The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-24


we are indebted, says the Boston Jonr,lai, TO a
1fiend, tor Kingston Uapaica) circular, from
which we extract the following Article. II places,
ma striking light, The melancholy situation OF
hade and commerce on that Island, growing out
81 tne injurious Legislation OF the mother country
we really regret that we cannot In this lumber
ieave our usual tale Of gloon and rum for more
sheeTing account OF the state OF trade In this truly
unfortunate island; but alas we obliged 10
chronicle the fact that Jamaica her last stage
OF fee Die existence without the strength to sustain
The new, heavy, fatal blow, which is about to be in
Noted by the parent country. England has, at
length, rewarded the fidelity and loyalty Other own
sons IN distant colony, by consignng the country
other adoption to rum, and themselves to pauper-
Ism and starvation. That England has done this, we
eallheaven and the whole world to witness. few
years ago, and Jamaica was prosper0us-them middle
classes were comparatively wealthy, and the pea
santry happy. Agriculture lhrived trade hoa!.shed,
and England,s merchants partic pated in the bene-
hts arising from these sources How sadly are
things changed now! England freed the slaves of
Jamaica--she gave liberty to the bondman, civil
zation to the savage; All honor and glory to her
DlthertQ brilliant history. There Is not man
within the length and breadth Of this island not
confined IN the lunatic asylum, who does not
with all his heart, bless England for that act
England ordained It, and 1t was her subjects IN
Jamaica, to show their readiness to contribute TO
the. good cause, resigned, with liberallty
which, considering all circumstances, was most
handsome and praisewOrthy, some years of the APP
emaDclpated her slaves, and broke the chain OF
bondage. This was done with blind faith in Eng
laDds justice. EDgland's sons believed IN Eng
lands honesty, and abolished the curse of slavery
which England first established. How grlevously
have they been deceived! How grossly has Eng
land duped them! How shamefuly has tickle
England repaid them! few, very few years,
1--WE may almost reckon them by months,) passed
over, and new mania arose in Britain It spread
as most unwholesome epldemlcs usually do, with
the rapdity OF lightning, among all classes, until
at length, through the medium OF unadorned elo-
quence, It seized the first adviser OF Jamaica's
mistress Through him 1t was soon communicated
to the majority of the House of Commons; for, in
those days, as In these, Sir Robert Peel led the
new philosophy, ana its Immediate effects were to
result In Utoplan advantages, which, however,
have not yet made their appearance The first
doctrine OF the new school was, that every thing
must be cheap; no matter at what sacrifice, the
people must be fed for nothing, or next to nothing.
Sugar was too high for the laborer, and the vast
and immense amount OF one penny sterling must
be taken off the price. of every pound The colo
mes could have furnished sugar with the greatest
ease at the reduction of penny-aye, and of
penny and half per pound, If England had relln-
pushed the duty; but no, the revenue was to be
considered; the salaries, the sinecures, and the
pensions of England, were to be paid, and England
must get a large proportion of her wants from the
produce OF her colonies. Free trade was the great
ing letters the red cross of ST. George in the BAN
ner OF England and yet Jamaica must be taxed,
though Yorkshire was not-Barbadoes must
pay though hampshire did not-and Trinidad was
made to yield what government dared not ask OF
Kent. There was, therefore, but one other means
Of meeting the exlgency, and England adopted it.
She repudiated her former acts and stultiied her
past legislation, Slavery, which had been con-
demned by England, became all on sudden her
tondling, her pet, her protegf Honor was sacri-
feed, justice was repudaied, truth was dIsre-
garded, and Engand's co onies have been made
to pay the cost of England's dishonesty. Our
island hank inhabitants ~ mined and
without the means OF quitting their once happy
home now made so desolate; and slavery has OBJ
tanned, through England's protection, so strong
hold in the neishborlng Spanish colonies, that a
late decree of the Governor of Porto Rico au-
thorIses any white man TO shoot slave dead who
may show symptoms of INSTRUMENTATION.
Inc almost certain prosect OF the success of
the ministerial measure in the House Ct Commons
has capped the climax of our stcrtunes We had
suffered ourselves to hope for letter tdngs, but the
loss of Sir John PAX lnton's amendment has banish
ed the deluslcn. WHAT is to be the. future cond-
ton Of Jamaica Sir Robert Peel says all we
want is compention-but the Right Hon. Baronet
knows full well, that if the colOnists want an in
ducement to industry they have 1t in starvation-
Sugar cultivation must be abandoned, and indeed,
the Psan
what is to supply the place OF sugar Cocoa, to-
bacco, sarsaparilla, and other articles of tropical
growth are all produced IN slave countries,
while we must pay for labor:--and merely
exporting anything, Is incompatible with COM
fort, civilization or progression. How are We to
buy our clothing if we do not export, being too
poor to manufacture and if personal cominuni-
cation with either continent is to be discontinued
through the want of to carry it on, adieu to
civilization we must retrograde IN intelligence
and in morals, and, consequently, IN happiness
This Is the condition to which we have been re-
duced by England; these the prospects which
England's injustice has caused us to look forward
colonies may be ruined, the hearts of the coonists
may be alienated from the parent state these are
of no consequence, for do they not get sugar
in the British House OF Commons the strongest
desire to abolish slavery; mon verbs sed opsQS,-
bxs credit"
Our Intercourse with Bermuda.