The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-03

merous estates in different parts Of the island,
the result Of the mission Of this gentleman was
that he departed, satisfied that Jamaica had
nothing to fear in the competition: with the
mere exception Of the superiority Of the soil,
which was an advantage in favor Of Cuba.
OF course, do not take the liberty of print
ing the names Of the parties above referred to.
| hope that you at least will regard 1t as suffi-
Gent to have described them as has been done
II is not easy to imagine what better testimony
could be desired, far as it goes, and so far as
regards the authentic and authoritative charac-
ter Of those by whom it is rendered. cannot
but rePose confidence in IL, and feel free to in
dulge the happy hopes which 1t suggests, in
reference to the destiny Of the institution Of
slavery, not only in this island, but in our own
slave States. Let IL but become a public and
notorious fact, so established as to compel the
assent of the slave owners themselves, that .s
much effective and productive labor can be re-.
lied upon from the emancipatsd slave, with the
sub-laborers, in lieu Of the maintenance of the
whole slave family, old and young, sick and well,
and there is an end Of slavery!
The question may then be well left where Il
most properly belongs with the masters them
selves. Few among them would long remain
deaf to the mute eloquence Of the facts and
| figures brought home TO each ones own pocket,
which would then succeed to the unwelcome
declarations Of an aggressive foreign philan-
thropy. They would themselves become, as
they indeed should be, and alone can be, to any
useful purpose, the "abolitionists" par sreel-
lenee. And as for any practical difficulties in
the matter. the will would soon find the way
South Carolina herself may yet, before many
years, be seen setting a nobler example TO her
sister States that share her present misfortune
under the blighting burthen Of slavery, by
passing some wise law Of emancipation, adapt
ed to reconcile the interests of both master and
slave in a manner satisfactory to all. And if
you would ask where any fund is to be found
sufficient to pay for the liberation of three mil
lions Of slaves, would answer quitting out Of
view the "shining mountains Of our new ac-
QUESTIONS on the Paeifc) that the object might
be attained, either by the Liberation of children
born after a certain period. or by establishing
by State law a certain scale Of reasonable valu-
alton according TO age, sex, health and educa-
ton, at which every slave should have the right
to purchase his or her own freedom; and by then
organising fair system Of task IOOrk, which
would enable the slave to give the master a,
much useful service as heretofore, with the
privilege Of deyoting the surplus time which
the slave would then earn for himself TO extra
labor for his own redemption. Depend upon it,
that so far as regards the main bulk Of the slaves
everywhere, full one third Of their time would
soon come to be applied to this latter object;
during the remaining two-thirds their owners
would receive from them a more satisfactory
and profitable service than has heretofore been
lazily spread over the whole of their time: a
brief term Of years would pay off the price due
by them for themselves; and they would then
remain a far more serviceable and cheaper class
Of laborers for their employers as freemen than
they had ever been as slaves. repeat, that lei
but the rilI be called into existence, in the man
ner above indicated as probable. and there will
not long remain any difficulty about the pay
Excuse me if add to this already long letter
few more words on this interesting subject OF
freedom and slavery in the West India Islands.
That the Jamaica ex-masters could net get
from the free negroes, in tropical climate, and
on tropical soil, seusRteeR or eighteen hours a
day Of cork, by any inducements Of wages,
whether within or beyond their power TO pay,
is no matter Of wonder. Nor can we be surpris-
| ed that great confusion for few years should
have been thrown into the entire system of in
dustry, agricultural and manufacturing, which
had grown up under slavery, and which was
based upon that unlimited control of the Labor
Of the country by its Capital, which is impli-
cd in the word slavery. A period of Transition
had necessarily to be passed through, before the
existing race Of masters and overseers could in
troduce the changes in management and ma
chinery made necessary by such fundament-
al change in the relation between capital and
labOr-besOre they could be taught both the ne
ceessity, and the proper modes Of making those
changes.
Science in husbandry, labor saving improve
ments in machinery, and general economy in
| administration, these were the lessons which
time alone could teach; without which the rev.
olutionised system of industry of the country
could not be expected to work well for the
proprietary class; and which it appears that
only few have yet fairly begun to learn. A
little of such lesven, however, soon leavens the
whole lump. The example of Improvement.
under such circumstances, rapidly spreads, and
imitation soon becomes matter Of universal
necessity. Require Of the emancipated negro
but reasonable number Of hours of toll. and
subject II to the ordinary laws and PRINCIPLES
which regulate the relation between the lahors,
and the employer, both Of them in state Of
freedom, and no difficulty need be feared, whs,h-
or az to the quantity or value Of the work tia,
may be expected from him. He il natur.llv
docile. submissive and industrious. He viii
work. and work we'll As he ought 10 do, and A.
all naen ought to do, for the wages necessary to
Iced his family, or to crafty man's thousand
wants and Wishes over and above The mere me-
cessaries Of Plantain or potato. He win. for
the f'rst time In his life. awake to the ipaoepc.
OF all the natural incentives which mako man :.
lsborers, provident, active, economical, inaell,-
gent, and really valuable TO those whom th.v
serve He will work better for his formar m,,.,.r
and cost him less-in thousand minute WAYS.
And the only uncertain point In the whole case
Is. which of the two parties win have most
reason to congratulate himself on the CHANGE. |
which viii be the party most truIv e,.a,e;..s.s |