The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13
For the National Era.
EMIGRATION TO THE WEST INDIES,

AS dispatches from the British Government to
the Governors Of the West Indies have been pub
lished in the past week, probably the appearance
Of a statement of circumstances that have come
under the notice Of the writer of this communi-
cation may not prove unipteresting and unim-
portant at the present juncture, exhibiting as
it does the advantage resulting from emigration to
the British islands and possessions in the West
Indies, over that to the coast of Africa.
During the lest short war between the United
States and England, number of runaway slaves
were received on board of British vessels of war
on the coast, and subsequently conveyed to Ber-
muda, Halifax, and St Johns, New Brunswick
As law existed in the former island, imposing
duty Of EGO on oil negroes imported there, these
were afterwards sent to the aforementioned places,
where those Of them who have withstood the rgors
of the climate and the suferings incident to their
improvident habits still remain, with the excep-
ton of number who about ten or fifteen years
ago volunteered to 60 to Trinidad, under charge
of an officer Of the oommisssriat department.
where land was given them, and who understand
are very comfortably situated.
OF those who were sent to Bermuda, a body Of
fine men entered the British service, aud were
formed by Admiral Cockburn into battalion of
royal marines, commanded by white officers be-
longing to that distinguished corps When the
peace took place, difficulty occurred as to the
manner of disposing of them, the corps being or
dered to be disbanded and the officers and band
of the "a w est India regiment were accordingly
sent to Bermuda, in the expectation that they
would volunteer into the line. This they re-
fused to do and, after receiving free discharges
they were forwarded to Trinidsd, where lands
were given them, and where I am informed they
also became comfortably situated. IL will thus
be seen that the utmost success has attended the
MI If ha mt "a rraa
blacks in its West India possessions.
Those who remained in Nova Scotia aud New
Brunswick have, since their arrival, been n con.
slant burden upon those Provinces, whose Legis
latures have repeatedly contributed to their relief
from the public chest, to save them from absolute
starvation which much fear will be the result
Of the accumulation Of fugitive slaves in Upper
Canada
Now, the only instance, believe, in which COL
ored persons were sent to the coast of Africa by
the British Government, was in the case Of the
Maroons, who were sent from Jamaica, after the
termination Of the Maroon war in that island
and who were settled at Preston, near Halifax
These were subsequently sent to Sierra Leone,
in the expectation that population Of this de-
scription, nurtured as 1t was by the British Gov
eminent, would not only become thriving set
Element but that through their fundamentally
the native tribes in their vicinity might become
ultimately civilized, and that through their means
the slave trade might be eventually abolished
But they were either cut of by the natives, who
bad conceived against them deadly hostility, or
fell victims TO the climate and diseases incident to
the coast.
With reference to the position of the colored
population in the West Indies, particularly since
the Emancipation act passed. Il is very superior
to what it can ever be in the United States, where
prejudices exist against the race, which are not
known in the British dominions-cer not
in England and in the West Indies, where a
colored man may, by his industry and success
In life, attain An elevated standing in society,
and even be q welcome guest at Government
House. At Jsmaics particularly, as has been
stated by Mr. Bigelow, in his interesting little
work on that island, they hold some of the FIRST
offices and situations under Government, and are
respected and esteemed for the probity and abil-
ity with which they discharge the duties with
which they are intrusted
1t would occupy too much space, were to enter