The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-14
WASHINGTON. d. C..
For the National Era.
JAMA1cA-ITs ADVANTAGES AS A HOME FOR
COLORED ENnGRANTS.
BY SAMUEL ALLINsoH, JUN.

Inefficient expenditure of labor prevails IN othe
respects. Such modes OF culture would brln:
the farmers of PennSy Ixania and New Jersey Il
utter ruin. Il is asserted that there is not
Saw-ml ON the island, though water power /
abundant. Lumber, slaves, and shingles. ar
l.rgelu imported. though timber is abundant.
]. Bigeiow, OF New York, in an intercstn.
and valuable work, entitled Jamaica in $50,
says:
THE forests of Jamaica abound with th'
rarest cabinet woods, in wonderful variety.
was shown a beautiful box, the top OF which
was inlaid with thirty different choice and rlcl
Indigenous specimens.
- Among the trees OF most value IN yauou,
ways. may be mentioned the bread-iruIt tree
which takes a fine polish the satin wood; tht
cedar. which grows TO an immense SZe; the
cotton tree, the body OF which IS cut out by the
negroes for canoes; the bamboo, one OF The
most useful trees ON the island the trumpet
tree. the bark of which Is used tor cordaG" and
the body for other purposes; the black and
green ebony lignumyltP; the palmetto. winch
sornrtimes grows one hundred and forty feet IN
hejGht. and Others. The mahogany Is native
10 jamaica. bat - now getting quite scarce.
The population OF the island consists OF about
3OUUJO blacks. 1000 " browns or colored
persons. AMI 5000 whites. Color presents no
barrier 10 the enjoyment OF equal rights. As
members of the Legislature and OF the bar, as
physicians. editors Of newspapers. Judges, and
other civil or military officers, jurymen. mer
chants. ministers of religion. SC. &c., men
fake their rank, without respect To color, ac-
cordmg 10 their moral Intellectual, and pecu-
mary pndowmentS Speaking OF colored men,
j. Blgelow says:
"Thcy have ctrtllniy fair share OF the
public patronage; indeed, they are esteemed
The tavOrteS Of the Government There are
one or Two black regiments here, constantly
under pay they furnish nne tenthS OF the 9th
GERS Of the prnitcnlary, and, as | have before
said, almost the entire police force OF the island.
Ultimately. | have reason TO believe. 1t Is the
expectation of the Home Government that
these islands, without changing their colonial
relations, will be substantially abandoned by
the white population, and their local interests
left 10 the exclusive management OF the people
of Color
a very important consideration with those
contemplating emigration. IS the healthIulnesS
Of the climate Wnh regard 10 this, the change
for our colOred people would probably be favor
able They are here often subject 10 diseases
of the lungs, and to rheumatism, which are
but little known in Jamaica. Fevers sometimes
occur, but generally OF a manageable kind.
With prudent care TO avoid improper use OF
fruit, great fatigue IN the sun, and exposure 10
night air from marshes, they do not often be-
come dangerous.
Tn cholera has recently, for The first time.
visited the island, and with fearful mallgnlty.
BY the last accounts II was on the decline, and,
If 1t be- not now extinct, we may trust that II
will ere long cease It's rayages. One of lis ci-
fects has been to encourage emigration, by en-
HANGING the demand and price of labor.
Another important question should be,
" What is the moral condition OF the people :"
To tins 1t may be replied, that on the first Of
August, sixteen years ago, the aborlng popu
latlon Of Jamaica, amounting to about 3l2,OOO
persons, were cmanclpaled from slavery. Their
previous condition was one Of great hardship
and debaSempnt. Piuus missionaries had faith
fully hbored AT many points, and under cir
cumStances OF great peril and selt.denlal but
the declaration of moral and religious truth is
shorn Of It's power where slavery exists. 1t is
cause therefore, of regret, rather than OF won
der, that the state Of morals, though improved,
is still low. The first day of the week is OBJ
served as a day Of rest and worship. Under
slavery, il was the day for market JoHN CAN
uLER, valued minister of the gospel of the So
clety Of Friends, from Chelmsford, England
who spent twevemonth IN Jamaica abou
ten years ago, (abormg III various ways for the
benefit of the emancipated, } and who rcyiSlte,
the island in 1880, teSIIies Of the freed prOpl
that they are, empharcally, Il chWcL going
people, and that they present beautiful spec
taclr, ilockng with their families, in neat at
tire, from their villages ON the mountain sides.
{" some of the lovrllrSl spots OF creation" y to
their respective places OF worship. This at
tendance on public worship may, as in other
countries, br partly attributable to a gregarouS
disposition but j. Gambler trelingly remarked
that some Of the emancipated people have
attended 10 gospel truth. aud are enjoying that
liberty whrrewlth Christ has set them free"
There are 10000 children attending the
schools which are taught by teachers generally
well qualified for the station. This number
however. ~ not more than one third of those
who should attend. The parents, ignorant
themselves, cannot yet appreciate the value Of
instruction, and, like many IN this country
prefer that their children should be earning
money The females seem particularly to r.
dulrr instruction IN their rights and duties, that
woman may take her place as the companion
rather than the servant OF man.
The use OF SplrluOuS and ermrnlrd liquors
IS painfully prevalent, and very large proper
lion Of the wages of the laborcrs is wasted in
these drinks, although drunkenness is rare.
As in all countries where labor has been com
pulsory it is not respected. An incubus i,
eyer weighing down the prosperity of that com
lnunity where the true nOblenpSs of an indie
pendent laborer is not recognised.
There is a degree Of Incidence and want o
enterprise manifested among the people. caused
no doubt IN part by the climate. but mucl
more owing 10 the remaining evil effects o
slavery, winch IN various ways must be eX
pectcd to show themselves for several genera
TONS. a giant lnlquy, spreading and strength
enmg itself Tor centuries, cannot at once be ST
completely oyerlhrown as To leave no Saddpn
ing relies m the moral and physical condition
OF those over whom II has eXprlcd its bhghtins
influence.
In all these respects -lhe neglect of educa
lion. the depressed condition of woman, tn,
use of intoxicating drinks. and the general wan
of enterprisp-lhc emigration from this country
Of persons Of good moral and industrious habits
and, above all, OF persons of intelligence ant
picty, would be productive of immense benefit
The examples of men of correct lives laborin,
with energetic industry cannot be wholly lost
but, with the stimulus occasoned by the con
stantly multiplied wants of freedom, we ma
trust will work a change.
The writer Of This article has endeavore
lruthiully 10 present facts drawn from reliabl
sources. II there be- errors in them, he trust
they are immaterlal. The adaptation of eli
mate ana the tendency of events seem to hin
To indicate that the colored race will one da,
sway most Of the tropical portion of the globe
He has, however, no desire To persuade tn,
people Of color 10 leave the United States
Those who would succeed best in Jamaici
would be- valuable clllcns of this land, il In
Anglo Saxon race would treat them as Chris
tians diot,M treat all those TOR whom Chris