The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-28
MARTINIQUE, w. l., (St Perez
Dec. 20, 1873


Afaas Of the La~d-Ow Nsw Goow~~-7x The
Labor of the Blacks The American Co~sxls, &c.
! have this time little to add to the information
contained my last letter. relative to the existing
state Of things in this island. Politically, we have
to congratulate ourselves Of the arrival here of
Admiral Bruat with the title Of Governor, place
OF Perlnow, acting as Commlssa,re-General The
former, already appreciated tor the great energy
he displayed In his administration of the Mar.
quisas," In the Pacific, is officer fully worthy
and Justly entitled to the trust imposed upon
him by the government; and since his ARRIVAL
we feel perfectly at rest, and no longer udder
| anv apprehension of the blacks. They, IN
| deed, considering themselves free from bondage,
| have absolutely abstained from working ON the
pantations-that Is to say, to any extent and,
| far, very few exceptions have taken PLACE. Our
| new Governor has, however, adopted such dis
| c,plinary course as will for the future compel
these new citizens to work, as vagrapts shall not
be tolerated in the community, and ne provision Is
made but for those unable to work, or afflicted by
| great age, or sickness. We have all reason to
sbess our stars tor the late change effected in
| local government whose previous administration
was wholly con6ded to men most perfectly igno-
| rant OF governmental AFFAIRS and also most per-
| fecty stamped with LOUIS Blanc's socialism, a
| system harmsnizing too well with the indolent
blacks, not to have made many proselytes among
| them. A TACT, nevertheless, very dscOuraglng for
| the sborers, Is the low price OF our sugar and
| until France will not have organized more bene-
| ficent law, we will have fight our own battles
| and we very much doubt that, under the existing
domestic difficulties OF the mother country, she
| can consistently assist us at the present time. The
Indemnity questiOn"-One OF life and death to
us; one which our existence Is so unquesuOnlbly
\ l.,t N,to
nected with-has again been indefinitely post
poned, and, by degrees, we are losing all faith
| IN the good promises OF the Republic, which,
| in gaining breath, has doomed us IN a mea-
| sure to starving death-frst, by the lmme-
diate emancipation of the slaves-a class of
property--without offering the slightest retribu.
ton, most necessary equivalent for this act OF
justice and equality, as It 10 termed tor the one,
and "spolliatlon and inhumanity," surely tor the
| other?
The British mail steamers visit our place regu-
larry twice a month, and we feel grateful tor thus
postal arrangement, as It procures tor us (poor
outlandshers) early intelligence of the doings in
France; and, at the present moment, we eagerly
look forward for the next news from that quarter,
owing to the interest taken here the great final
election about to take place, for the choice of
chief magistrate over the republic, whose constl-
iulen will! then be complete and established, much
on similarity OF principle with your own. We
| are, however, yet at loss to conjecture to
| which of the candidates presented for that high
Office will be awarded the electoral vote; but from
| this political arena, we distinctly discover two
Of the champions mort prominently situated before
| the notice of the people, Cavaignac and Louis
| Napoleon. The former, the "vlctor OF the barr-
cades, has unquestionably strong claim on the
| sympathles OF the nation; but the constitution
having gone step beyond yours IN granting, or
rather constituting, the universal or free suffrage,
has, IN this instance, made Cavaignac's chancs
more doubtful OF success. We are, therefore.
deeply interested In the result OF the election; and,
be II as it may, we shall await patiently the con-
| sequences
Business continues dull, it cannot be expected
otherwise with low Price OF sugars, and dull
| frelghts for Europe. Our port Is comparatively
empty to what it is usually at this season-'is
now seldom visited by "Amencan traders" in
fact we can offer them no exchange for their I'M
ports. either in produce or in money. For the
present we are al suffering, but we hope for better
times The American Consul here has, also, his
share Of the general calamity, and must say, in
justice to HIMSELF that he bears it with all the for
titude or republican, hoping, as we all do, for
the best. and more especially for change in the
present United States Consular system, which, In
pecuniary point Of view, 10 emnently deficient,
fee. While on this subject, might as well say
few more words about home matters; and, being
an American. consider myself privileged. /
mean, an inquiry In the duties imposed upon the
what is termed the home or West India squa.
dron." We are all aware, IN the United States,
that there Is one in existence somewhere, GER
talnly; and so are we here, # we must rely on the
not; and, far from creditng any such belief. we
have, IN fact, many doubts as to their being any
American squadron afioat in any part of the world;
Tor, the fact Is, in summing up our memory, we
only find two instances, in the course OF seven
years, where the stars and stripes of our armed
vessels have been noticed streaming IN the soft
AID sweet tropical breeZes OF the shores of this
island. These were the frgate Macedonian,
Commodore Perry, In 1871, and the sloop of war
jamestown, Commodore Skinner, IN lSi6, and,
hlsby mere chance, as both did not belong to the
from the coast Of Africa Why Is this-can any
one at home inform met This fact Is worthy Of
an investigation and Is sufficiently important to
American ship owners to make it question, as it
is most clssely connected with the merchant ser
vice abroad, insecure to their interests, and causes
an immensely Of trouble and vexation to all the
American COnsuIs in general, located in the Wind
| ward islands. The consequences of the non-pre-
are Of such serious character, that shall make
the attempt Of briefly demonstrating few Of them,
as follows viz, that the discipline the crew OF
merchant ship chiefly devolves upon the American
Consul at port; IN case of riot or mutiny aboard
SHIP he must necessarily apply to the local autho-
rites for sustenanee In his authority; aud this Is
subject TO the frame of mind OF the local auhorl-
ties at the time the request Is made, or perhaps
again to the regulations Of the port, &c, which In
these islands are generally very untasorable IN
aiding or supporting foreign Consul in the pur-
| suance OF his official duties. Often it happens,
also, that in criminal cases altogether belonging to
the jurisdiction Of the courts Of the United States
| the LEGAL authorities OF the place will interfere,
and claim the cfiende violation of lnternation-
al law; and receect that instance OF this kind
| occurred at this consular district some three
| years since, and which caused the American Con-
sui great deal Of annoyance and trouble. In either
Of these cases, where the offenders have be sent
home IN safe custody for trial, by whom send them,
pray! There being no national vessel near at
hand, the Consul has either to take the response
bllity of trusting to the hospitality of the local
prisons for their safe keeping at the expense Of his
| government, or return them in merchant ship, In
| despite OF the circumstances of the captains Of
such vessels, who invariably decline the charge,
and avoid it II possible; thus creating i'll feeling
betwet the COnsul and the master, &c. Another
item, fully as important is, that In either Of the
| precs dent cases, merchant vessel may become
destitute Of hands, there being no possibility Of re-