East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-12-20
From uarpcr's v eckly.
BisuniOn Caused by the British
Ari>tOcracy.


Ari>tOcracy.
We present the following important
communication TO our readers without
comment. The writer is known as a gen
tiemOn Of intelligence and integrity.
VIEW BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
In the fall of 1898 the writer met in
Paris the late Mr.. AARON LEGGErT, for
merely wealthy merchant in this city,
aud a member of the Society Of Friends
We cqnverSed frequently on the political
prospects Of our country as affected by
lhe agitation of the Slavery question. -
Mr.. H. said that, when he was young
man, hc was an active and Jealous mem
ber OF a ManumSsion Society, aud that
ne continued to cherish in after life a
yeYy compassionate feeling for the poor
negroes. At the time Of the general
emancipation of the slaves in the British
West Indies Mr.. Leggett's business called
linn to the city Of Mexico, and while re-
siding there he met Deputy Commissary
General WILSON, of the British Army,
an agent appointed by the British Coy
ernnent TO make the financial arrange
mcnts connected with the payment to the
West India slavehqlders of their portion
Of the f2O,OO0,OOQ voted by the British
l'arliament as . compensation for the
forced sacrifice of their property.
Mr.. LEGGETT said that, when he learn
ed Mr.. WILSON'S GRAND, he took occasion
while he was sitting with him one day
after dinner, to express his admiration of
the British Government and the British
people, for that noble act, the vote OF
G2O, 900, 900 sterling, to procure liberty
Tor 100000 negroes. lie gave full ut.
teranco to his feelings, and almost ex-
lmusted the vocabulary Of eulogy to find
the commendatory epithets which he APP.
llied to England and Englshmen,
isMr. Wilson did not seem to sympa
thize with me, said Mr.. j., "and when
had finished, he simply turned to me
aud said, DO you think, Mr.. Leggett
that this emancipation Of the negroes vii
prove to be WISE measures'
,tiCeltainIyy / replied said Mr. l.
'!How can it be otherwise?n
s''Tlic cool heads in England said Mr.
Wilson, "do not think that it will b,
beneficial III its effects on the interests o
the people either in the colonies or in th,
mother country. Nor do | think So
We think that the freed negroes will do
very little work; aud that the West India
colonies, as to their commercial value t
the mother country, will be ruined"
Mr. Leggett had been carried away will
the representations of the enthusiastic
friends OF cmancipation-that free labo
was more productive than slave labor
that when the negroes were free the
would receive wages, and that this woul
stimulate them to raise sugar and colfe
ngrcaterquantities that commerce woul,
feel the benefit of the new impulse to 40
riculturc; that lands would rise in value
that the income Of the planters would !
increased, ETC., and his ardor was at frs
cooled by Mr.. Wilson'S gloomy view {
the case.
""Aftcr little reflection, however, sal
Mr.. L., al continued my eulogy of tn
British Government and the British pee
pie; and went now further than befor
in the expressions Of my admiration, bu
went On n new tack. ! said that the enc
mics OF Englishmen, and of their govern
mcnt we've accustomed TO represent ther
rs alwaysgovcrnedb ymercenary consider
atoms, and too willing to sGrifce justice
humanity, and all the virtues, to the lus
Of gain; but here was case in which til
cool heads that directed the action of th
Government deliberately burdened the
country with an immense debt, not [
open new fields of wealth, but in full pro
pect Of destroying the commercial valu
of their West India colonies, and of in
povcrishing the people there, and the pr,
prietors in England and all from 1t
name feeling, and high sense of justiC
"a high sense of what is due to poo
helpless, down trodden negro slaves.
was the noblcst act recorded in history
knew of no parallel TO il any where"
"When had finished" added Mr.. J.
'''Mr. w. again turned 10 me, aud sail
mr.. Leggct, do you really believe tina
the men who control the action of I'll
British government were led by such m'
tircs as YOU asciibc to them, to sacrihc
tie commercial interests Of the
conntryYP
~ replied" said Mr. L., chat if III
men who controlled the action of TIA
British government really believed tia
sac abolition of slavery in the Britsl
sVsst Indies would end in the CONNER
cial ruin of the islands, could not con
ecive of any other motive for their conduc
than the noble one which had assigned,
vi~sWcll. Mr.. j egeet,' said Mr.. w
,you may believe this, butt do not. i he
Iieve that tho action of the British gov
ernnlcnt is made to promote, AZ far a
ypossiablc, the INTERESTS Of the EpglIsl
'iristocracy.'n i1lynnha 1li GA, 8 iInln
Mr.. J.. then asked, "NNhst interest o