Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-07-31

condition is worse than that It slaves in ANY part )
of tho world, or than their own condition. or that
Of their progeuiturs, while they were held ms
slaves. On the contrary. ] maintain that the
advantages of freedom over slavery have been
most strikingly exhibited by thcm ia ia variety OF
ways, morally aud religiously, politically, socially,
aud even physically.
OF the moral and religious phase Of the PROPOSE
ton, | prefer speaking when ! come to consider
the second question to which it more properly be.
longs.
Politically, tho onfranchiscd negro possesses
immense advantages over his former condition Of
a slave or chattel. As a slave, SO far from pos.
sessing any rights Ct citizenship, it was from his
very abasement that his owner derived lis civil
and politica! privileges for tho original patents
of lands in Jamaca were granted ON the coalition
Of the patenteos stocking their holdings with Il
t certain number Of slaves to a given number OF
t acres. One of the principal qualifications
E for the exercise Of the elective franchise was pay
ment of n certain amount OF taxes. a like qun!l'
t ication was require. TO ent.tle u citizen to sit in
c the House Of Assembly, as well as to hold the
e. elective Offices of Mayor, Alderman, Common
e Councilman, Coroner, Church warden and Yes.
D tryman. Now, as slaves were taxable property, Il
t followed that their possession gave a civil and po'
g litical status to their owners which was denied to
!. themselves.
! All this is now changed. The chani has be.
e come a man invested with all the rights of citizen
k ship and he who in former days. by II money
/ NuluC IliNCu uh hlo bbhOs M u ilShb vi
his owner to exercise the right Of suffrage, and to
have that right exercised on his behalf, may
: now, if he possesses any one or more of the
t property qualifications required 10y Ia W, enjoys the
like privilege without let or hindrance. These
qualifications are, at present, as follows:
The rectorsbip of a parish, irrespective of any
} other qualification the incumben, may possess.
Ownership, with actual possession, of a free,
hold OF not less annual value than &c sterling.
Payment of taxes to the amount of G} aud up.
ward per annum.
Payment Of rent to the amount of $50 per an.
mum.
All taxes must be paid by a particular day, TO
] entitIe the elector to vote during that year.
Claims TO vote must be registered for II certain
period before such claims become valid.
In consequence of the emanciI atcd peasantry
G having become possessed of considerable freehold
property, a great deal of political power has been
S thrown into their hands, as electors under the &c
J freehold qualiticatiUn-morc indeed, than some
g of their best friends even think expedient as it
a is urged that their intelligence has not kept pace
o with their political privileges, and that, conse.
quently, they are too often made the dupes OF
d designing men who use the influence which they
It possess over the minds of so simple n people, to
q acquire power for the attainment OF their own sci.
fish ends, without any thought Of the general
4 weal-an assertion in which | can say, from per
- sonal experience, there is but too much truth.
Consequent on certain fiscal changes, by which
, II WDOIC SNobtH ~ tdAutiOu mas DCtu TCllOlulCl
u the tax paying qualification for the exercise Of
electoral privileges will have to he abolished and
other qualifications substituted in lieu thereof.
A bill was presented to the House of Assembly
during the last session for that purpose /; hut it
was withdrawn until the ensuing session, when il
d will be reintroduced and disposed of, provision
be having been made to continue the electoral lists Of
ne last year till the 3lst of December next. This meas
ure is one of sweeping reform but, while it will
on extend the franchise in a manner unprecedente'
~'I =. u t-ly L...1.. I. I'LL - lo~-... 49, aa
= ent G6 freehold qualification untouched, still cor
-, tinue to the negro electors their electoral privilee
h es, as their qualification is is almost solely that
Nv no the freehold.
ns, Under existing laws, a member of Assembl
'9e must be a freebooter, and pay direct taxes to tn
Vi amount Of El0 annually. The qualification of
member of the Legislative Council is payment
:. EDO taxes on real property annually, or a FREE
49, hold property, in actual possession, Of the N
pie. value OF G300. The Governor is empowered
pal appoint whoever he chooses as member Of ii
and Privy Council, irres p%ective Of property qualiic
lad ton, and without reference to complexion or form
he er condition of life. There are now in the llouu
Iion OF Assembly two pure negroes, Mr.. Edward Vic
ars and Mr.. Charles Price. and Mr.. Christoph
Walters, who is nearly black, is o member Of Il
can same House. 10 fact, q large number of the mel
bers Of both Houses of the Legislature, and of Il
tbe Privy Council. are allied, more or less nearly,
is the African race, among whom ! may name t
Hon. Edward Jordon, who is the principal mel
ore. Der of Gov. Darling's Cabinet and who p~atriotici
on ly resigned his seat in the Upper House duril
LOT, the administration of Gov. Sir. Henry Barkle
r.. for the purpose of assuming the leadership Of |
Assembly, and inaugurating the new form of &C
eminent, as one of the Governors constitution
" advisers. Through this sagacious stroke OF polio
his Sir. Henry Barley was enabled to carry on
government in the very teeth Of Il fierce opposite
= and unpopular measures we're actually passed G
8. of lhe personal respect which members Of all ST
la. dc5 of complexion, and OF political opinion, ent
son tanned for Mr.. Jor6On.
h of This gentlemen also holds the distinguished
mer- fees of President of the Privy Council, Gust
,sen. Rotulorum and Mayor of Kingston, as memI
,ues for which city he holds his seat in the Ascend
ring BESIDES these oihces' he Is a commissioner OF s
at eral important trusts. All these appointments
honorary, save that of Cabinet Minister, for VIII
II nc alone he receives a salary Of C00O per annum
,rin ~ may add that no is principal proprietor and
puted editor of The Morning JOurHdt ncwspap
NJ published daily in Kingston, and warmly devo
- to the cause Of freedom.
| I'M not aware, however, whether any mi
bers Of the Legislature, or of the Privy Coun
o I'M were born in slavery; but this circumstance wo
form he no bar To their admittance to these bodies
nave 1t is, however, a well known fact that the cor
/, SUI ration of Kinpston and the several parochial
the tries abound in members who are descendants
ana Africans, and not a few were born in slavery
nters So much for the political advantages of the
= !or colored people OF Jamaica over their former
D tue dition of slaves.
ID In In a social point Of view, freedom, as it ex
and in Jamaica nresents MANY advantayes over
mt in fnrmer state Of BONDAGE. Possessed of the nj
y de- leye of locomotion. in which be was formerly
Morn. strictsd the freed man can now choose his
actly associates and mass his leisure hours as he plea
Ter to and although | do not pretend to say that
D the cho;ce is in all cases. correct. vet. in the main
widening the circle of his ocnnaintances he .
to his stock of knowledge, and becomes gradu
Free divested OF those narrow preJudIces which are
vices Of small communities and Il circumscr
sphere of action. Granted that. in the acquis
that of knowledge. he learns evil as well as GOOD.
is cannot he CHARGED againsr him az n neouliarit
free. his race hut as a nronensitv inberent in I'm
iree' nature. 1t is to be regretted, however, that. thr,
render the rivalry Of contending factions, theological
Q peo' political, no comprehensive scheme of educi
Of the has been nrovided for the rising generation. {
n en- ia nv n ducation alone that man. whether whit
curse, black. can progress in civilization.
rks in IL now remains for me TO speak Of the ply
linnrnuonnnnt of tho hlncka nf Innlairn ns ON