The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-10
From the Detroit Daily Free Press.
British West India Emancipation.

The present condition OF the island of Jamaica is a
prae ical commentary upon negro emancipation From
ntlc accounts II seems that the island rapidly fall
ing alto decay, and that the negroes are Ielapsng
into barbarian. In beautiful and delicious climate,
with prolific SOIL capable OF producing in abundance
sugar, coffee, cotton, iusc, logwood mahogany, ginger
sarsaparlla, beeswax honey, and The pmento spcethe
latter OF which nature has assigned 10 it monopoly
susceptible OF the highest llage and aording the finest
pastgrage for raising horses, cattle, sheep, Pigs, &ca
country with alternaons OF mountain and valley-with
numerous hot springs and medicinal Notwithstanding
in valuable minerals ami with productive fisheries It's
coass-ihs beautiful island, very garden in richness,
and paradise 10 beauty, is converted into barren
waste by an indoleni and british negro population
1t has become, remarked by the Boston Courier,
what may be called "model abolition establish
ment." The slaves were set free before they were
qualified 10 take care OF themselves, and the con
sequence is, that while men plenty, there
body TO do the work. The and-holders and laboIing
population Involved in common ruin. From
papers recently laid before Parliament, it appears that
since the emancipation OF the slaves than six hun
dred estates in the island have been abandoned There
plantations gave occupation TO 50ooo laboers All
the expedients that have been employed by the local
government TO arrest The ruin oil the island have proved
unavaing, and The Inhabitants beseechiDg Par
lament to do something for their reof But what
Parliament do for territory which is ruined for want OF
cultivation, and yet Is full Of population that will not
work. All the sensible portion oil the British people
confess that the emancipation OF The West India negroes
was most hosghie.s and inconsdera,e ACT ire
mendous mistake" But there among them who
refuse 10 believe that any evil can possibly follow the
" immediate and utter abolition of slavery" Such per-
aacTbe the mIsi0ftuDes oil 10 the repeal
the laws and other measures OF that character but
they not fond OF being asked how these things
prevent men from digging IN the ground. We have mo-,
heard OF any project in contemplation BY the home gov
eminent OF Great Britain for be OF this val
liable colony though The subject IS contemplated with
deep and monrniul interest BY all who take pride in
Britain's supremacy.
Bot there still other consequences OF this inds-
crimnaie and -advsed negro emancipation, which the
Boston Courier sums up as follows:
In addition to The general Incidence and poverty into
which the blacks have sunk since their emancipation.
must bs added the decline OF the Christian religion among
them II 10 stated that they fast relapsng into their
old superstitions OF Fetcbsm and Obeab worship,
which they brought with them from Africa, and that they
are now paying their devoions TO snakes, toads,
and old ragged puppets. We give these statements as
we hnd them in English publications. They may or
may not be colored higher than the truth but OF gen.
eal fact that the blacks have declined depora-
BILE and runous exen, into sloh and ignorance there
be no d'spu,e"
The Courier rightly thinks that il would be pur.
pose the leaders OF the anti slavery party think
Of these things. Men who max. trade Of philanthropy,
will OF shut their eyes 10 such dsagreeabe facts
But to the really honest OF the party may put the
question whether they quite understand what they
about in calling for the immediate and entire abolition
Of slavery"