The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-24
BENZ ANN rs. lBENd aMEN. J

{
Mr.. Benjamin made a speech % few daysago
in the Senate upon the thirty million bill which
we propose TO notice more at length at a future
day, as our present purpose is merely to place
incontrast with each other the pictures which he
draws, with graphic hands of Freedom IN j a
maiea, and Slavery in Cuba. p Promising that
we regard the picture Of Jamaica as partial and
distorted, although made mp from testimony
given before a committee Of the English Par
lament, we proceed to present the case in his
own language, or in that which ne adopts from
the Parliamentary, report. He says:
I" But sir, / have nowhere seen the true CON
dition OF. the island OF Jamaica, under the ope-
ration of the British system of free labor for the
production Of tropical products, better illnstra-
ted than in the official reports from the island
itself 1t is scarcely credible that such a pic
ture as l am about to read should have been
issued by a. report of the Central Board of
Health OF Jamaica, in the year 1852 !,sq tal.e
send form streams 81 The most horrible descrip,
ton numbers OF dilapidated and falling houses.
useless for all habltabe purposes; ruined walls
and remnants OF fences, together with unin,
enclosed sites of pulledtdovn houses. covered
with tlthand brush, complete the scene of every
old Jamaica township, and the outskirts of the
new ..tt.-..- lI,i i.... ..s "a .-.. ~
80 In villages, and on small settlements. the
huts or dwellings of the laborers are composed
chiefly Of mud walls, sometimes of wattles, plas
tered With the same a, KnrT,47f In very few
cases are they raised off tho ground nor are
hoored IA any way *,ifa: Ventilation.
OF. the admission of fresh air, is almost inxari-
ably neglected, a...,.. ,-.,.r b.,,,....., -
email do 1 L
frequently oyer-crowded especially at night !.
within the small space of a few square feet. per
haps, on the bare ground, or may be on a mat
treSs or mat, or In some cases on a bed, with a
whole family OF eight or nine persons of all ages
and of both sexes, huddled together. with, the,
door and so-caled window closed; all clad in
the same clothes which they wore through the
day, with children sleeping on mattresses, often
soaked and half-rotted with urine aud other Sc
cretions. Should there accidentally be hole
or creyiee, this IS immediately closed ND by,
means of rags or something of that kind The
rush OF Qdor on opening such place, must be
experienced to be understood. l,.a.......4 ,.f
AS regards water for domestic purposes. il
is very much To be feared that large portion
of our population seldom think of that Their
persons are never abluted, save in crossing a
river, or being exposed to q heavy shower of
rain, ,.....,. o.. ma. ,.,.,....,., ..t N
:" ADioRg the lOloer classes, HE 0,qiority. ,sof,
being contPelied by circumstances 10, he field hc
6p'efs, are too lazy to move. They frequently
squat down all day ia a, sort of sullen apathy:
they eat, and drink, and sleep. like the brute
that perisheth; but all the more active impulses
OF their human nature appear to be as little ex-
cited as if they, were totally wantng.,rt,., t..,
: 1t is well-known fact, that all the towns
and villages contain a large number of persons
who have no ostensible means of earning their
livelihood; the way in which they subsist is an
enigma to, themselves and Others, Exposure
to the night air is very prevalent among the
lower classes: Under various excuses, they
meet an numbers, frequently in the open air,
or under temporary sheds, or at the perform:
ance of wakes over the dead and also at their
rrevels at john1canoeing, as it is termed, about
sj 9R 1 f s e 9 Is ans
joyment; and at the pitch of the. excitement
of the prevailing passions, tbeir. gestures and
acts resemble more those of demons than of
human pelngs.a i,,r $50 ed a. hut ,.n.i
This is dark picture; and, admitting it to
be true, as to certain localities, under the most
unayorable circumstances, it cannot be under.
stood as presenting a full and fair represents
ton. 1t presents the worst phase of things.
IF true as a general rule, while 'caieultted to
excite disgust mingled with tonniiseraion For |
such beastly ignorance, it carries Wit it the |
satisfactory admission that these beniihted ne,
aroes are in..no danger of starvation and in,
decd. the misfortune is that they find he means
Of livelihood so convenient to hand; that thev
are not stimulated to exertiop, Mr.. Ienjamin's
wIiitaess states that ~ mong PIE l9ser classes
as paqjority not being, compelled by ciiycua,
STANCES to Be fieldloborers, are toe ley 10 moeep
dc. A picture like this is calcuiata to awakes
a missionary spirit among the bore Jealous
friends Of Christian. civilization and it mar
be very shocking 70 the nervous fnsihilities. oi
political economist; bat il isl latter ALL hess
distressing TO the masses Of NM! North and 1
South. than the pictures Of sufaiRg from cold
and hunger in our large cities including New
Orleans, ...,a..i = =; u sal !, ..,.,.i
Now look at Mr.. Benamins picture of Gu.
ban Slavery. He says: '''se -'''-'e' e '.'~s,.
q The confirmed supply, Of. laber in Cubs. by
natural increase is. impossible. It is a welI-an.
fact that its whole, laboring popula.
ton is exhausted in asipgle generation. Hor.
rible as is the contemplation Of such fact. The
evidence in support Of i is irresistible, None