings ard gardens, and when they are
unemployed they rely on the protection Of
these grounds, and fishing and prowIing for a
support. If a planter or his manager offers
them the slightest offence they abandon their
work at the moment when the crop must be
saved or perish, for the purpose OF showing
their power to punish the real or supposed in
suit. Owing to the admission of slave grown
sugar into Britain, the article has fallen from
EGO to g12 per hogshead-a price which
must almost entirely suspend its cultivation.
These are some of the disastrous effects of the
abolition of slavery in an economical point of
view; nor are the effects less baleful in Il NOR
al than economlcIe light. The churches nu-
merously attended and literally supported by
the negroes in Il state of slavery, are now
greatly neg Iected-the difficulty of maintain
ing sautary discipline is much enhanced,
and, indeed, IN some cases, rendered impracti-
cable-tEe schools are generally declining,
the negroes considering it quite favor con-
ferled on the teachers to send their children to
the schOol-crlmCs of all sorts, and some O.
namelcss atrOcity, are every where increasing
in fine, unless the British Parliament can
devise some means 10 countelact the influence
of emancipation, the Island must sink into
state Of barbarsm.
|. Mr.. DoWncy states that the Abolitonists,
by whose interchangeable efforts emancipation
was, in no small degree, effected, have not
publicly admitted that error; but he has fire.
quently in private circles heard them acknow!-
| edge their painful disappointment at the re-
suits of freedom. The very men, who ha-
Zaried every thing in pleading the cause Of
the slaves, are now suspected, and treated
with neglect and GOODNESS by those who are
indebted TO them for the freedom which they
abuse
Rev. Mr.. d. earnestly imporcd that the
people Of the States should not hastily and
raShly emancipate their slaves. He considers
ii the great error OF the British Parliament that
they conferred the boon of freedom on peo-
pie unprcpared for its enjoyment-the effect of
which unWi>e legislation will be 10 change
the once beautiful and fertile Island of jana
cha into a comparative waste, occupied by a
semi barbarous, lawlesS, and wretched hord
of trcemen.
have long been convincel-and convin-
cci against my early prepoSsesson-tha in
the actual condition of society in the Southern
states, sound policy, humanity, and even en-
! lightened pie:y, demand that the negroes
should be retained in a state of slavery
! Whatever may be the evils of the system, |
;m satisfied that the evils of its precipitate
abolition would be incomparably more disas-
trous, both to the white and coIoreI races
ment is making in the West Indies will fur
nish important lights for the guidance of flu
ture statesmen on this most delicate and diff
cut subject
think am giving utterance TO public sem
imcnt in the South, when | affirm that the
condition of the colored race imposes on us
an onerous ana delicate responsibility. They
are fellow beings, entitled 10 our sympathy
and our kindness. Whatever can be done
consistently with the maintenance ofjust and
needfuI authority to mehorate and improve
their condition, humanity, to say nothing OF
religion, prompts us to do desire TO in
quire of those who guide public sentiment
and who are responsible for our legislation
whether the statute imposing restrictions on
teaching slaves to read may not be repealed
without injury TO the commonwealth. These
restrictions should not be enforced without
obvious and strong necessity. Their oblitera
ton from our statute book would place us III
a far better light before the world, and would
think, he mole in accordance with the hu
name spirit which almost universally prevail:
in the treatment of slaves in Virginia, and
certainly, would be more congenal with my
merely meant TO make suggestion, which
may set others TO enquiring, and lead, not te
profitess discussion, but to wise action.
J. B. JETER.
Further TESTINoNY.-The following is al
extract from letter received from Rev. William
Galusha:
BErKsHIRE, VT, Oct. %, ls45.
MEssRs. SANns.-I have been afflicted with
severe pain IN my side, occasioned by a disease
liver, for the last twenty years; suffering at time
what language cannot cOnvey. but since takin
your SarsapariIla have been greatly relieved, s.
much so that have been able to attend to IN
business, and preach occasionally for the last fiji
teen months. | wholly discarded all other medi
cine, aud thoroughly tried the SarsapariIa, whic
can ret ommend in truth and sincerity 10 al
those who are in any way afflicted with any spe
cies of scrofulous complaints. There have bee
some remarkable cures effected by its use in thi
vicinity. Mrs. |. Shaw. Ivy the use of six bottle:
was restored to better health than she had hefor
enjoyed for ten years, and Mrs. ". Stevens, VIII
had been severely afflicted with the Erysipela:
was entirely cured by the use of few bottles.