The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-29
WEST INDIA LABOR.


got mp, instituted inquiries of men living in
every part of the West indies respecting the
condition of the emancipated classes there,
and the alleged want Of labor in those colonies,
and more especially in Jamaica. The replies
to these inquiries have been published in q
pamphlet formby the Committee. The replies
seem to establish the following facts:
81. The alleged want of labor is a false cry.
To cultivate the whole area of land at present
lying waste in all the colonies--except Barba.
dos-would, indeed, absorb any number Of
laborers; but the evidence is overwhelming,
that no addition TO their number is necessary
to meet the demand for the estates that are act
ually under cultivation.
az. Where labor is said to be deficient, il
can be traced to causes within the planters
control to remove. OF these, insufficient wages,
unpunctual payment of the same, or no pay
ment at all, are stated to be the chief.
SO. Immigration on the present system is
condemned as expensive and unsatisfactory,
Injurious to the people who are introduced,
and to the native colonial population.
"The allegations Of idleness and immortality,
which have been propagated by the Times, are
Indignantly repudiated as gross calumnies, and
the writer's are challenged to produce the proof
of their reckless statements."
The Island of Jamaica has from the first
been singled out by the friends of Slavery to il.
lustrate the failure of emancipation, and by the
Times al deficient in labor. A dozen gentle
men in different parts of the Island, gentlemen
of the highest standing, write to the Commit.
tee that there is really no lack of labor there.
One man writes from the town of London
DIT is my decided opinion, that there is no
real want Of labor in this colony, but that there
is more than sufficient to keep the properties
now existing in good cultivation. That de-
fciency of hands is experienced on estates in
some localities must be acknowledged; and,
although this may be to some extent attribute.
BILE to idleness on the part of portion of the
people, yet, in most cases, believe it is to be
accounted for on the ground of insufficient re-
muneration to the laborer, compared with what
he can earn On his own freehold or on hired
lands-to ungenerous and harsh treatment-to
bad house accommodations, and to some other
causes that may be elected by the questions
which follow. Jamaica would undoubtedly
support much larger population than it at
present contains, and, from ell know of the
parties opposed to the system of immigration
now existing here, none would have an objec-
ton to 4 continued augmentation on terms
strictly equitable, and inuoluing no possibility
of danger to the rights and liberties of the ins-
migrant. t.
MY OWE conviction is, that one shilling per
diem for field lsbor-and which may be said,
with some exceptions, to be the general rate of
wages day throughout the Islands not suf
fcient, with the oppressive taxation to which
he is subject, to enable man to support him.
self and family adequately to their actual me-
cessities while any great improvement in the
social condition of families under such circum.
stances is entirely out of the question"
Another correspondent of the Committee
writes from Kingston, Jamaica, that the main
difficulty in that region is, not the scarcity of
laborers, but of labor. The planters will not
offer prices which will support men and their
families, and they prefer to cultivate little
ground of their own. A shilling day, the
wages offered by the planters, will not tempt
men to work. They feel it to be entirely in.
sufficient pay, and refuse in many instances to
work for it..
The same writer gives the following interest
ing statement respecting the foreign immigra-
ton into Jamaica:
81 understand, from the published state.
ments, $1,000 immigrants have been intro
duced into this Island, mostly from Africa and
the East Indies. The European laborers placed
ON estates, of course, died. They were fit. only
for settlers in the mountains, where, if properly
rod far fhnv vvculd hovo I<co ,,ou Ia A.
were not properly cared for.
81 cannot tell what number has been return.
ed to India and China.
/ think l have heard that $4,000 had died
in the colony. The truth is, that the whole
number OF laborers necessary to carry on the
present cultivation is only $4,000, or there
abouts.
81 have no doubt that their introduction has
to some extent kept down the rates of wages
that would otherwise have prevailed. But /
believe much might be done, to sustain q SUP.
ply-of labor from the Creole population, which
is not done. The really intelligent and indie.
pendent laborer is often unwilling to put up
for himself and family with plantation accom-.
mediation and wages and treatment. As to the
effect on morals and religion, know that the
presence of the Africans has been injurious,
and so must have been that of the Hindoos
children or our women to the evil influence of
such fellow. workmen2"
Another gentleman, in the course of his letter,
says:
"One of my congregation, formerly slave.
lately purchased horse for $50. Another
party, who occasionally attends church, through
the interest of proprietor, obtained coffee
property, on lease and sale, not long ago. had
occasion, some short time back, to open sub.
scription list two individuals paid 20s. each,
and several IS. and under. The people are pro,
crossing in wealth and comfort, which could
not happen, were they idle. They are not all
they should Be; what body of persons are
we have no right to deal with the exception, as
If it were the rule"
The replies from the other islands are of the
same tenor. II is unquestionably true that the
Coole emigration scheme is failure in every
respect. The Coolies die off in short time.
They corrupt the native population, and they do
not render much service to their masters.
The testimony of these Witnesses is almost
unsnimous, that in Jamaica and in the other
islands there is no pressing want of laborers.
Yet we are quite willing to believe that healthy,
wholesome, natural immigration Of respect
able laborers would give an impulse to the
West Indies, which would be Immediately felt
for good. But the compulsory system, as every
system must be which is undertaken by Gov
eminent, will not do. 1t has already worked
ill-it is cruel to the immigrant, and barren of
good fruits to the islands. Something else, then,
is Misunderstanding which will develop the
energies of the native population, or an immi-