The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-24
MISCELLANEOUS.


The Coolies OF Jamaica, and State OF the Island
We perceive by our Jamaica files that the planters OF
Jamaica are thoroughly aroused the subject of the
coolies. who brought them from India by the Brit.
sh government, substitute for negro laborers The
Jamaica Morning Journal, of the I'd instant, contains
several petitions on the subject from planters merchants,
ana other cnzens OF jamaica to the House OF Assembly
In which they complain bitterly of the cooley system a.
oppressive and UNJUST The petitioners state that they
are taxed vs. SO annually for each cooley in their employ
that there are not over TWO three out of every forty OF
them imported who are fit for agricultural laborers and
that the remainder OF them are the very dregs of the pop
uahon OF Calcutta and Madras. They were led TO be.
eve by the British government that the coolies imported
would all be good agricultural aborers, and thai they
tthe panters) would have the preference of their employ
ment Tor five years. On the contrary, the moment the
aborers contract is ended say the petitioners they wan
der all over the country and large number betake them
selves to begging, and become either nuisance TO tray
oilers or inmates OF the poor houses the remainder going
from one estate TO the other for work. suits their hab-
lis and con venience
After the first year the coolies refuse to enter into
new contract with the planters, who nevertheless
taxed IS IS annually for each cooley The petitioners
beg 10 be relieved from this tax, The law regulating
the cooley system in Jamaica, allows none but planters
to employ them, imposing heavy penalty all others
who take them into their at the same time il
makes no provision to secure continuance of the
tracts OF the coolies with the planters who thus only
get their services for the first year, during which pc
Rod they lose much of their labor from sickness which
invariably attacks them and have to pay besides all the
expenses of medical attendance, noursfment, &C.
Such are the results of abolition and English legisa
now been fairly tried there, and the result is that the
agricultural interests of Jamaica aeruined The plant
ers find 1t impossible to compete with the negro labor in
other countries The various petitions declare that the
cultivation of coffee and sugar. their two chief staples
SO Improbable as to be nearly abandoned-that the
planters are barely able to furnish their families with the
necessaries OF e-that they chiefly depend the sales
OF live stock for subsistence and that they now appre-
bend agreat diminuton of the demand for live stock
owing to the sugar planters being unable to purchase
formerly.
The condition of property in Jamaica is as low as re-
CARDS value and production, well be imagined
yet the people there think they have not yet reached the
lowest point and will not for year or two About
eighty sugar properties thrown up not paying the
expenses of cultivation and everything them gone
ruin Before the emancipation, the export of sugar
100000 hhds last year it amounted to little than
600. The coffee properties, which in the
alns, doing somewhat BETTER but bad is the best
All the white inhabitants able to leave the island have
Reduced TO state of distress and ruin the planters of
Jamaica have, heretofore, petoned the British govern
ment. through the colonial government for relief but
concessions had been granted AS the last resort the
distressed planters petition the colonial government
for reduction OF some Of the heavy taxes which they
the BY which hey We're formerly enabled to pay
taxes, is now taken away from them.
The present state OF the island OF Jamaica is truly de-
plorable; and, if may believe the speeches made
during last month the colonial assembly the people of
that island are bordering Instruction On the Goth
ult the colonial assembly of Jamaica went into committee
the present state OF the island when most deporabe
state Of things developed One member stated that
out Of forty eight estates in parish only three were
able to pay their expenses. 'He called upon the house
to look at the foorn state Of Kingston there the very
beds might be daily dragged from under the heads
of the poor to pay their taxes, and starvation and ruin
were staring every one in the face If the house waited
twelve months longer, without giving relief that
delay would seal the country's fate"
Another member stated that cit would be of little for
him to dlae the disresses of The country; they
brought home to the door Of every nhabtant OF the ISL
and, whether engaged in agricultural, commercial, or
professional occupation Hall the parishes insol
vent, and there was no property left which raise
taxes; no further taxation could be imposed If were,
the people would resist payment He had already seen
petition from parish, (Which, doubtless, would be
presented to the House0 in which it plainly stated
that they would not pay if the House persisted in ex-
penditues beyond their means They could not pay and
the institutions Of the island could not be upheld unless
relief could be obtained from Parliament" The same
member deplores the sunken condition Of morals educa
ton, and the social system, in Jamaicaall of which has
been the result of the abolition of slavery Universal
deness and crime prevails. and increasing among the
negroes and abong classes school system whatever
exists in the island to foster better state Of morals and
"the awcourts TEEN with criminal cases" 1.-The work
of petty sessions had greatly increased adds the same
member, (M Whitelock.) THAT in large parishes where
four or five district courts held monthly, they were
obliged now, in many cases, to be held twice month"