Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-09-21
British Emancipation

Last week W. promised 10 give further
statistics and official information bearing an
thi. question and We proceed to do -.
+ 1t Is true, no doubt. that those who visit
some or all Of these Islands are distrpoiut-
cd, and perhaps Disguised. by the sremiug
idlcncss and thriitlesSnoss Of tile negroes but
what can be expected Of a people who have
been for ages doomed l. servitudc, and have
had the utmost extent OF labor dashed cut Of
them, when suddenly set free? Take any
other class OF persons, and Of any other race,
and place them in scrsitudc for generations
t.ey understanding that they were II the
mercy Of others. when suddenly freed.
would not they first SEEK happiness IN 'd'eHcss'
/ II is admitted that the negroes were not
inclined 10 submit to coercion. They had
had 4 sufficient amount of this. Yet at the
same time, the planters could not sub nit h
treat those who had been dashed into obedi-
cncc and into work, as free men, entitled to
Judge whether they would work or play
1t was bum jliating, and not to be borne
This drove the negroes at first from the sugar
plantations, anG perhaps into idlcness. But
the idea that because tbs export Of sugar fell
Oft. that, therefore, these Islands were all 90
irg to ruin, and emancipation was failure,
does not legitimately follow, unless the
whole question is viewed in commercial
,istt, Irrespective of its moral, humane or
christian aspect, ior many colored man has
a patch Of Land. a garden where all his wants
are satisfied i,y its products and he is far hap
pier, than he could e willie employed by an
other.
The writer b fore alluded to says, 3" under
freedom every man has chosen the task that
suited aud paid him best lie also makes
the grryer remark. !" that in certain loeali-
ties, specially on the hanks Of the rivers 81
Guiana, where large bedie, Of negroes have
been cut of from civilized life, and have been
able to o! tain plentiful subsistence By fish
ing and hunting, they have lapsed into state
Of useless ban barism. 1t is also said that in
the seaports IL number of filthy oilers are to
be found, who impress the casual visitor un-
iavaraMy. The Traveller, perhaps, on land
] ing will olfer shilling to Il sooty gentleman
/ in rags t. curry his pnrtmantcau and the
! soaty gentleman thanks massa, but it don't
suit hlm to take the Ijob. Tbinklns the fell
+ low mad, he offers the chance to another.
who, alter a long consideration, says he will
do anything to ob!ise massa, but he has got
to attend d; funeral, and can't do it." OF
course the lrctscd trlSeler jumps to the con
clusion that all negroes are idle, impractical
bic sceundrels, and ON his return. writfs Il
fierce TRADE against them and the philan-
thrt pists. But We promised to give extracts
showing that these Islands are fast reyaining
their prosperity against all the adverse cir
cumstanccs which have combined to cripple
them.
The Report from Grenada, ISIS show an
=, increase OF exports, and contentment of all
classes of the community From Guiana,
- the revenue Us houristing and population
augmcntins." From Aoafsorat, = The ru-
raj population quiet and orderly, and the
imports more than doubled in the course OF
year.
In 81. Ants, = u larger quantity Of sugar
is produced than in the time Of slavery. =
". Lucia, the report says " that the aspect
Of the country is more promising; the pros
rects Of the agriculturaists are encourag-
M ~. tmceu the Governor says g." the
condition IF the laborcr is almost universally
me of comfort and describes the rising rit
lagss, the growing number OF freeholders sc. =
Imports increasing. I9tago, "a marked i'm
proyement is visible in the reveEae returns
The laborers we'll behaved and Industrious.
Tiacaad, " marked Improvement in the cul
| tivation Of the sugar crops We will no
; multiply extracts, but leave the subject fo
: the present.
rhn TnrIIA.u Efoit.