The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-13

InaI the OtateS OF maryland, virginia WIN
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and
in fact the whole upland region of the South
would be stripped Of its colored population,
which would go into the lowlsnds-into Next
co, into the West Indies, and Central America,
where it would amalgamate with the existing
mixed races, infuse new life and vigor into
them, with knowledge of our language, re-
ligion, and laws. In place of the present
slaves, the Northern slave region above indi-
Gated would become filled in few years by a
homogeneous white population, from our own
free North and from Europe. Cities and towns
would begin to rise in Virginia and the other
States thus stripped of the incubus of Slavery,
with the rapidity which has been witnessed In
the free States. Norfolk and Richmond would
soon count their handreds of thousands of in
habitants, while other places, whose names are
not coined, would in generation rival the
Buffalos, and Detroits, and Chicagos, of the
of this picture? And if it be possible, is it
not more desirable than the present state of
things?
Mr.. Sumner and Mr. Emerson have thrown
out the idea that the resources. of the Federal
Government may, with the consent of the
South, be employed to solve the problem of
Slavery; and we believe that Mr.. Seward is not
unfavorable to the notion. We believe, that
while deliberate proposition Of the kind would
encounter opposition in the ranks Of the Anti
Slavery men, it would meet with general favor
in the free States. A few days ago, we saw a
suggestion of the kind in the Philadelphia In
qui,er, conservative Wing paper. The idea
is worthy of serious consideration; and it may
be found practicable, in the eloquent language
of Mr.. Sumner to span with a bridge of gold
the chasm which divides the North from the
South
The following is the article referred to: G.
From the Journal OF Commerce.
EFFECTS or EMANCIPATION IN TIE w. INDIES.
Some weeks since, there appeared in the
Journal Of Commerce two communications on
the above subject, from "Northerner," to which
my attention has been directed.
The Slavery question is one of surprising
moment-and more pregnant than ever with
danger to the best interests of this country, from
the reckless manner i'll which it is discussed by
violent men on both sides-in the North. and
in the South.
"Northerner and other writer's illustrate
their arguments against emancipation, by refer
ence to the present condition of Hayti and ia
maica, and, in my belief without correctly ap-
preciating the causes which have conduced to
the prostration of the latter island
Your correspondent says ale 1.-THE negro)
became intoxicated at finding himself free, and,
under no obligations to himself and master, soon
lost all desire of selfcutivation, if he ever had
any, or to cultivate the soil and he has year
by year degenerated, until now he is lower in
the scale of humanity than those of his own
people who roam the deserts of Africa"
Jamaica is perfect terra incOgnita to
Northerner," or he would not write such
twadde.
Unfortunately for the planters the great pas
sion of the ma jority of the Jamaica negroes is
for the cultivation of the soil-of Mei, o,rn free
hold, for their Orn benefit. AS slaves, they had
liberty to cultivate patches of groand, and to sell
the produce on their own account. With the
means thus obtained, they purchased all the
clothing and Injuries which they enjoyed, be-
yond the allowance from the estates to which
they were attached. During and on the ter
mination of the apprenticeship, there was end
less Strile Us 10 the JANUS SO nelu Dy the QuOn-
dam slaves, who struggled to maintain posses
sion of them. The proprietors were driven to
sell their outlying lands, and found the negroes
ready purchasers. Even when wages were high,
the negroes would only work on the estates when
their labor was not required on their own lands
and now wages are low, many of them have
abandoned work on the estates entirely, devo
ting so much of their time as they choose to oc
| cupy in labor on their own grounds. What il
| one days work in week on his own plot, being
sufficient for q weeks maintenance, a negro re
fuses to work for wages during the remainder Of
| the week? Is that any reason for condemninc
him to slavery?
With Mr.. Beglow, in his Jamaica in 1850,
/ say, that l never could see anything in the
aversion of the negroes there to labor, not sane
toned "by instincts and propensities common
| to humanity"
Your correspondent gave some account of the
falling off in the exports from Hayti, and 1 now
supply some details of the quantity of sugar ex
Eerted from the islands of jamaica and Barba
dos, to as late dates as information now before
me will permit