New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-16
AewVprk Dailp Gribn,re
EMANCIPATION IN JAMAICA.
IT'S ACTUAL RESULTS.

To ne Edio, Of The n. L. T,i5,ne
SIR: In the Spring of this year passed some
weeks in Jamacs, West Indies, and have thought
that some account Of the pre- sent condition of that
beautiful slard may be acceptable to the readers Of
your paper.
On landing at Kingston, the principal seaport of
the island, | must confess that was more than
half inclined to believe the stories ndustrously cir
culatsd through this country, that the emancipated
slave is more idle AID vicious than all other of
Gods intelligent creatures. But when found as
rode on torseback through the valleys and over the
mountsins, an industrious, sober people, l con-
cluded (wtat on Inquiry l found to be the truth
that lie ysgsbonjs Of the whole island had moved
20 the sea .hore, TO pick up precarou', idle
livelihood, by carrying baggage, selling fruit beg.
sDg, &c.
In conyersipg with planters, learned that labor
ere can be easily obtained for a fair compensation
ard kind treatment; but il is fact that the eman-
cpstsd much prefer to work on their own few
acres Of ard Wherever | went found hsPpy,
conten'ed men and women, cutivAtpg sugar-caue
aid numerous vegetables aud fruits on their own
account went into their clean, neat aud well
furnished cottages, which would compare WE'LL
IL not say with Irish novels, both in Ireland aud
in this countIy-but with the houses of the native
pioneer, of cur own country. found in them, not
only crockeIy, AID glassware. and mahogany fdrni.
ture, but shelves Of useful books. / saw Africans
of VI mixed blood grinding their Own sugar cane in
their OWL mills ard rnskir their own sugar.
/ attended large meeting of black and coored
men, who had met to decide whether they would
invite schoolmss!er to settle among them. The
speakers, with ore exception, were negroes and
colored people. Much true natural eloquerce was
displayed. The opposition was feeble. Only one
msn doubted the expediency Of taking the children
from the work fields, where they were great help
TO their pare nts, ard sending them TO school.
One speaker said: Ny little learning enabled
"me TO ste that note, given TO me ia paj ment for
"a horse bad sold, was rot written according TO
- contract"
price for q fire ,rse, aid We should be willing
:" to psy for good te,cher for our children
Another ssii :" should have been wronged out
" Of forty pounds Of e. Zee when went to Kings
" ton 10 sell il the other d.y If had not known
" how 10 cipher
Another remsrked: Those who have learning
" and can read vii be more likely to get religion
Another said " I sm willing to eat poorer food
land to wear coarser clothes ifmy children eau DO
" educated for if they are not, they will curse me
"whfn am dead and gone
Another said - shall not leave my children
" much PR perty; but if they have learning they
"csn get property"
Another remarked: "A black man who has no
Learning csrbot look white man in the face, be
I" feels so inferior 70 him; but if be gets learning
axe can ho,dup bis head anywhere" All these
Ier,ors were once slaves. or are the children Of
tnsncipsted slaves.
They voted unanimously to engage teacher.
gave them Al account Of my visits to other
islands AID OF TIE prosperity Of the black people.
nss tbe 70 tel them that one of the princi pal
magistrates Of Balbad es is colored man; and that
became acquainted in Antisus with q leading
member Ct the Legislature, who ia al,o cO!orsd;
AMI with coal back man, who ted NE he WA
orce slave, and now he Cwns plantation worth
$50 coo.
saw 90 ictc1ies;.i person in Jsri aai