The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-20
Free Labor I'm the West Indies-Condi-
ton or Jamaica.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD,

Free Labor I'm the West Indies-Condi-
ton or jamaica.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New YoRx, Oct. Z, 1850
have been for long while reader Of your valuable
Journal and have observed with considerable interest
from time to time very important articles and letters in its
columns the subject OF immigration the West India
Islands.
1t is unquestionaby the extreme paucty Of iabor-an
evil which amount of productive duty could compen
satewhich has brought Jamaica and other once wealthy
and prosperous colonies to the verge Of ruin In respass
ing upon your columns with few remarks regarding
this all important question: ater myself shall receive
the councnance Of yourself as well the consideration
your readers
Where there exists as in the island of barbados the
essential condition Of sufHcency of effective labor
where the relative position Of master and aborer is moi
reversed but rightly understood, there is why
free labor should not economical grounds
plant it.
In Barbados, during the most pany days Of slavery
the exports Of the island rarely exceeded $4,000
tons they now amount to a 600 hogsheads, and
To what are we to attrbue the difference between this
island and that OF jamaica possessed the latter
many natural adyantagess Simply 70 an inadequate
amount OF labor In Jamaica the servant in fact
pies the position of the MASTER and il is only with the
greatest difficulty that labor be obtained at ALL The
desderaum for the resuscitaton Of this colony in
well advised system OF continuous selfsupp0rtng mm
grafton, under judcious guidance and supervision
The evidence this point is Of positive character
~
should aggravate tho caiacs Of the planters by an OBJ
stinate adherence to bygone policy
maintain tnat the great not the sole cause, Of this
saDds PROSTATE condition s the want of labor Is at
oil events tho paramount evil and until be removed
miigated there can be progressive Improvement On
immense tracts Of beautiful, fertile mountain, and other
uncultvated waste lands will only offer to the indolcnt
negro congena retreats to squat where he exc out
gnObic careera OF mental, moral and physical
decadencc, proving to the world that emancipation has
oesn-as indeed now Is in Jainaica-a signal and dis
astrocs failure
This year the exports Of sugar from Jamaica will not
exceed % 600 hogshcads; in 1888 they 10000 and
figure irrespective Of coffee cocoa ginger and other sta
pies, then OF great Importance but Insignificant
quantity as 10 be unworthy OF ailuson
OF certain class OF aborers Jamaica has enough
spare, and could willingly exchange half for supply
Of free iabores less costly but far servceabie sub
stitutes.
win instance few Immigrants supplied by the home
government
SALARIES Pr AyyrM
a Governor. &c 600
6sop. ''................. ......... aoo0
Snlei JUSTICE; 5Oo0
The debts Of Jamaica amount to about fseo 900, and
believe the revenue is deficient The extravagant
expenditure OF this small Insignificant island amounts
1876 0C0 per annum On this subject il unnecessary to
waste words.
II is notorious fact and notorious evil The NAL ad
mais,ra,i.n Of pHbic affairs is curse with which this
HEngand really wishes 10 crush the slave trade, and
eventually TO see the slave manumitted throughout the
be to render timely assistance, by the introduction of
sufficient body Of aborcrs into her West India colonies
Free labor, where egtimatey abundant is far pro-
duciye and remunerative than slave labor To quote
from article which recently per'ised in Of the
morning Journals referring to slave labor the South the
writer says
Nothing but almost perfect monopoly IN the pro-
ducon Of the most important staple Of the
worlds commcrcc has enabled us to pay such
intolerabe prices for labor. The average va
luc OF the slave is little 81 ,000-say a
capital representing an interest Of $50 year 81
cOst lpnf N
providing for food, clothing little Injuries, medical
tendance, &C, and still leaving clear saving OF 81
month. Is there any country Of the world where I'M
skilled white labor is SO highly paids"
But really, sir Mr.. Everett thoroughly graspcd the
question Of the slave trade in his letter. dated Washington
December J. 1852 to Mr. Crampton the British Minister
He wrote to him as follows
I" will but allude TO an evil of the first magnitude
the African slave trade In the suppression Of which
England and France take lively intcrcst-an evil which
still, forms great reproach upon tho civilization Of Chris
tendon and perpetuates the barbarian Of Africa but for
which, Il is 70 be feared there hope Of complete
nsedy ,ohtts Csb0 yevwdiws Spanish coyony.o
The pith Of the extract have italcised. MEMO.