The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-24
AfricnnizatiOM.

for tropical labor has been presented within
a few years, and it is one which seems
likely to meet with much favor. Soon after
the abolition Of slavery in the British West
India islands, it was discovered shat the
emancipated blacks were neither by inclina.
ton nor interest to be influenced to perform
the labor they had formerly done by COM
pulsion. To supply the deficiency, it seems
that the English have fallen upon the plan
|of introducing into these islands native Afri-
cans, under The name ofapprentices or hired
laborers by contract for their services for a
term of years. We take the thing to be
something like the Peon system among the
Mexieaus. The proprietor supplies the APP
prentice and bis family if he have one, with
provisions, clothing and all necessary sup
plies Of which accounts are regularly kept
The apprentice performs the required labor,
and settlements are made fron time to time,
and it happens always that the Peon falls in
debt; to pay which he is compelled by law
to continue in service and thus he is always
in bondage. The scheme of importing
native Africans as laborcrs is becoming pop
ular in the Southern States of our Union.
A bill was before our Legislature at its late
session for this purpose, but it was defeated
in a somewhat mysterious manner, by the
act of one of its principal advocates. We
publish to-day the bill and the report of the
special committee to which it was referred
AN ACT to grant the authority Of the State
of Louisiana for the importation Of free
black laborers into the State.
SECTION l. BE uenacted By the Senate and
House Of Represeatiees Of the State Of Lou
isiana, an Seacral assembly co"uened, That
James Ii. Brigham, and his associates, be
and tf.ey are hereby authorized to import
into the State Of Louisiana, for agricultural
and other laboring purposes, twenty-five hun
dered free Africans; Pro0idea, they shall be
indentured as apprentices, to labor for a term
of years, which the parties may agree upon
between themselves, not less than fifteen
years.
REPORT OF TIE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO
WHICH WAS Reformed ELL TO GRANT THE
IMPORTATION OF FREE BLACK LABoREEs
WITHIN THE STATE.
The Select Committee, to which was re-
ferred bilto grant the authority Of the State
of Louisiana for the importation of free black
laborers within the State, beg leave respect
fully to report that,
We have had the same nnder our delibe-
rate consideration, and, after viewing it in all
its bearings, have come to the conclusion
that the measure is a good one, and ought
to pass.
Our consideration was first directed to the
point as to whether the proposed Act would
be in violation of the State or Federal Con-
stitution, or Of treaty stipulations; and hav-
ing fully satisfied ourselves it would not be
nor of any law Of this State which would
not, as to this particlar subject-matter, be
superseded by the Act itself, we next pro-
ceeded to consider it in reference to moral |
principle, and on this, we had no hisitaton
in arriving at the conclusion that humanity
and philanthropy unite in commencing the
measure.
The barbaric and s1avish condition of the
African negroes, under the absolute and bru-
tai sway of their chiefs, is we'll known to all
who have any knowledge of their history.
The condition of no people on the face of the |
earth illustrates, in greater degree, the ex-
IRENE degradation to which humanity can be
subjected, than the African in his native
country. Living in hopeless mental darkness
and moral debasement, they are but the chat
tells OF their chiefs and conquerors-mere |
beasts of burden, to be driven, dashed. sold |
or murdered, as passion, caprice, or cupilitv
may dictate. An emigration to the soil of
Louisiana, or of any Of our Southern States
would not only be relief but, positive
blessing. 1t would be to them as the pass
ING out of night into day. 1t would literal
ly be transition from the most abject SER
vitude, intellectual. darkness, and moral de- |
gradatian, to a condition of assured protec- |
ton and comparative freedom; to copdi- |
ton of labor, it is true, but one on which ia !
ever shed the benign rays Of the Christian
religion.
This state Of negro servitude, as it exists
among us, is, it is true, the object of unceas-
ing and most malignant attack. on the part
of Northern abolitionists and self-styled |
philantbropists; but we who have the most
intimate knowledge of the institution, well
known there is not a happier class of per-
sons in this Union, nor in any part of the
world than the Southern well-fed, comforta-
lily clad, and carefully protected negro la
borers.
Those among us, therefore, who object to the
transfer ofthe rude, benighted, degraded ma
tive African to the soil of Louisiana. on the
score Of humanity or Christian philanthropy,
take position not only wrong in itself, but,
to certain extent, place themselves, though |
with no intention to do so, by the side
Of our abolition enemies Of the North.