The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-13

condition Of Janaios, ana had in carrying out IA
gniIes occupied nay 2eniAss PROCEEDED % ssass
admitted thnt JamaicA was not . prosperous a. Tr
Barbadoes. and some other q the West India Isaand
denied den. that s inferior position w.s owing 70 s
rangemenis had been formed for the purpose or cul
ton by slave labor and the prejudses OF the e,pse
opposed to making the necessary alterations
changes, however, were now in progress, . middle
Of artisans and shopkeepers was springing u2 and
was every prospect Of rapid improvements. Tho -
Of the planters, Of which 80 much haa hesn nd vs.
owing, TO emapcpation, but extravagsncs ID ms
management BY which the properties had become
sSsre Sss no SOs =
not only by the large number Of aborers as ccmpayi
with the entire population, but BY the fact thas h.
other causes be enumerated as having eontribu1ei
TO the difhcutes OF the sugar growers, was M
i i%ma1.t,o, me lsssssuIs 2 adopt The moro -
oiateiy aiter emanoipationand principally " espa
ton Of other sugar growing countries when ne sueG
led through the isand but had never seen s;nsIe a
which had been abandoned for want OF labor: but ~
planter for his own labor, and natuYsiv 1870 Ss.s
hrs With regard TO the negro peasant ciass the rene
0cal effect Of the act Of emancipation was oopaste
but that was principally owing the treatment they re-
ceived from the old planters who had now either ed
out Or left the island BE denied that the negroes q
were industrious and CAREFUL and he added that a. ~
from their being squatters upon the land whict
70
10 ttle-a thing which was impossible in Jarnsioa-
three eghths Of the cultivated land in the island had Ger
acquired by their industry since enumeration ~
there scarcely family that did not keep horse 81
mule. The value Of the land they had thus become po
sessed of was upwards OF a million stering ID
addition to which they bad built, and furnieDAd
comfortable, and in some instances very rentoel
houses. He estimated besides that there were not
less than 5000 sugar mills-rude and small ones be
admttedpossessed and worked by the negro peasntyy
who were now actively engaged their oWn aocnnt
the culture and manufacture Of sugar. He ADDED TOO,
that they were generally sober and moral class a peo
pie. He calculated that the entire property in hrd
houses, horses, implements Clothes savings banks de-
poss upwards Of $40 000 and other articles was Wort
not less than 81 800 oo0 all acquired since emancipation
Inc exports Of Jamaica averaged 81 067 900 per
cnieny produce raised by negroes and he believed r.
produce or their industry altogether about two NIL
lions and quaater, on two millions and half yeor.
Inc speaker quoted various satstcs pointed out the
number OF towns, villages and markets which were
springng up oil over the island marking the DuFove
condition OF the negro people; and showing tho ro-
gous feeling OF these people, he stated that thew he
built 20 chapes and numbered o. 900 communicaG e
about one fourth Of the entire community An tn no
gress had been made without government AID and us
system Of taxation BY no means favorable to The neGro
He believed the tide Of difficulty in jamaica had t1Y1sd
and there WAS every prospect that ts future under
dom would be far more prosperous than s past had BEEN
under slavery.
The thanks Of the meeting were awarded to he deprs
ton, and the proceedings terminated with prayer.