Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-18
JAMAICA.

The following item Of news, published in our issue
of yesterday, furnishes another ridiculous eanard
started by British aboioniss, or affords serious IN
| dication of movement wholly neIpfcable wher
taken in connection with preconceived notions
the present social and material condition of the lsaro
of Jamaica:
IA meeting was held at Kingston, on the 23rd
April, TO consider the practcability OF inducing fu
| gves eHd free negroes from the Southern States tt
| settle in jamaica and measures were ADOPTED tC
bring the subject before the Legislature, with The
| view Of establishing a fund and to complete Inc pro
ect. 1t is probable that delegate Will be sent tc
| The United States to promote the enterprise"
If We have been correctly Informed, the great e1
listing evil which now depresses industry and trade
in Jamaica, is is swarming population of idle free
negroes. We have been repeatedly assured that
these negroes are in pitiabe state of desti,ution
and this is amply vouched by the inactivity Of all
branches of productive labor. Why then, efforts
are made to increase this grevous burden, we are
| unable TO determine.
The cunning sdmi1ture Of fanaticism among the
people and commercial calculations on the part Of the
British Government, which has heretofore induced
war upon slavery in the United States, must have re-
oeived new and unforeseen impulse if this meeting
at Kingston is the result of anything more serious
than mere tendency to empty demonstration.
If it is really intended to promote the Afrcanza-
ton of Jamsics by the transportation thither of our
fugitive slaves and free negroes this affords matter
for very serious consideration AS for our tree negro
population in the South, it is an ucumbrance OF which
the reefis more desirable than practicable. The
free negroes at the North equally Improbable TO
their immediate neighbors, ard worse than unproht.
able Southern interests, since they serve to kee
alive the spirit OF sboonism and afford inducement,
refuge and concealment to fugitive slaves. But the
immediate relief which could be afforded by appren
ticing this class of our population in jamaica would
be 40 small as to be scarcely appreciabe, and their
transfer would ultimately create another point of ag
eraya,ion. Free negroes in Jamaica would become
more serious nuisance to our slave holding States,
than free negroes in Massachusetts.
Moreover, such asysem effsctusly carried out would
place fugitive slaves entirely beyond the reach Of
fugitiye law. We spprehend, indeed, little chance
of the immediate transfer of ugitives from our South
eru ports to Jamaica. This enterprise would be at
landed with a risk too serious and unnecessary to
permit the endesvor. But the shipment of fugitive
slaves from our Northern ports could be easily effect.
3D. and would seriously conduce to the insecurity of
slave property.
This Africaniz alton of Jamaica would include ano
ther serious danger to our national interests The
Island of Cuba has every natural facility by which
to control the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, while Cuba re-.
mains the province Of an efee Monarchy, this facility
is rendered useless. Spain plays the part Of dog
in the manger She withholds from the nations of
the earth a great instrument Of national power,
which. in her hands, is incapable of employment-
Much as the possession Of Cuba would add to our
maritime supremacy, its possession BY Spain gives
that Kingdom no such advantage. With the British
posses.ion of Jamaica it Is different
The position of this island, scarcely less than that
of Cubs commands the outlet OF the Gulf OF Mexico.
1. is the fulcrum employed in this direction by the
greatest naval power in the world. Jamaica is the
actual point dappui, which menaces American su'
premacy in the Gulf of Mexico. With Jamaica, We
could command the Gulf as efsctusly as with Cuba,
provided always that Cuba should remain in the
hands Of Spain. The possession Of Cuba would give
us no such undivided control. We would still have
powerful adversary to contend with. This state Of
things renders the acquisition of Cuba by the United